The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-10-29
II II L DISPATCH H.
, Gov. w,se's Letter

. = - ~ S~---
asa Gov. Wise's Letter.
Ne part Of the political histoty Of the day.
We publish below the letter Of Governor Wise, in
reply to letter inviting him to addres the people
OF Illinois, upon the subject OF the exciting poIti
cal canvass in that State:
RIcaNosD, IVA October I3, 1858.
| Dear &r:-i cannot express to you the emotion,
OF my bosom, excited by your appeal TO me for aid
| 10 The warm contest which your noble Democracy
| is wasivg with abolitienism. Every impulse
r,mpts me to rush to your aide. Your position
Is grand one, aud in some respects unexafn pled
ia the face of doubt and distrpst attempted TO be
thrown spsn yoar Democracy and its gallant lead
or by the pretext of preseaders that you were
giving aid aud comfort to the arch enemy OF our
untrS's peace ahd safety and our party integrity
see you atsnding alone isolated by q tyrannical
prescription, which would, alike foolishiy and
wiekediy, Top of Que Of the vigorous limbs oi
National Democracy-the limb Of glorious illinois,
see you. 10 spise Of this mputation. firmly front
ing the Toe, and battling to maintain -
Conservative nationality against embittered and
tmplacable sectioralism
Constitutional rights, operating proprio rigore,
ana every way against all unequal aud unjust Fed.
eral or Territorial legislation.
TIE right OF the people to govern themselves
against all force or fraud:
The right Of the sovereign people to look ct
the "returns" and behind the returns" of all
their representative bodies, agents, trustees or
servants
The responsibility of all governors, representa-
tiYes, trustees, sgerts, aud servants to the prnci
pals, the people, who are "the governed" and the
roryce OF all political power;
Utter opposition TO the detes,able doctrine of the
absouiism Of Conventions to prescribe and %. o.
C aim fcnd ,mental forms of government, at their
will, without admission to the sovereign peopls-
doctrine fit only for slaves, and claimed only by
legitimists AID despots of the Old World;
Powers Of any sort, not expressly delegated to
any mar or bedy OF men, are expressly ''resel we'd
to the peoples"
No absolute or dictatorai authority In represep.
tatNe bocies;
Ihe representative principle as claiming sub
mission aud obedience 10 The will OF the constitu
epts;
The sovereignty Of the organized people, supreme
above all mere representative bodies, Conventions
CT Legislatures, to decide vote upon, and .ter-
mine what shall lie their supreme law;
Justice and equality between States and their
citizens, aud between voters to elect their agents
and representatives, and to ratiiy or reject any
proposed system of government;
SUBMISSION to the Constitution and laws of the
Federal Union, aud strict observance Of all the
rights Of the States and their citizens, but resist
ance to the d'c.ations or brides Of Congress, or
any other power to yield the inalienable right Of
| elf-go,ernmeat;
Protection 10 the Territories and every where to
all rights cfpersons and Of properly, in accordance
with the rights of the Ststea, aud with the Consi
tutisn and Laws of the Union:
Equity and uniformity ia the mode Of admitting
new States into the Union, making the same rules
| aud ratios TO apply to ell alike;
The rejection OF all compromises, conditions, or
terms which would discriminate between forms Ci
republican constitutions, admitting with oae
| namber Of population aud requiring three tines
| that number for another form equally republican,
The gseat law ef settlement oi the public dc mai
OF the United States Free equal and iast, never tC
! be "temporiZed" localized by temporary o;
| partial expedients, bus to bs djusted by perms
nent, Uniform, aud universal rules or right and
| justice.
Maintaining these andlike priuciples,I deem them
to be the aim of the strugg he ofdevoted denCcrs
cy ia this nal contes and understanding them
glory in their declaration and d. fsuce. / would
sacrifce much and go far to III hold your arms in
this battle, | would most gladly visit your people,
address them aud invoke them to stand fast by the
standard OF their faith and freedom, and never &c
let go the truths for which they contend for they
are vital aid cardinal and essential, and never
be yielded without yielding liberty itseIf. But
sr, am like tied mau bound TO my duties here;
and II my office would allow 30 leave it, could
not depart from the bed.ide of Illness in my fami y
which would probably recall me before / could
reach illinois, and my own state Of health adInon-
isheR me that ought not to undertake CAIN
| paign as arduous as that you propose. / know
VIA be labors of the stump are, end am not yet
done suffering bodily from my efforts for Democra.
cy ID 1850. For these reasons cannot obey our
call, but, permit me to add. Fl ght onl fight Oh
fight onl Never yield but in death or victory -
And, oh that vas unbound, and could do more
than look on, throbbing with every pulse of your
glorols gle-with its syerJ bow and bI cath
checrt with its hopes aud cbafed by it's doubts
You have my prayers, and ain yours. truly,
HENRY A. WISE
Hon. JOHN MOORE, Chairman, &C.