Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-10-29
LETTER FROM GOVERNOR WISE.

LETTER FROM GOVERNOR WISE
: Gov. Wise, Of Virginia, having been request
ed to address the people Of Illinois during the
pendency Of tho present exciting canvass in
J that State, declines the invitation in the SUBJ
joined letter, while taking occasion to express
his hearty sympathy with Senator Douglas and
the principles for which, as Democrat, he Is
contending under circumstances Of peculiar in
! terest- National Lntelligencsr.
RICHMOND, WA) OCTOBER Is, 1858.
, DEAR SIE: cannot express to you the
emotions Of my bosom, excited by your appeal
i to Inc for aid in the warm contest which your
noble Democracy Is waging with abolitionism
, Every impulse prompts me to rush to your
side. Your position is a grand one, and in
some respects unexampled. In the face Of
doubt and distrust attempted TO be thrown up
on your Democracy and its gallant leader by
the pretext Of pretenderS that you were giving
aid and comfort to the arch enemy of our coun-
try's peace and safety and our party integrity.
see You standing alone isolated BY tyran-
ical prescription, which would, alike ioolishly
and wickcdly, lop of one Of the most vigorous
limbs Of National Democracy-the limb of glo-
srious Illinois! 4. see you. in spite Of this mpu-
tatioh, firmly fronting the foe, and battling to
maintain -
Conservative nationality against .eabttered
and implacsble sectionaliSm;
Constitutional rights, operating proprio ca
gore, and every way against all unequal and
unjust Federal or Territorial legislation.
The right Of the people to govern themselves
against all force or fraud;
The right Of the sovereign people to look at
the returns" and behind the returns Of all
their representative bodies, agents, trustees or
servants;
The responsibility Of all governors, represcn-
tatives, trustees, agents. and servants to the
principals, the people, who are THE governed
and the source Of all political power;
Utter opposition to the dctestable doctrine
Of the absolutism Of Conventions to prescribe
and proclaim fundamental forms OF govern.
ment at their will, without submission to the
sovereign peoples doctrine tit only for slaves,
and claimed only by lcgitimists and despots Of
the Old World:
Powers Of any sort, not expressly delegated
to any man, or body of men, are expressly
reserved to the people,
No absolute or dictatorial authority in repre-
sentative bodies;
The representative principle as claiming sub.
mission and obedience to the will Of the con-
stituentS:
The sovereignty OF the organized people, su.
prcme above all mere representative bodies,
Conventions or Legislatures, to decide. vote
upon, and determine what shall be their su-
preme law; .-
Justice and equality between States and
their citizens, and between voters to elect their
agents and representatives, and to ratify or re-
ject any proposed system of government;
Submission to tie Constitution and laws OF
The Federal Cnion and strict observance Of all
the rights of the States and their citizens. but
resistance TO the dictation or bribeS Of Con-
gress. OF any other power to yield the ina.
lienable right Of sefgovernment;
Protection in the Territories and every
where 10 all rights OF persons and Of property,
in accordance with the rights Of the States, and
with the Constitution and Laws Of the Union;
EQUITY and uniformity in the mode OF ad.
hitting new States into the Union, making tho
same rules and ratios to apply To NIL alike;
The rejection Of ali compromises, conditions
or terms which would discriminate between
forms Of republican constitutions, admitting
one with one number of population and requi-
ring three times that number for another form
equally republican;
The great law Of settlement Of the public
domain OF the United States, free, equal and
just. never to be "teinpo.ized" or 'localized"
by temporary or partial cxpedicnts but to be
adjusted by permanent, uniform and univer.
sal rules 0! right and Justice;
Maintaining these and the Ike principles,
deem them to be the aim Of the struggle Of the
devoted Democracy in this signal contest; and so
understanding them. glory in their declaration
and defence. | would sacrifice much and 60
far 10 uphold Your arms in this hattie. 1would
most gladly visit your people address them,
and invoke them to stand fast by the standard
Of their faith and freeloin. and never 70 let 70
the truths for which they cnntena, for they are
vital and cardinal and essential, aud can never
be Yielded without yielding liberty itself But
sir. | am like tied man, bound TO my duties
here; and if INV office would allow me to leave
it, c0d not depart from the bedside Of illness
in my family, which would probably recall mo
before could reach Illinois; and my own state
of health a,lInonishes me that ought not to un'
dertake campaign as arduous as that you pro.
pose. know what the labors Of the stump
are, and am not yet done suffering bodily from
my efforts for Democracy in 1866. For these
reasons cannot obey your call; but, permit me
to add fight OIL fight on! fight on Never yield
but in death or victory! And oh that was
unbound, and could do more than look on,
throbbing with every pulse your glorious
strugple-with its every blow and breath
chcercd with its hopes and chafed by its doubts.
You have my prayers. and am yours truly,
HENRY 4. WISE.
Hon. JouS MOORE, Chairman, &c
ore -I~-.. iott.- tho Chicaoo DAILY