Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-05-09
Ex.Gov ,Wtse,s Late Speech.

tx Gov. w Use has written out Cue spcech
delivered by him, 10 the case dfiPlatt vs.. 1oodc
before the House Committee on Elections In
it he says:
At the end of the war our people in Virginia
consisted of various elements politically, which
differed and dissented irt each other IS wide
apart rs the poles, but they were alarmed, de-
prt ssed and distracted by such doubts and ap-
prehensions IS brought them together, bewlld-
cred and not knowing what to do There were
First, national republicans and old time wings
of the school of 1924, overwhelmed by bargain
and corruption in 1925 second, locofocos, who
were hurled out Of power by the avalanche Of
the people in 1910; third democrats of the old
Virginia school of Jefferson snd Madison, and
nulliiers Of the school of Mr.. Calhoun, and Sc
cessionists and unionists, who hat fought To-
gether for their rights under the constitution,
and who had surrendered at Appomat.o1 their
arms, but not their faith, IN 1865; fourth, know
nothings scotched but not killed in 1866. The
power and rights of these clements of ante bel
um parties, were usuTped by selt-constituted
.'commttee Of nine' who were of every hue
and who assumed to be delegates of the Confed.
crate people Of Virginia. and came to Washing
ngton to obtain pardons by confessing Treason
from Prosi. lent johnson, who received them at
frs, with the contumey of master over runaway
and captured slaves. They, by crouehing, pre-
vailed on him to hear their humlllating petitions
and to grant them pardons on condition of
branding themselves as traitors, until he so con-
desccndingly bowed to their wishes that he
brought upon himself impeachment and upon
the country reconstruction. This 'committee
OF nine" afforded the opportunity and occasion
for the leaders of the colored race to array
themselves against tho whites in Virginia and
against the President and to side with Congress
and impeachment, and to cause the laws of re
construction, which diifrsnchised 1.-THE best OF
our citizens and made them outlaws in the land
of their nativity" laws which made freenen
slaves while they made bondsmen free. This
made an impossible chssm between the white
and the black races.
He then discussed the constitutional cnnven-
ton OF 1869, which he characterized as the
"Black Crook" convention, the election OF Gov.
Walker and The passage ~ the General Assem-
bly, of 1870 OF u test oath, and says: For year
l, for one, was again dislranchlsed by this gross
outrage upon my rights, and at q time when
needed lost of bakers bread and pound of
butchers mes.'
He also says Calhoun was lawfully elected
Mayor of Richmond, but that plug ugly from
Baltimore and BIS gang of ruttians Knocked
down the messenger who had tho poll book and
bAlotsS took them away from him and destroy
ed thon.. ii Q ssid the decision of the Court Of
Appeals H. this case and the Burnham case, IN
the one declaring tho enabling act CONSTITUTIONS
al and in the other unconstitutional, out Durel-
led Uurell in Louisiana.
With regard 10 Greeley ne Sald: I0ere was
no time between John Browns sentence and
execution that if his friends could Fave brought
me the living Greeley | would not have ex-
changed John Brown tor him, and that. An
drew Jackson like, would have taken the re-
Sponsiblitv Of causing him to be hung III John
Browns place 1t would have been a Divine
vcsrious offering of the instigstor for the victim
of the highest crimes. The whole movement to
elect him was worse than q miserable failure it
was gross blundcr, which drove Virginia to
cast her vote for Gran | could not and did
not vote for oft her candidate, but if the thumb.
screw had tortured me to vote at all l would
have voted for Gen. Grant"
In slluding to a speech made by Mr.. Goode
in the Hou.e in which that gentleman said.
1--WE don't recognize him Gov Wise) as dem
ocrat," he said Let me tell my friend that
cannot permit either MIN or my client to receive
or. exclude me from the folds OF true democracy.
Neither of them Belongs to; 8 democratic party.
and ktcsnnot consent IT, belong to either of cir
parties