The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-15

unanimous for the white basis or
representation based on White man
hood suffrage alone. Only one man
from Tidewater Virginia, General Rop-
ert B. Taylor. of Norfolk, favored the
white basis. his views being SO antago-
nistic to those OF his people that he
resigned his seat during the session of
the convention. Mr.. Wise issued an
address to the people of his district,
composed of the two counties Of Acco-
mac and Northampton. In which he
declared himself candidate to repre-
sent them in the convention. Among
other reforms he declared himself In
favor of biennial instead of annual
sessions of the Legislature; the aboli-
ton OF Imprisonment for debt and the
extension OF the right of suffrage to
jevery white male citizen above the age
of twenty-one years. who had resided
| six months in the Commonwealth.
It was on the latter question that
Mr.. Wise made a speech in the con-
vention which occupied five days in.
the delivery, and made very decided
impression upon all who heard It.
After q long, wearisome debate, dur
ing which many propositions In regard
to The apportionment of representation
| were voted down, a compromise was
| finally agreed upGn by which the APP
portionment for the House OF Delegates
was based on the suffrage plan; while
! that of the Senate was on purely
arbitrary basis
/ have already referred to the yir-
! ginia campaign or 1855. one of the
most notable in the annals of the
| State, which witnessed the overthrow
of the Know-Nothins Party. and the
election OF Mr.. Wise to the governor
1 ship. 1t would extend the limits OF
this paper too far If should under
take to notice In detail all of the great
l eventso of his administration as Cover
nor OF the State.
! Capture of John Brown,
1 But l cannot fall to make mention
of an event which stirred the hearts
OF all of our people to their Utmost
execution of John Brown for his In
vasiop of the State of Virginia in 1859,
!. when she was supposed to be a I peace
\ with all of the world. 1t is we'll known
that John Brown, at the head OF a
small body of men, made an incursion
into the State for the purpose az in
4 citing serYlls ipsurvection and muir
zens. For this he was tried and exc
cuted at Charlestown VA. under all
a the forms of law, a most righteous
i judgment, when Il is considered that
he came into our State as a red
handed murderer.
Il Whlls NIT. WISE was Governor OF lns
State he delivered an address on the
ed OF February. 1859, introducing Il.
i M. L. Hunter as the orator OF the day
on the occasion of the unveilins of the
superb equestrian statue of George
Washington in the Capitol Square IN
4 Richmond. AS Governor Of tho State
1T became the duty OF Mr.. Wise TO ~
/ troduce Mr.. Hunter to the vast multi-
) tude. and standing In a snoWstorm hs
pronounced these words, which viii live
forever as a perfect gem OF oratory
! Virginia has called the nation. ITS
! elders and councillors, her sister States,
their Governors. lawglvcrs and Judges,
/, her own people, and all OF the children
, OF this confederate family of Freedom
to assemble this anniversary birthday
around the monument she has raised e
the memory Of that son, whose wisdom
, fyalor, virtue. won the Srandest, proud
est, purest, OF all earthly titles, Father
OF his Country In her name I bid yo,
all. all Welcome to the gathering around
). Virginia's monument to Washington
n Magic name. IF none other undet
i, heaven can draw us to each othen thai
!, talisman can touch the chords OF union
/, and clasp US hand to hand and b!ne