Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-04-30
Ex.GOy Wise'S Speech.

lAtths Capitol Square III Richmond, on 1hurS
dan, the 18th instant.
If there never was a crash 10 the capitol o.
virginia before, there was an awful one yes
terday. The creptatinc sound thereof IN this
| high place was appalling to the spectators ana
victims. Tho breaking and falling tlmoers'
with their Jagged spears OF wood. aud the
broken bolts OF iron, and the nail teeth plerc
| ing the nerves Of human being, was scene
beyond words OF description and all ideas
of the imagination. But this | saw whilst
confronting the disaster, that men OF all
passions and prejudices were commingled in
one and the same calamity and SUFFERING and
men of all PASSIONS preiud!ces, parties and
| colors, were nobly and bravey united like
| brothers in sympathy, m!nlstcrng reIief to
tire victims The scene was terrific. and yet
all Joined in one band of effort TO hush the cry
of despair, and save suffering from death. 49, 49,
1t is enough to say of the scene that its most
awful feature was agony. Not only the agony
OF the crushed mass under the wreck, but au
agony which, like the thunder and lightning
OF the clouds, which clap their hands and
answer back from peak TO peak OF the Alps
echoed back to the dying from the living mass
looking on and aching at the suffering.
There was father, brother, son, crushed IN
clouds of lime dust, with arm raised and cry oil
pain bursting forth for help, answered to by
the shreks of mother, wife, sister, daug hter,
father brother, friend, not be ples5, but hardly
hopeful. Help was here. noble, gallant help
from all, Of all classes and cOlors. White help
ing black and black white, 10 one brotherh God
of humanity. Pain aud suffering and calamity
brought men Of every sort together in common
and live and let live, and save and help save
nd nd in q 0rd TO
every day scenes of life?
Ave, there is something to think and to do
on this occasion besides weeping and lamenta.
ton. He is not true weeping Prophet even
no real Jeremiah, who does not extract moral
and lesson from this grief. The first lesson
here, then, is from henceforth to drop all con-
troversies, quiet all passions, and compose our
strites in the language ofmy brother Kelley,
cherish more charity and brotherl love for
one another.
What brought about this calamity War
itself had spared this Capitol, and wondrous
strange it is that after all the ravages Of war
the Capitol fell Of itself! That astounding
incident is itself lesson which would fill
volume with commentary. This l will say:
Strife since the war had brought together an
anxious, eager crowd in heavy mass on the
weak floor Of an upper chamber OF this build
ing to hear the decision ola fatal controversy
by Supreme court that strife precipitated
that crowd and crushed the mass to agony
and death That alone is a teaching ad-
moDtion.
The Capitol is old, it is of the past, pas,
sing away. Let it be built anew of the durable
and solid granite your rich river bank, laid
deepin the solid soil of our county, and let its
superstructure raise a lofty spire towards
Heaven, sign of Covenant with God And
let this be sym bolc of moral and political
foundation, laid anew and Deep for super
structure Of love and brotherhood among men,
which shall be approved and blessed on High.
And lessons come not alone from the dead,
but from the living. From the unknown other
world, to whose bourne the dead are gone, no
sign can be given. The sign must be given
rather from the living, who are spared and are
here, and not from the dead, who are taken
and who are gone, as am living witness and
example. Thanks be to my God and nv
Saviour thatl am here living example of bis
Mercitul. Divine, special Providence. If there
be an iDhde in this assembly who lacks faith |
and needs proof let him hear me, poor sinner, |
saved by the mercy of God special providence |
| was counsel in this very case of strife and |
controversy ; it was my duty and desire both |
to be present at the announcement OF the |
opinion and the decision of the court in the |
case my seat would have been at the very
centre of the danger, where my brothers Nee.
son and Wells, and Meredith and Chandler
were sitting, and who, every one, have been
seriously and severely, it not dangerously,
wounded and manged. They fell in the midst
of danger and of death, and their fate would