The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-11
GOV. wISE'S LETTER.


A heavy press OF copy prevents comment for the
present the following letter. received Yesterday
from Governor Wise. We will devote some space
in issue of morrow, to discussion of the in
trigue against Governor Wise, which this commu-
nicaton discloses:
To the Editors Of the Enquirer:
RICHMOND, VA. Aug. 9th, 1859.
Gentlemen-In your editorial of this morning,
notice what purports to be letter written by me,
to some unknown correspondent, published in the
New York papers, by whom or how does not ap-
pear. You say that you have ''no authority to
speak" about the matter. ] now give you authority
to speak all that know about it. The impression
is attempted to be made that have Extensively OBJ
truded my advice and interference into New FORK
politics, in a vain and immoral attempt upon the
members of the State Committee, to influence the
appointment of delegates from tnat State to the
Charleston Convention.
Now, the plain statement of the whole case is
that for some considerable time past had held
private and confidential political correspondence
with Mr.. b. Donnelly, No. William street, New
York. He wrote to me last spring, replied, and
the correspondence ceased until the 9Th of July
last, when he wrote to me again the following let
ter:
SARATOGA, July 9th, 1889
My Dear GOrernor-You will remember my
writing last spring. to which l received an answer,
and which wouldh acknowledged at an earlier
taken up with other more important matters, that
l concluded to withhold writing you until the
present. You will learn from the newspapers and
elsewhere that those who are in expectation of re-
ceiving the nomination at Charleston are marshal
ing their forces as strongly as possible.
This State, which have watched very closely,
with view of acquainting you of what is going on
will, as matters now stand, send to Charleston
united delegation in favor of Douglas. Their second
choice would be you. give you this information as
fact, so that you may rely upon it. 1t is barely
possible that Wood and others in New York city,
may succeed in getting up two sets of delegates to
the Convention, but it is my opinion your friends in
the South need not expect much support from the
Northern States. The South is the only place to
count on with any degree of certainty, and if the
South should kick up her heels and refuse to adopt
you as her candidate, she will lose all. This you
may rely upon. With any other man from the South
ern States than yourself would be beaten out of
sight. With the South, then, to back you, there
will be a sufficient number of candidates for Con-
gress and Governor lin Nomination. who will be
able to control sufficient number of delegates from
the Western and Eastern States, to give you the
nomnaton-and they will do it, to save themselves;
we-knowiDg that there is no one but yourself that
can poll the votes of the adopted citizens. The
Federal office holders here are in favor of Douglas,
so that at the Charleston Convention, if Mr.. Bu-
chanan should consent to be a candidate, he won't
be able to get a single squad from this State
lfyou were once nominated, my God, what a vote
you would get with Seward against you!
You would carry every Northern State, except
ing Massachusetts, Vermont, and possibly Rhode
Island. All of the Western States, am assured
would roll into line again.
am stopping at the Springs here for a few days.
and having an opportunity of consulting with our
friends from different sections of the Union,
thought it advisable to drop you the enclosed, hur
riedly scratched together. If can be of any SER
vice to you let me know it. If you think it advsa-
BILE to make push for the delegates from this
State, write me, and will tell YOU how it can be
done to the best of my knowledge and belief. Lud-
low, Cassidy and Peter Cagger are the controlling
spirits, and either of these, if they supposed you
were not completely in the hands of Fernando
Wood & Co., would be your friend. This, find, is
their impression, though not publicly expressed.
Mr.. Wood is very smart man, and is much feared
by the politicians, but his misfortune to
slst in having no one to back him. Had he the
strength that these Others have in the country dis
tricts, he would be next Governor. But in the
country he falls behind and seems to be very un-
popular amongst the farmers and others. Y Your best
way is to keep clear of all cliques and factions.
Side with none of them: and when it is determined
who are to be the delegates and also who has con-
troll of them it will then be time enough to become
identified. Yours, truly,
B. DoNNELLY.
To his Excellency, Governor WISE.
Address at my store, No. William ST., n. Y.
