Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-08
GOVERNOR wIsE's REPLY TO MRS. CHILD.
RICHMOND. VIRGINIA,
October %. 1850


Madam Yours Of the Goth was received
by me yesterday, and At my earliest leisure,
respectfully reply 10 it, that will forward
the letter for John Brown, Il prisoner under
our laws, arraigncd at the bar Of the Circuit
Court for the county Of Jefferson, nj Charles
town, Va. for the crimes of murder, robbie
nv, and treason. which you ask me to trans
init to him. will comply with your request,
in the only way which seems TO me proper,
bv enclosing il to the Commonwealth At
torncy, with the request that he will ask the
permission of tho Court to hand it t" the
prisoner. Brown, the prisoner, Is now IN
the hands Of the Judiciary. not of the Exc
rutivc Of this Commonwealth. gu ask me
further to allow you 10 perform the mission
"uf mother or sister. to dress his wounds
and speak southingly to him. BY this. ol
course. YOU mean 10 be allowed to visit hun
in his cell. and to minister to hun in the 9TH
ces Of humanity Why should YOU not be
80 allowed, Madam? Virginia and Massa-
chusctts are involved in no civil war, and
the Constitution which unitcS them III one
Confederxcy, guarantees 10 You the PRIV
leges and immunities Of citizen of the
[ nited States in the State of Virginia. That
Constitution am sworn TO support, and am,
therefore, bound to protect your privileges
aud ipmunites, as Il citizen OF Massachu-
sets coming into Virginia for any lawful
aud peaceful purpose. Coming, Is You pro-
pose, IL minister to the captive IN prison, You
will be- met, doubtless, by all our people, not
only in chivalrous bat III Christian
spirit, You have the right I" visit Charles
town, Va, Madam, and your mission, beng
merciful and humane. will not only be al
lowed bnt be respected if not welcomed. \
few unenlightened and inconsldcrate per-
sons. fanatical in their modes oil thought
and action TO maintain justice and right
might modest you or be disposed to DO 50,
and this might suggest the imprudence OF
riskinr any experiment upon the peace Of II
society worry much excited By the crimes
with whose chief author yoE seem To sy'npa-
thise so much; bur, still, repeat, your mo,
tives and avowcd purpose are lawiui anu
/ peaceful, and ! will, rs FAR - am concern
ed do my duty III protecting your rights IN
our lin,its. Virginia and her Authorities
would be weak indoed-wcak IN point % tol-
" and weak in point Of powes-lt her State
faith and constitutional obligations cannot
be redeemed in her own limits to the letter
of morality as well as Of law, and IT her
chiyalry cannot courteouslv receive lady 5
visit TO prisoner. Every arm which guards
Brown from rescue On the one hand and
from lypch law ON the other, viii be ready
to guard your person in Virginia. could
not permit an insult even to woman IN her
walk Of charity among rs though It be I"
one who whettcd knives Of hutchery Tor our
| ..motbers sisters" daughters. and babes
We have no sympathy with sonr sentiment,
of sympathy with Brown. and are surprised
/ that 20. were taken BY surprise when
news came Of Captain Browns recent at
tempt" His attempt was i natuia! c"n>"'
ouence of your sympathy. and the error OF
that sympathy ought Ia ma ke you doubt It's
virtue, from the effect on his conduct. But
it is not of this should speak. y hen you
arrive at Charlestown, if you 90 there, It
will be for the Court and il officers. the
CommonSeath's Attorney, Sheriff and jan
Tor, 10 say whether you may see ana wan
on the prisoner. But, whether ycu are 'i'n'
permtted or not (and You VIII BE- II my
advice can prevail you may rest assured
that he will be humanely, lawfully, anu mer-
cifullv dealt bv, in prison and on trial. Re
spcctfully. III Nh ~ i't r.;
To L. MARIA Chilli. IN. '."f