The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-10-30
From the State Register. Oct. e1.l
The Voice of Virginia!
Richmond, Va, October IS. 1853.
GOVERNOR WIsE'S LETTER.
READ, READ. READ!

Richmond, Va, October IL. 1898
70 Hon. Jons MOORE, Chairman Of tie :
Uemocra.tc State Committee Of Illinois,
DEAR SIR:-I cannot express to you the
emotions of my bosom, excited 10y your APP
peal to me for aid in the warm contest which
your noble democracy is waging with aboli-
tionism. 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 upon your democracy, and its
gallant leader, by the pretext of pretenders
that you were giving aid and comfort to the
arch enemy of oar country, peace and safe.
ty, and our party integrity, see you stand /
ing alone-isolated by a tyrannical pro- .
scription, which would alike fooiishly and
wickedy lop off one Of the most vi gorouS
limbs Of national democracy, the limb of
glorious Illinois! ! see you, in spite of this
imputation. firmly fronting the foe, and bat
Ting to maintain conservative nationality
against embitterei and !npalcabe sectional
ism-constitutiona rights operating 1,royria
rigOre, and every way against all unequal
and unjust fedrai or territorial, legis, alton
The right OF the people TO govern them
selves against all force or fraud
The right Of the sovereign people to look
al the returns" and behind the "returns,"
of all their representative bodies agents,
trustees, or servents;
The responsibility Of AL governors, repre-
sentatives, trustees, agents, and servents,
to their principles, the people who are tine
governed,' and the source Of all political
power;
Utter opposition to the detestable doc
trnes of the absoutism Of conventions to
prescribe and proclaim fundamental forms
of gorerT ment, at their will. without sub
mission to the sovereign peoPle-a docrine
TT only for slaves, and camel only by le-
gitinsts and dcspots Of the old world
Powers Of any sort act expressly delega-
ted 10 any man, or body Of men, are express
Iy reserved 20 the people, IS
No absolute or dictatOria authority in rep
resentative bodies. The representative prin-
cra claiming submission and obedianc
to the Will OF the constituents
The sovereignty of the organized people
supreme above all mere representative bod
les conventions legislatures, to decide,
vote upon, and determine what shall be
their supreme law;
Justice and equality between States and
their citizens, and between voter to elect
their agents and representatives. and TO rat
ify or reject any proposed system Of govern
ment;
Submission to the constitution and laws
Of the Fedral Union, and strict observance
of all the rights of the States and their cit
liens, bat resistance to the dictation OF
brides of Congress. or any other power, t
We'd the Iual!enable right Of lf-geveIn
me t =
Protection in the territories, and every
where, to all ri hts OF persons a of prop
crty, in accordance with the rights of the
States, and with tn. constitution and laws
Of the Union;
rI u-;C,r,,;.,- s
uniting new States into the Union, maxim:
the same rules and ratios to apply to al
alike;
The rejection of all compromises, condi
tons or terms which would discriminate he
tween forms of republican constitutions, ad
hitting one, with one number Of population
and requiring three times that number FOL
another form equally republican;
The great law of settlement OF the public
domain of the United States, free, equal. ant
iuat, never to be ''tcnporizcd" or ''localzcd'
by temporary partial cXpcdients, bat t.
be ajusted by permanent, uniform and uni
versa ruies of right and justice.
Maintaining these and the ike principles,
deem it to b. the aim Of the struggle of III
devoted Demo ,racy in this single contest
And so understanding them, glory in thei
decor tion and defence. | would sacrafic
mnch and % far to uphold your arms il
this battle. | would most gladly visit you
people. address them, and invoke them I
stand fast by the standard of their faith AM
freedom, and never 10 let 20 the truths 70
which they contend, for they are vital an
cardinal, and essential, and can never b
yielded without yielding liberty itself.
Bat, sir. | am like lied man, bound +
nv duties here; and. ii my Office would al
low me TO leave il, | could not depart fror
the bedside of Illness in my family, whic
would probably recall me before | coui
reach Illinois; and my own state Of .ealt
admonis.cs me that | ought not to under
take 4 campaign ariuouS that you prs
pose. know what the iaborS of the stun
are, and am not yet done suffering bodi'
from my Efforts for Democracy in ISIS. =
For these reasons, | cannot obey your call
but, permit me TO add Fight on, sht or
fight on never yield but ia death Vi,
tory, And oh that | was unbound an
could do more than look on throbbing wit
every pulse Of your giOrious struggle-wit
its every blow and breath-cheereI with it
hopes. and chaf.d by its doubts. You hav
my prayers, and | am,
Yours truly, IL Nfl y. iSE.