The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1855-11-06
Henry A. Wise to the Boston Negro
StCalCrS.
ONLY. NEAR ONANCOCK,

Stcalcrs.
ONLY, NEAR OSANcocK,
Accomac County, Va, Oct. 5, 1855.
Gentlemen On my return home, after an
absence of some days, found yours Of the 10Th
ult., respectfully inviting me to deliver one OF
the lectures Of the course on Slavery, at Ire
mont Temple, in the city of Boston, Oh Thurs
day evening, January 10th, 1856; or, if that
time will not suit my engagements, you request
that will mention at once what Thursday eve
ming between the middle of December and the
middle of March next, will accommodate me-"
Now, gentlemen, desire to pay you due re-
spect, yet you compel me to be very plain with
YOU, and say that your request in every sense
is insulting and offensive to me. What subject
of slavery have you initiated" lectures upon {?
cannot conceal it from myself that you have
undertaken, in Boston, to discuss and decide,
whether my property, in Virginia, ought to re-
main mine or not, and whether it shall he al
lowed the protection Of laws, federal and State,
where it may be carried or may escape in the
United States; or, whether it shall be destroyed
by higher law than the constitutions and stat
u.cs I,
Who are you to assume thus such juris.
diction over subject so delicate and already
fixed in its relationby solemn compact between
the States and by States which are sovereign {?
| will not obey your summons nor recognize your
jurisdiction You lave no authority and no
justification for thus calling me to account at
the bar of your tribunal, and for thus arragnng
an institution established by laws which do not
reach you and which you cannot reach, by call
ing OH ne tC defend it.
You send me a card, to indicate the character
Of the lecturers. 1t reads:
admit the bearer and lady to the Indepen-
dent Lectures on Slavery. Lecture committee,
S. G. Howe, T. Gilbert, George +. Williams,
Henry T. Parker, w. Washhurn, B. B. Mus
sey, w. B. Spooner, james W. Stone"
1t is endorsed:
Lectures at the fremont Temple, Boston,
1915. November %, Hon. Charles Sumner,
Rev. John Picrpont poet. December 7, Hon.
Salmon P. Chase, of Ohio. December l4th,
Hon. Anson Burlingamc, December 81, Wen
dell Phillips, ESQ. December 20, Cassius NJ.
Clay, Esq, Of kentucky. January 4, Hon.
Horace Greeley. January II, Rev. Henry Ward
Beccher. January Is, Hon. John P. Hale
January 25, Ralph Waldo Emmerson, Esq
February 8, Hon. Nathaniel p. Banks, Jr.-
February l5 Hon. Lewis D. Campbell, of Ohio.
February 90, Hon. Sam Houston, of Texas.
March /, Hon. David Wilmot, of Pennsylva-
MIA. March 9Th, Hon. Charles w. Upham.
All Honorabes and S9uires, except those who
arc Revercnds. The card docs verify indicate
their characters by simply naming them. And
your letter gentlemen, is franked by &C. Sum
ner U. S." With these characteristics am
at no loss to understand YOU and Your purposes
You say, "during the next season, large
number Of gentlemen from the South will be
invited" &C., &c. regret it, if any others can
be found in the slaveholding States to accept
your invitation. You plead the example Of
General Houston. 1t is the last would follow.
have no doubt that you accorded very respect,
full attention TO bim last winter, and were very
grateful for his services in your cause.
You offer zone hundred and fifty dollars to
be paid to the lecturer, he bearing Ills own ex.
penses." Let me tell you that fremont Temple
cannot hold wealth enough to purchase one word
of discussion from me, there, whether mine, here,
shall Le mine or not but am ready to volun.
! tecr, without money and without price, to sup
press any insurrection, or repel any invasion
which threatens or endangers the State Rights
of Virginia, or my individua. rights under the
laws aud constitution of my country, or the sa
cred Union, which binds Slave States and Free
States together in one bond of National coyed
ercy, and IN separate bonds Of Independent
!SopereignticS!
In short, gentlemen, I will not deliver one of
the lectures of the course on Slavery, at the
fremont Temple in Boston, on Thursday eve.
ming, January 10th, 1856; and there will be no
Thursday evening between the"H1ddle of de-
ccmbcr and the middle osAlarch next, or between
that and doomsday, which will best accommo-
date me for that purpose.
give you an immediate answer, and at my
earliest convenience, Indicate to you that the
particular phase of tie subject that will pre-
sent is, deliberately: TO FIGHT IF WE MUST
Your obedent servant,
HENRY a. WISE.