Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-03
fffom 7'aeuiay'1 -Nadronan.)


and the Secretary Of the Navy, in relation 10 the as
seron SO boldly made by Mr. Bolts the other day III
the House We thought denial Of the charge, be-
yond that made by Mr.. Wise, uncaled tor. None
knowing Judge Upshur will believe that he aVow
ed advocate Of dissolution. None noticing the late
rossippng Paul Pry of Mr. Bolts, VIII deem an
assertion made BY him worthy Of credit. declaration
BY him is worthy only of contempt. But MI WISE
having undertaken 10 deny the asseveratcns oil Mr.
Bolts il became proper hear what might be SAID by
the Judpe himself in confirmation of the stand taken
by Mr. Wise No hesitation can exist in deciding whom
to believe.
WA:mIsGros, January 3Is 1912.
Dear Sir request that you will publish The IN
closed correspondence with no other object whatever
than 10 relieve myself from the responsibility of de-
NAL which | assumed 10 make, the floor of the
House OF Representatives in behalf Of the Secretary OF
the Navy who, il will be seen, now makes that DENIAL
his very respectfully, ,,
To Me Editor Of the .uadisonian,
House. OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
January 25th, 1872
Dear Sir: In the debate, yesterday, in the House Of
on the motion Of Mr. Marshall 10 CEN
sue Mr. Adams for contempt TO the House, in pre-
scntrr petition dissolve the Union Of these States
the following remarks were made by my colleague Mr.
Bolts, and by myself
Mr. Borr,. - Talk about ccnsnrns tie gentleman
end Of Tins avenue' There
they found standing at The head Of the right arm 2" the
who, the last time he had had conversation win HIM On the
subject, ayowed undSguised advocate Of The IN
mediate dissolution Of the tnion
Nh Boris What authority have you Do yon keep record
OF The conversations o;he Secretary Of the Navy:
| tCres Of Colder 'oder.'
Mr. WISE said lie hoped his colleague would fly into
fame offend him; but 10 This, that he
did believe any authority, from con'eation from
Of The Navy ever went Tor h~ unqualified Of
Cmon Ii he advanced this idea of dissolution ne CIR W.
undcTtook 10 ay place would risS his
1
caons conditions, and reasons which Tie Secretary could de-
Sir Borr, said lie had induced. for time, regard
hi. colleague Keeper II thu conscience {" the King but had
lie of all connected
King Nor did he recognise his right 10 say what was
opinion eSpresse BY one OF the l :" NJ nets a
Tia, had expressed such dra lie had talked win HIM for
would prove You said Mr. d. addressing himself to
Mr.. Wise have M right 10 deny Y. 80
Such is the report OF the lnteSencer OF to-day ana
| believe it is very accurate.
These remarks you will sec, deeply involve you per-
sonallv and your sentiments and expressions on
most important and delicate subject, and were made
under most interesting circumstances, and IN most
DISTINGUISHED place 10 attract public attention. And,
you Will also see that the denial of the assertion OF
MI Bolts that you were, in your "last conversation
with him. ian opeR aroEcd undtSguistd advocate OF The
Immediate dissolution Of the Union assumed Sc
rious responsibility This responsibility | should not
have nssnmed had you not been absent friend; had
you not been long my neighbour; had you not been IN
iii very lately my constituent had not had every OPP
portunty public and private, TO know your opinions
and your mode Of expressing them on the subject re-
feed TO- and had yon not printed and published those
opinions under almost every form OF ADDRESS, essay
pamphlet and book. Indeed, had Mr.. Bolts relied on
your publications for his proof Of the grave charge lie
uttered on the floor against you, should have left il TO
reference those publications for its refuatlon but
he relied on conversation, "or hours, by you with
him held when where he did not say for the nature
and character of which reference can be made that
know Of but 10 you or him. Therefore 1t was that
undertook to say that Mr. Bolts must have been msa-
KEN and to affirm what did, that you never could have
advocated, opealy, aromedIy, and undssnscdy, "the
immediate dissolution of the Union, lchou fuaLfca
ton, condition or contingency
Will you please say IN reply whether veniurcd TO
assume too much in your behalf and whether did you
Injustice in this denial which have made my
authority:
Very truly, your friend,
HENRY A. WISE.
\. B. My intention is to publish this letter and your
reply
Navy DEPARTMENT, Jan. %, 1872.
Dear Sir thank you for your communication OF
yesterday relative 10 the charge made against me, the
House of Representatives, by Mr. Bolts, and yonr reply
10 it, thank you still more for your prompt and friendly
denial of the truth of that charge, and you that
you have placed the subject far as am concerned,
upon the true ground.
am greatly surprised that my name should have
been thus unccrcmoniousy and unnecessarily nlro-
duced into debate in the House Of Representatives
acknowledge that am also somewhat mortified at
heins represented to the country having held
versation "or hours for any length OF time, upon
a grave subject of public concern with who
was capable of making such use Of it. assure you
that hare recollection Of haring erer heid any
rerSatton ,ch Mr. Bots, upon any subject aOhateyer
| ! am uety al a loss 10 imagine when or where he
could have "talkcd with me for hours, upon any poll.
teal, or any other subject. lon know, Sir and all
Virginia knows that Mr. Bolts associations have been
different from mine, that nothing but the mcrest
accident could have brought Us together. Our ac-
quaniance has always been Of the slightest kind
there the least approach to familiarity be.
tween
will not assert that have never held conversa-
ton with Mr.. Bolts. | do not "keep record of the
conversations of the Secretary Of the Navy, OF
any other man, although appears that Mr. Bolts does.
safely, say, however, that 1t is very improbable,
10 say the least of it, that conversation such he de-
scrbes, ever occurred between him and me- There is
not upon my memory the slightest trace of any such
incident, nor can now call 10 mind any one occasion
on which have ever been in company with that gen.
teman.
will not pretend to say what Mr.. Bolts can "provc"
but assert, in the most direct and unqualified manner
that he cannot prove the truth OF his charge against
me, by any witness who is himself man OF truth
understand that charge TO be, that | am, or have
been, the ''ndvocate of immediate dissolution Of
The Union, without qualifications conditions
have never, at any time OF my life entertained any
such opinion feeling On the contrary, have, on
all occasions, advocated union upon the true prnci-
Piles of The Constitution, and have sought to recon-.
mend my principles, upon the ground that they
were conservative of the Constitution and the Union.
This is we'll known to you, for with you hare had
conversations "for hours" upon this very subject
You say correctly, that have sprinted and published
my opinions under almost every form of address essay,
pamphlet and book and if any thing can be found in
any of these publications to justify the charge of
Mr.. Bolts, will surrender the point.
| think it almost certain, although ! cannot recall
any particular occasion on winch It occurred, that
The Union the establishment Of systems of policy