Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-26
DOMESTIC.
hR I'psIII,Ilf. nsI.I,

,,, NIX IPSHUR'S LETTER
the ioiowng papers, appended To the Letter Of the
lion. "A. l. upshur, published in last, were, fol
The want OF room necessarily deferred until to-day
PAsnINcroS, February 10, 1912
Dear ar: think II due TO You, at this time 10
you mat nave US YET nothing to change my
fictiohs respecting your opinions and avowa Of them
Oil The subject Of the dissolution Of the Union and l.
declare tna have had for the last ten wears the best
opportunities, under almost all circumstances of know
ing perhaps better than any other person not Of your
own iahi'y, what your opinions tha, subject have
been, and wha! has been your mode of ADVOCATING and
advancing them.
during The severe contest in 1889 and $50, in the
Williamsburg Congressional District Of Virginia be-
tween the Hon. Rch1rd Coke aud myself, the test
question was that of Modification. was the arde nj
and devoted opponent Of that doctrine and perhaps no
where anf at no time issue ever more thoroughly
and r"rl"usy discussed than was then the effects and
tendencies ct Notification upon the question Of union
or d'sinIon lon were citizen OF the district, and
debated the questions involved in the contest very fire.
quenty and fully, publicly and privately, with me and
with others, and often warmly. You opposed my cleo
ton, and advocated the election of MIR. Coke who did
moi approve of The Of South Carolina under the
circumstances, but who advocated the doctrines OH
which That State based her conduct. Aud must say
that At no time, III the most heated moments Of tile
s,ruggle-a struggle which ragged so ierccly as u
bring my opponents and myself, unfortunately to n
scene which We both regret-did ever hear you or
any else advance any sentiments or expressions al
all assImated to those which now most unuslly |
think, attributed 10 yon So far from favoring or coun
tenanclng the doctrine of dissolution of the Union,
whenever or my friends urged that dsunon was the
tendency oil your opinions and doctrines, you invara-
bly, denied the positions and attempted 10 show that they
and they only, were conservative of the Union, and
were commended TO you and to others for that especial
reason.
Such we're your opinions in 1888 when Notification
was contested throughout Virginia. have known them
with you every fall and spring, whilst attending your
courts on the snbjec have read all your writings
the subject: have never agreed, and always debated
with you the subject knew your course especially
in lS6, when We both supported the election of Hugh
Lawson White OF Tennessee, as strong Union man
ever Washington himself was, for the Presidency;
have been intimately familiar with your opinions and
ever since; and yet did hear you declare
any sentiment expression, at any time, under an
circumstances, similar to those mentioned or inferred
by Messrs Harrison and Braxton. And still as firm
" ever believe that those persons must have ncor
rerily put their differences III the place of your de-
clarailons and their true meaning
Very truly yours,
HENRY A. WISE
Hon. A. p. UrsHcR.
From General (aoo JudgcJ Bayy, Of .iceomae
RICnMoSD, Feb. TO- 1912.
Ny dear Sir: have read Mr.. Philip Harrison u let
ter, contained in Mr.. Bolts publication, with amaze
that think il sustains Mr. Botts-the fact
that falls short of doing so, is itself matter of
surprise. For, coming from inveeratc Federalst,
of Mr. Harrison S gloomy disposition expected that
his Imagination would have distorted your opinions
more than it has But, considering the character Of
the conversations which he Details and his rea
tionshp TO Mr. Bolts, am amazed that he should have
consented TO fully before the country wit
ness. And am still more amazed that, in statement
purpori;ng 10 be minute and circumstantial, lie
should have fallen into such gross naccuracy he has,
at least in instance viz lie says that the
,aton which he details took place in November of the
list second year Of Mr. Van Burens administration
his only doubt 10 be whether it was IT, first or
second. Now, Judge Barbour al that time could not
ave been going To Norfolk to hold The District Court
or before that time he Justice of the Supreme
Court. And am told that he in Norfolk
lf,er General Jackson conferred upon him that ap-
,on tment.
| do not know that yon will undertake TO prove n
negative But should you, and my testimony he Of
my use, it is al your service You and have been
neiehbors. have practlsed law in your courts ever
since have been at the bar During the session of
your courts in which have practised for ten years.
iined with you nearly every day and very frequently
we spent the evening together. On these occasions
politics most frequently the subject of
ion. You and ! have entertained very nearly the
same political sentiments; and representing for six
years an adjoining county TO your own, have
yersed and correspondent freely particularly in refer
,nce 10 questions affecting the stability of the Union
nd declare that if You entertained such scnt
ncns Mr.. Bolts attributes to you, they were con-
:ealed from me.
Hon. A. p. UrsuuR TIL II. BAYLY
WAsnIsGTox, Feb. II, 1912.
have been requested by Judge Upshur 10 state whe-
her |, who have long heen acquainted with him, and
mite conversant with bis political opinions, have ever
considered him dsunonist Believing il to be my
I b,ya hos IN
will premise, however, that will not pretend TO re-
peat the words used by Judge Upshur any one Of
he many occasions which have heard him express
his opinion. Were to attempt if, should be fearful
If snbecting myself 10 the imputnton OF having foo
rood memory; and should feel that deserved it.
shall therefore merely state my Impressions in which
have the utmost confidence. have always been op.
,osed to Notification, wild and destructive in It's
Hc on the contrary, has always conended
hat it was necessary safeguard against the vo-
alton of the Constitution and the Union. remember
hat read years ago two pamphlets written bg
i'm under the signatures of /" Locke and $ Napier,
ind so far from advocating disnnion, he argued with
treat power that Notification the rigbu remedy,
IS il would enable State to resist the unconstitutional
ppressions of the Federal Government without re-
ornp 10 secession, or to any other remedy destrRe.
ire of the Union, to all The benefits of which every State
vas entitled by the Constitution Of the u. 5. have
reouently heard him that time earnestly contend
ny for the doctrines, in conversation and other
wise was utterly astonished, therefore, when heard
hat Mr.. Bolts had charged him with being openly and
vowedly in favor Of dissolution Of the Union, with
"a, limitations or conditions. FULLY Il. WISE.
NORFOLK, Feb. IL, 1912.
Sir have received your letter Of the s;h instant,
n which you ask to state "wliat opportunities
AVE had Of knowing your opinions in regard to the
,auc Of the Union, and what | understand them to
&C."
In the course of The last twelve years. have very
,f,en met with you while attending several Of the
courts in which yon presided; and still more often in
he society of Norfolk and Williamsburg. We have
ravecd together; have had the pleasure Of seeing
,ou at my house and my office; and We have cores
bonded by letter II has rarely happened that en- any
If these occasions, political topics not the subject
If conversation, particularly the Of General
Jacksons administration. On these, in connexon with
and the subject of Abolition, have Of
en- heard you express your opinions boldly and warm
y, yet i; never occurred TO me that you were
ce to the Union. On the contrary, | have regarded
,our strong opposition TO he Proclamation, Abolition
md the many other subjects have heard you discuss
% snrnpinu from your attachment the Union, whose