Smyrna times., 1866-05-16
Henry A. Wise Speaks Out

The following extract is from speech made
by Henry A. Wise at Richmond on the ami
Versary OF StOnewall Jackson death. The
Express prophecies the New York T,lJu,.e will
republlsh The Tribune SAYS:
We justify that prediction, for. whatever
sensible Northern people may think of Wise.
nc Is representative, somewhat exaggerated
OF the men OF certain class at the South, and
therefore the extract is worth reading The
difference between them is, that he SAYS omen
ly, IN an extravagant way, what thev only dare
10 think SOberly. There is evidence that he is
not alone IN hoping that there yet may be a
second revolution, more successful than the
hrSt, and wild as that hope is it is well enough
to know that it exists One reason why II i
never to be fulfilled is in the answer to Wise's
question:" Why don t they hang me-" Poor
man 10 hang him would be to elevate him
to the dignity of martyrdOm He answers a
nluch more useful purpose in being allowed to
live and talk. Hear him:
- don't know that | am a prisoner
Laughter. am bound by no chain I Lav.
a pass to go where please upon the soil Of INV
native land. At least Gen Grant says SO. i
may DC arrested, but wanted no man living TO
tell me whittier might 20. Cheers have
the proud satisfaction of saying that | fought
until we had won the privilege of being na.
rolled Applause There is no authority
mere or elsewhere to arrest me or to stop my
mouth, so long as | obey the conditions of that
parole and upon that parole shall stand So
long as live. Applause. You call me a
prisoner OF war am not prisoner of war
II prisoner at all, am prisoner Of peace. -
Nhong the last shots fired by infantry at Ap- |
pol'aLto1 were those fired by the troops that | I
had the honor and pride to lead: and there NJ
App0mattox peace was brought about.
on call the cause lost it is not lost. If
J Is lost the cause Of civil liberty is doomed
Tor 1t too, Is lost. There Wa, Paradise in.t
ma Paradise regaincd, and there will bc
IaradlSe regained in this country. The binoJ
nat has been spilled is too precious. sbnld
lot believe in God if did not believe that a
pGclal Providence would yet give victory 70
Ountry. > III 'iii>
One thing can be said. there was one man
.Io y could not be driven to do that which h.. |
~. ~ n%' % consent to do. As long as one man in
Ills commonwealth a voice, What Cnn'
lonwealth?' What ntCommonwe,Itb% TL"" ro, i
IIeT u IVA, was but one, Virginia. But tell you t
ld Virginia is not at home. She will conn.
tck some OF these days and then the Jryl
nc the hlndmoSt. | am watching. and will ,
II II, ller when she comes what has been done in :
! ! absence. IL say, Mamma, YOUR children \
a not do that. twas done by impostors and j
etenaers. ~, Again, | say, there is but one r.
lrglnla' They have taken and are welding !,
i powers. 1t am a traitor, let them make a
c most OF It, If am traitor why don.t T
ey try me and hang me? have lost nv "
nus ,' ana property, but | would clean boots ON ii
u, S.leetS sooner than bow to usurpation. If @
lau 1rIuhphed, | should have favored strip +,
ng them naked. Laughter. Pardon y a. a.
ley might have appealed for pardon. but I n,
'uId nave seen them damned before | w0nlJ w
We granted 1t: For myself, the boot being on e,
other leg, | take no oaths ask no nar. i,
rs lProlonged cheers | give YOU that ro
gade.the old, the lasting the cndurinr RI
iSe brigade Cheers and applause.