The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-10-22
Gov. Wise's Letter.


years from the pen Of man claiming to be a
gentleman, and occupying high political posi-
ton, is the recent letter of Gov. Wise, of Vir-
GINA to the Boston Committee, who invited
him, as last winter they did other distinguished
Southerners, to deliver lecture in Boston on
the subject OF Slavery. The objects of these
Lectures is to obtain full discussion on the sub
ject of slavery, and hear every shade of opin-
ion on the subject-certainly an object that no
Southerner need disparage, much less feel in
suited by polite request to give his own
opinions in connection with. Last year,
/ Gen. Houston accepted the invitation, and he
madea strong pro-slavery address, which was
listened to with polite attention by an audience
who no doubt differed entirely with him in
their views. Among others invited was Sena-
tor Butler of South Carolina, who accepts the
invitation. Mr.. Douglas sent polite declina-
ton. Mr. Pierre Sotile, of Louisiana declined
in a polite letter, in which he thanked the
committee warmly for the invitation, and re-
GREETED business would prevent his acceptance.
Others from the South have been equally polite
knowing the invitation was well intended and
more of compliment than an insult. But it
has been left to Gov. Wise, whose name is
prominently spokenof candidate for the Dem
ocratc nomination for the Presidency, to
illustrate how vulgar BLACKBOARD the Cover
nor Of a great State, even of Old Dominion
may make of himself As a cotemporary has
remarked, he must have been drunk when he
wrote the letter. Here is a specimen of Vir-
ginia chiyalry and manners of modern days:
Dolly, NEAR ONANCocK.1
AccoMAcK COUNTY, Va. Oct. 5, 1855.
GENTLEMEN: On my return from home, af-
ter an absence of some days, / found yours of
the 10Th ult., respectfully inviting me to de-
liver one of the lectures Of the course on slave
~, at fremont Temple in the city of Boston,
on Thursday evening, Jan 10, 1855; or if that
time will not suit my engagements, you re-
quest that will mention at once what Thurs
day evening between the middle of December
and the middle of March next, will best ac-
commodate me-"
Now, gentlemen, desire to pay you due res
pect, yet you compel me to be very plain with
you, and to say that your request in every
sense, is insulting and offensive to me- What
subject of Slavery have you ''initate1'' lectures
upon? l cannot conceal it from myself that
you have undertaken in Boston, to discuss anil
decide whether my property IN Fryi,lia ought
to remain mine or not, and whether it shall be
allowed the protection of laws, Federal and
State, whether it may be carried or may escape
in The United States; or whether it shall be
destroyed by higher law than constitutions
and statutes!
Wbo are y0w to assume thus such jur15dlc-
ton over a subject so delicate and already fix
ed in its relations byasolemn compact between
the States, and by States which are sovereign?
| will not obey your summons, nor recognize
your Jurisdiction
You have no authority and no jurisdiction
for thus calling me to account at the bar of your
tribunal, and for thus arraigning an institution,
established by laws which do not reach you,
and which you cannot reach, by calling on me
to defend it.
You send me card to indicate the character
Of the lecturers (of the last year9 1t reads
admit the bearer and lady to the Indepen-
Ident Lectures on Slavery. Lecture Committee
is. G. Howe, T. Gilbert, Geo. F. Williams,
Henry t. Parker, W. Washburn, R. B. Mus
Isey, w. B. Spooner, ]. w. Stone" 1t is en-
Idorsed: Lectures at the fremont Temple
Boston, 1915. Nov. %, Hon. Chas. Sum
ner; Rev. John Pierpont, poem. Dec. Z, Hon.
Salmon P Chase, of Ohio Dec. II, Hon.
Arson Burlingome. Dec 81, Wendell Phil
lips, ESQ. Dec. %, Cassius NJ Clay, Esq, of
Kentucky. Jan. 4, Hon. Horace Greeley
JAN IL, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher Jan 18
Hon. John P. Hale Jan. Is, Ralph Waldo
Emerson, Esq Feb. s, Non. Hathl P. Banks
Jr. Feb Is, Hon. Lewis D. Campbell, of
Ohio. Feb. %, Hon. Sam'l Houston, of Texas
March 1, Hon. David Wilmot, of Pennsyl-
vania. March s, Hon. Chas w. Upham -
All ho''ora5les and squires except those who
are reUera1dsi The card does verify in
dictate their characters by simply naming
them. And your letter, gentlemen, is frank
ed by &c. Sumner, .. S. S." With these
characteristics l am at no loss to understand
you and your purposes.
You say, during the next season larger
number Of gentlemen from the South will be
/ invited" &C.. &c. | regret it, if any others
can be found in the slaveholding States to ac-
| cept your invitation. You plead the example
of Gen. Houston. 1t is the last | would fol-
low. have no doubt you accorded very re-
spectful attention to him last winter, and
were very grateful for his services in your
cause.
You offer cone hundred and fifty dollars to
be paid to the lecturer, he bearing his own ex-
penses'' Let me tell you that fremont Tenn
pie cannot hold wealth enough to purchase one
word of discussion from me, there, whether
mine, here, shall be mine or nat; but am ready
to uoLuateer, without money and without price
to suppress any instruction and repel any in
vasion which threatens or endangers the State
rights of Virginia, or my individual rights IN
der the laws and constitutions of our country,
or the sacred Union, which binds Slave States
and Free together in bond 0f N1ti0,7aZ c01f9Ee-