The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-14
VIRGINIA..

Dem0crNtic Ratincation Meeting-Speeches OF
Ex.Govcrnor Vance, General Henry A. Wise
and Otbers-Large and EnthusIastic Assem-.
bIase-Odd Views Of Hesry A.
RICHMOND, July IL, 1858.
Agreeable to announcement by posters and pla-
cards, q grand democratic ratification meeting was
held at the theatre tonight, at which Ex-Governor
Vance, OF North Carolina and General Henry A. Wise
were the speakers On motion president and
number OF vice presidents and secretaries ap-
pointed, and these officials being duly Installed in
their positions Mr.. william II. Macfarland IN short
speech introduced the orator OF the evening, ex-
Governor Vance. (Cheers.)
The Governor. accordingly, came forward and de-
iivcred lengthy address, in which he eulonzed the
candidates and Platform and predicted . decisive
democratic victory next November. Upon oonclud-
ing ne took his scat. aud loud calls were made Tor
General Henry A. " isc. IL was not long before WISE
came 10 his feet Da corner OF the audience.
He said he was mere only as spectator and was
unable to speak because OF recent Illness lie had
waited for three years for glimpse oi csil liberty
and II had come al last. He was yet parolod pri-
soner OF war, and. perhaps, what he had TO say
would not be endorsed by his friends OF elicit the
sympathles OF many. he mad seen the platform
for It he cared noLling IL was "a tub thrown TO
whale, a bubble on the blast" lie would not
he was to take exceptions he would dissent
from the very irst plank IN that platform. slavery
he Acknowledged was Dead but secession not
dead He had a right to secede from any tyranny,
and he hoped the democrats Of the country had
seeded from the tyranny OF radicalism. 'rhe con.
stitution was not dead, but ent0mbed ard sealed,
and II would be resurrccted again. seymour he liked
and would vote ior. because "straws show the way
the wind blows" Hancock was quite favorite.
with the speaker and received a high compliment,
but he was gratiiied that civilian and statesman
whose reputation was unsuled had been the choice
OF the Convention. Blair was not particularly OBJ
jectionable and the speaker accepted him because
ne had the nerve TO declare his oppositon To III IL
tary satraps and military rule Of all kinds.
The States and their rights then for short period
occupied the attention Of the speaker and after de-
nning what State was, the General SAID the states
had net been abolished. The radical part Was NOS
70 be dcspsed as In Its ranks were 70 bsIound some
OF the greatest nellects OF the country some OF he
most diaboIloal lawyers and some q, The most
knavish political preachers. The parry was power.
full interruptions and was TO DO feared. That
Grants nomination caused no enthusiasm was but Q
trick ana this was the most fearful sign yet pre-
sented. He warned his hearers not TO be deceived.
The radicals had the ballot box and would use II TO
further their own ends. The General wound up BY
defining his test Tor the hight OF Suffrage, which was
the ability to read and write the voter TO be male
adult Arstocracy he heartily despised OF any sort.
Several other speakers addressed the meeting and
at late hour u broke up.