Mr.. Donnelly is, | believe, not a member of the
Democratic State Committee OF New York, and is a
person in private life, so far as | know. Strictly
in response to his letter wrote the following re-
ply (now correctly punctuated) and intended, it
shows on its face to be strictly private and conf
for by my correspondent and not pertinent as re-
ply even on points of personal vanity or preten-
sion:
RICHMOND, July l3, 1889
Dear Sir: | thank you for yours of the Sth inst.
i have apprehended all along that the Tammany
Regency would carry united delegation from
New York to Charleston. For whom? Douglas,
know, is confident; but you mag rely on it that
Mr. Buchanan is himself candidate for re-nomina-
tion, and all his patronage and power will be used
to disappont Douglas and all other aspirsnts. Our
only chance is to organize by districts, and either
whip the enemy send two delegations
Ifthat is done or not done, we must still RELY on a
united South. united South will depend a
united Virginia. and pledge you that she, at least,
shall be a unit Virginia unit, and persistent and
firm on sound platform of protection to all per-
sons, of popular squatter sovereignty, she
must rally to her support ali the South. The South
cannot adopt Mr.. Douglas platform. 1t is short
cut to all the ends Black Repubcanism. He
then will kick up his heels. If he does don't he
can't be nominated, and the main argument against
his nomination is that he can't be elected if nomi-
mated. If he runs Independent candidate, and
Seward runs, and | am nominated at Charleston, |
can beat them both. Or, if squatter sovereignty is
plank of the platform at Charleston, and Douglas
is nominated, the South will run an Independent
candidate on protection principles, and run the
election into the House. Where, then, would
Douglas be? The lowest candidate the list. II
have the popular strength you suppose it will it
self fix the nomination. Get that and am conf
dent of success
The Hon. F. Wood is professedly and really,
believe, a friend, and of course | would, in good
faith, be glad of his influence, and would do no
thing to impair it, and could not justly reject his
kind aid; but you may rely upon it that am nei-
ther completely nor at all in he hands Of Mr..
Wood, or of any other man who breathes. He has
always been friendly to me, and | am to him, but
always on fair and Independent terms. There i;
nothing in our relations which should keep alOo
any friend of either He knows, as well as any
one can tell him, that his main influence is in the
city of New York, and judge what you say of hi:
country influence is correct. But am counting
all the time without New York, and don't fear the
result. 1 am depending solely upon open posi-
ton of principle Independent of all cliques, and
defying all comers. We will overwhelm oppos
ton in Virginia, and her vote will be conservative
and national
At all events, shall always be glad to hear from
you, and am yours, truly, Henry A. WISE.
The first that heard Of this letter was the fus;
and farce and fraud practiced at Albany; and on
the 9th inst, Saturday last, received from Mr..
Donnelly the following
HIS Erccllency, Governor Wise
Ny Dear Sir:-Much to my surprise and regret
find published, in today's Herald, your letter ia
me of the 18th of last month. When | received
the same showed it to three or four distinguished
and honorable friends, each of whom had the let
ter in their possession only while reading it, con
sequently they could have chance of copying it
After which, on Saturday last, while in Albany.
showed the letter to MIR. Cassidy the able editor
it, wished me to leave the letter with him, thai
he nigh show it to Mr.. Dean Richmond, the
Chairman of our State Central Committee
To this | consented for the following rea
sons In the first place you will see in my
previous letter that | stated that the select
ing of the delegates to the Charleston Convention
| would be done in accordance with the wishes o
| Messrs Richmond, Ludlow, Cagger, and Cassidy
| each of whom, | was informed, were friendly t.
you but objected TO you account of the reported
influence supposed to be exercised over you BY
| Hon. Fernando Wood. In order to disabuse the
minds of this impression, and to secure their in
fuence and friendship, consented to allow the let
ter to go out of my hands, not knowing OF any mor
| effectua way of accomplishing that object than by
! showing to them the denial of these falsehoods
then in your own handwriting. Mr.. Cassidy ex
! pressly promised Inc that your letter should not b
made public; and, from his prominent position an'
exalted character, supposed a sufficient guar
antee that all would be as desired.
This letter made public, no doubt, with
| view of killing yOH on. Ut this we shall see ant
| hear more of hereafter. The Democracy in thi
part of the country believe that the Giant who wa
| capable of destroying the monster knoN-Nothing
| ism, is the most competent and suitable person t.
| destroy that monster of all Observation-Disclosures
which, if not destroyed in 1861 will be master 0
the field for all time to come. ..
The State Committee has done as was expected
and the whole matter lies with the people, who,
aroused, have no fear. So long as the people ar
right we need not fear the dishonorable trickters
| Yours, truly, g. b. DoNNELLY.
Now, this is all know about the matter. 1t
no fault or imprudence of mine which makes tn
| whole public, and thus explaining itself have n
comment to make, nothing to palliate, excuse, o
Justify. Who needs defence for treachery, and TO
| a gross outrage upon all the confidence and goo
faith known among men in civilized life, leave tn
public to Judge. | give Mr.. Donney's plea, an
believe, until the contrary appears that he is innC