Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-16
From The Richmond Enquirer, August 10.


The following letter, addressed by Mr.. Wise TO
friend, has been handed to us for publication
AS II is an explanation by Mr.. Wise of the letter
which he addressed to ssThe Young Men 3 Demo
cratic Union Club of the city of New York, and
wmch has been the subject Of very extensive crti-
elsm by journals in and out of Virginia. we can
not in justice TO him refuse the request that il be
laid before our readers. II will be perceived that
the sentiments contained in this letter very nearly
correspond with those in an editorial upon the
subject which appeared in the Enquirer some days
since.
ONLY, (NEAR ONANcocK, VIRGINIA,
July 80, 1855.
ing my attention to an editorial of the Richmond
Era'niner OF that day, headed s'The New York
Herald and Ourselves again-Govemor Wise and
the Van Buren, Democracy, was not received
until yesterday. II was missent to Old Point
Comfort and l can't account for such negligence
IN the mails, Fortunately, this morning, for the
first time since il was written, saw nv letter. in
print to which this editorial refers. inclose il
to you, and ask for its republication in the
Enquirer, in order that every fair minded person
may Judge OF the justice of the Examiner to me
was addressed by neither Hards nor Softs
from New York. A most patriotic letter came
TO me from The Young Mems Democratic Union
Club, OF the city of New York, congratulatnp
the Democracy OF Virginia upon their recent
triumph over common enemy, and breathing
nothing but greeting sympathy with our sue
cess was to doubt or distrust any portion OF
our fellow countrymen who thus openly commit
ted themselves to the same cause with ourselves;
Was to stop and inquirer Tell me first, gentle
men are you Hards or Softsi I must DISTINGUISH
between you in my reply Certainly such course
OF response would have been unbecoming and
ungracious And, if they had avowed themselves
either Hard or Soft, was it not enough that thew
cordially congratulated the result of the Virginia
election? Would not that of itself show the
current and direction of their sentiments and
sympathies; and would not both be such as we
could approve most heartily?
But when you see that they were a Young
Men s Club, and Democratic Union Club amng
to preserve the Union of the States and to restore
the union of the factions of the party in their own
State, ask, was 1t for me to NEEDLE in any local
and personal division of our friends in a sister
State! No. addressed them as you see hurriedy
and hastily, but warmly and cordially as would
address them again. And by reading the letter
| all may see what il was and what it is in which
cordially, and with all my heart and all my
head" united, and with whom united Again,
| repeat, that my "heart and soul are with the
| Young Mems Democratic Union Club of New
York; in their patriotic efforts to unite the Demo
cracy In their State and everywhere again on the
National platform of 81 and 49," | will know
| no Hards and no Softs in the Democracy All
| are Democrats, or they are not. If Democrats
they will not repudiate the sentiments of my
| letter; and If. Democrats, they will not foment
discussions in the Democratic camp, in the very
face of Democracys most formidable foe
! have not word of comment to make on the
Examiners article. If divisions must come
amongst us in Virginia, they shall not come
through me; and say: "Woe unto him through
whom they shall comet The public is witness
of what / have borne in silence and patience
before and during the late canvass. mean to
forbear to the last extremity, to promote the har-
mony and unite the whole strength of our party
| in Virginia, and everywhere, for the defence Of
the rights Of the States and Of the union of the
States; for the maintenance of the Constitution
and laws OF the federal government, for the NUM-
ments of individual inalienable rights of the citi
zens of the States, and to prevent the Samson OF
America from being shom Of single hair of his
| strength by the treason and madness which would
''abolish African slavery or dissolve the Union, =
under the lead of the mnions and money of a
"foregn influence" Certainly the Examiner
will unite in these ends. You are welcome to
| publish this. Yours, hastily but truly,
HENRY A. WISE.