Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-10-15
Mr.. Wise,s Letter.

and thirty seconds each. On, Lordi on,
Lord
MIR. Wise's Letter.
Mr.. Wise seems determined not to take the
Abolitionists Of Boston to "his hear" with
the same warmth that he did the Free-soil De-
mocracy Of New York. We don't admire scold
ing at long taw, not thinking 1t demonstrates
either chivalry, or conclusive argument. In
deed we should have liked If Mr. Wise, like
Mr.. Butler, had appeared in Boston, and made
temperate, resolute, and conclusive argument
upon his side Of the subject. He has, or ought
to have, the material to make valuable de-
monstration of the truth and justice Of his
opinions, which might be published to infinitely
more advantage amongst his opponents than
elsewhere. We should even like to see public
discussion upon the subject confined to states
men Of character, and ability, and conducted
with the courtesy and propriety which distin-
guish free men. We should have expected Mr..
Wise, whea invited to Boston, would have
answered in the words of Luther, when sum
moned before the Papal Court ofRome: ~lhat
he would go if there was devil upon every
tile on the houses by the way-side." We could
have wished that Henry A. Wise would have
attended, and made such speech as he could
make to the people Of Boston. =
OILY, NEAR OgAScoCK,
Accomac county, Va, Oct. s, 1855.
GENTLEMEN: On my return home, after an ab
sence of some days, found yours Of the 18th ul-
timo, respectfully inviting me to deliver one OF
the lectures Of the course on Slavery, at fremont
Temple, in the city Of Boston, on Thursday even
ing, January 10, 1856; or, II that time Will not
suit my engagements, you request that will men
ton at once, what Thursday evening, between the
middle of December and the middle of March
next, will best accommodate ma."
Now, gentlemen, desire to pay you due re-
spect, vet 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 non s'initiated" lectures upon? I
cannot conceal it from myself that you have UNI
dertaken, in Boston, ito discuss and To decide
whether my property, in Virginia, ought to remain
mine or not and whether it shall be allowed the
may be carried or may escape in the United States
or, whether 1t shaQ be destroyed by higher law
than constitution and statutesl
Who are uol6 to assume thus such Jurisdiction
over subject so delicate and already fixed In Its
relations by solemn compact between the States,
and by States which are sovereign viii not obey
your summons nor recognise your Jurisdiction.
You have no authority and no justification foFthus
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. 1t reads;
admit the bearer and lady TO tho Independent
Lectures on Slavery. Lecture committee, y. u.
Howe, T. Gilbert, George +. Williams, Henry T.
Parker, w. Washburn, B. B. Mussey, W. B. spoo-
ner, James w, Stone"
II 10 endorsedI
1854, '55, November 20, Hon. Charles Sumner,
Rev. John Pierpont, poem. December 7, Hon.
Salmon P. Chase, Of Ohio. December IA, Hon.
Arson Burlingame December 81, Wendell Phil
lips, ESQ, December 2s, Cassius NJ Qhy, of Ken
lucky. January 4, Hon. Horace Greeley. Janua-
ry ii, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. January Is,
Hon. John p. Hale. January rs, Ralph Waldo
Emmcrson, Esq. February 8, Hon. Nathaniel 2.
Banks, Jr. February Is, Hon. Lewis ID. Campbell,
of Ohio. February %, Hon. Samuel Houston, OF
Texas. March !, Hon. David Wilmot, OF Penn
sylvana. March 8, Charles w. Upham."
All Honorables and Squres, except those who
are Reverendsl The card does verify indicate
their characters by simply naming them. And your
letter, gentlemen, Is ranked by 20. Sumner United
States Senate" VT With these characteristics, am
at loss TO undsrstand you and your purposes.
You say, during the next peeson, large mum
Der Of gentlemen from the South viii be Invited,
&C., &c. Ircgret It, II any others can be found
in the slave-holdng States to accept your invita-
ton. You plead the example Of General Houston,
Il Is the last wopld follow. Ihaye no doubt that
you accorded very respectful attention TO him last
winter and were very grateful for .hs services in
your cause
You offer one hundred and Fifty dollars TO be
paid TO the lecturer, he bearing his own expenses"
Let me tell you that fremont Temple cannot hold
wealth enough 70 purchase one word Of discussion
from me, there, whether mine, here, shall be mine
or not; but / am ready 10 volunteer, without
money and without price, TO suppress any insurs
rection, and repel any invasion which threatens
or endangers the State Rights Of Virginia. or my
individual rights under the laws and constitutions
Of my country, or the sacred Union, which binds
slave States and fee together in one bond Of Ma
tional Confederacy, andl separate bonds Of indie
pendent sovereignties!
In short gentlemen, ] win not deliver one Of the
LECTURES Of the course on slavery, at the fremont
Temple, In Boston, on Thursday evening, January
10th, 1855; and there viii be no Thursday even
ing between the middle Of December and the mid
die Of March next or between that and doomsday
which will best accommodate me, for that purpsoe.
give you an immediate answer, and, at my ear
liest convenience, indicate TO you that the par
ticuar phase Of the subject" that will present Is,
deliberately TO FIGHT ~ WE pUsT
Your obedent servant
HENRY A. WISE,
To SAMUEL @. HowE, and others.