Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-08-27

! ANSWER TO THE SOUTHERN CITIZEN. y
The Knoxville "SuuIhern Citizen" of the 18th in
stant proceeds TO question ua as to Gov Wses views
on the question of the African slave iade. The "Ci
tzen' does this IN the avowed presumption that "the
Enquirer evidently knows the Governors mind"
Strange rs i, may seem to our coemporary, we are
obliged, in frsnkness, TO disavow the intimate 60
quaniance with the Governors views this su1jt CT
thus attributed TO All that We know is by infer
ence from SONS private conversations with him, in
which we made no attempt to elicit from him any
thing like full discussion of the matter. We are
under the impression that hs fully adheres to every
thing expressed in his letter 10 Mr.. Adams How far
lie may approve the inierences drawn by the "Cit.
zen Others, from the contents of that letter we
cannot attempt to define. The Enquirer has pur.
sued irs own cOuree on this subject. Governor Wise
is not responsible for anything which appears i'll our
editorial columns can We pretend to The position
of authorized sxpounder Of his sentiments in any
respect. The Governor is absent from Richmond. -
Were he present, we should not undertake to elicit
bIs views a question which seems to us, under pre-.
circumstances entirely devoid Of practical sgni
6cance.
Whenever Governor Wise deems il requisite TO the
welfare of the South of the Union, that this ques
ton should be gravely considered and debated with
view TO practical movement, We doubt not his opin-
ions will be made known-not through the editorial
columns Of "A newspaper. but in such manner that no
doubt Can be entertained authorship respon-
rblity.
If the "Citizen" desires our humble opinion on this
point we have no hesitation in saying without con-
sulta,ion with Governor Wise anybody eae, that
however opinions may differ concerning the propos-
ton for the legazed importation into the United
States of African slaves, as matter of final e1pe
diency whoever undertakes to etfectuate revolution
OF our existing governmental policy in this PARTICULAR
will at best become engaged in useless pursuit.
One might hs well attempt TO fight the wind. The
thing ia impossible. Nay, the attempt is worse
than useless for there are important battles
to be fought in the Of the South
battles which require all the energies OF our
best and truest nrn-ba,tles which promise vic
tory to frmness tempered with discretion. Under
such circumstances, sincerely regret to pen
able and honest that OF our contemporary, occu-
pied in the pursuit of sheer impracticabilityon
too upon which true Southern men are divided even
on the point OF ultimate economical and social expe-
Wise wasting his energies in the same hopeless
direction, when many and 30 important matters
impose numerous c!ans cn his patriotic efficiency.
As before said We decline the attempt TO eIpound
from our imperfect information any complete
view of Governor Wise's opinions on the que.on Of
the African slave-trade. Nor do we consider the
question of sufficient present practical Importance
TO require essay from him on the subject
So far as the views contained n the Adams letter
concerned, feel that may safely venture to a-
firm, they remain unchanged. We knew that Govern
or Wise has never expressed opinions on great sub
-c Of this sort without full deliberaon, and we know
of nothing which has sinoe occurred 10 change the
sentiments then expressed. We repeat the opinion
that the "Citizen may safely presume that in this
instance AZ in all others Governor Wise ID prepared
To rei,erste the assertion which he applied in 1855 to
his whole past political career 81 have recsnta-
tions to make-no panodes to sing"