THE SOUTH v. NORTH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 447, 14 February 1857, Page 5

THE SOUTH v. NORTH.

The violence of party feeling which at present prevails throughout the United States relative to the Presidential election,' is thoroughly exhibited in the. following abstract from a speech recently delivered by the Hon. Henry A. Wise. Governor of Virginia, at a public meeting at Kichmond.- ' Adverting to the possibility of Colonel Fremont s election, he said:— ' " I hope and trust in God that we shall be saved from such a calamity. (Cheers.) He is a deadly enemy to his country ; he is a dastard ; he "is a demon ; he is guilty of the sin of Cain; he is the worst of murderers—a fratricide, who would, without sufficient cause, light the flames of civil' war- But, " Rather than -wear dishonoured chains, Or follow captives at the trophied car, Give Us: again the wildness of onr woods, And the fierce freedom of our great forefathers." (Tremendous cheering.) I would preach peace. I would vote for -peace—peace and honour. (Cheers.) Look up to heaven, or, turning, look down .upon the earth of our native land, and ask yourselves, tell yourselves the answer to the question, which is everlastingly occurring to me. What will you do if this proclamation of war is made ? Do you ask me what I will do. I say to you that I reserve my answer for the present. Considering the 'question deliberately, calmly. and being well fortified in the thought, I deliberately say to you. that'l will do whatever you will back me in, to save-us or die. (Tremendous applause.) I am .making »o threats. I will remember the oath I have taken to preserve th<» constitution and defend the right of the people. 1 will fight for them -if 1 must fight—to savr\ not to -destroy. (Enthusiastic applause) War is a terrible thing, and we all have to remember that'if it begins, it will not only be the North against the South, it will be a civil war ot neighbourhoods for liberty against 'despotism— for right against power. (Cheers.) Our enemies - will remember that if they have a minority in Virginia, we have a minority in Now England, New York and Ohio, aaid everywhere North. If they have their fifty or sixty thousand left them in the 'State-of 'Virginia, in every NortV>--em.'State we have hundreds .of thousands o\ arms that are with us. (Tremendous Cheers.) You have more than your own power at lioin-e. Ti>« saddest reflection to me his, that in such a crisis there will -be found many traitors among iw. But if we may have enough to do with "thes« few at home, the black republicans have enough to do with the thousands that arc still \t€z Sit the Northern States, to battle Tor the union ami the rights of all. (Tremendous cheers.) 'Virginia has not depopulated herself without souk; return of-the bread she has cast-upon the waters. There is -many a heart in every State of tihrf Union that has gone from the home oi' a Virginian family-; many .an arm .Ikat was .oosieeissd -Is

the womb of a Virginian mother that will, when the dogs of war are let slip, be raised in. vindication of her rights. (Loud cheers.) We have friends across the water, too, as well as foes, who will cry havoc in such a war. (Cheers.) What they consider our very weakness we will prove to be our strength. With a proper knowledge of military discipline, I will prove that our faithful slaves oan and will repel the black republicans, and their traitorous allies, who may invade us." . • These remarks were hailed with vociferous cheers.