Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-11-09
[Goy. wISE's REPLY TO MRS. CHILD
RICHMOND, Virginia.


Oct. goth, 1859 (
Madame y ours of the Goth was received
by me yesterday, and at my earliest leisure |
respectfully reply to it, that | will forward
the letter for John Brown, prisoner under
onr laws arragned at the bar of the Circuit
Court for the county of Jefferson. ut Charles
town, Va, for the crimes Of murder, robbery
aud treason, which you ask me to transmit to
him. / will comply with your request, in
the only way which seems to me proper, by
enclosing it to the Commonwealth Attorney,
with the request that be will ask the permits
sion Of the Court TO hand it to the prisoner.
Brown, the prisoner, is now in the hands OF
the Judiciary, not of the Executive, of this
Commonwealth. You ask me further to allow
you 10 perform the mission /" of mother or
sister, 10 dress his wounds and speak sooth-
ingly to him." BY this, of course you mean
to be allowed to visit him in his cell, and TO
minister TO him in the Offices of humanity.
Why should you not be 20 allowed, Madam
Virginia and Massachusetts, are involved in
no civil war. aud the Constitution which
unites them in one Confederacy, guarantees
to you the privileges and immunities of q ciri-
zen of the United States in the State of Viz
ginia. That Constitution am sworn TO sup
port, and am. therefore, bound TO protect
your privileges aad immunities as IA citizen
OF Massachusetts, coming INTO Virginia Tor
any lawful and peaceful purpose. Coming
as your propose, TO minister Ia the captive in
prison, you will be met, doubtless by all our
people. not only in a chivalrous but in a
Christian spirit. You have the right Ia visit
Charlrstown, Va, Madam, and your mission,
being merciful and humane, will not only be
allowed but be respected if not welcomed.
A few. uneHlghtensd and inconsiderate
persons, fAnatical in their modes OF thought
aud action To maintain justice and right,
might modest you, or be disposed TO do SO.
and this might suggest the imprudence of
risking any experiment upon the peace of
society very much excited by the crimes with
whose chief author YOU seem TO sympalh iSe
50 much; but stiil, repeat your motives aud
avowtd purpos- are lawful and peaceful, and
WILL as far as am concerned, do my duty
In protecting your rights in our limits Vir-
ginia aud her authorities would be weak in
deed-weak in point of folly and weak in
point OF power If her Stat. faith aud consti-
tutional obligations cannot be- redeemed In
her own limits 20 the lcttr. ol morality as
we'll a. of law. and If her chivairy cannot
COURT onsly receive lady's visit to a pris-
oneT. Every arm which guards Brown from
rescue on the one hand and from lynch law
on the other, will be ready 10 guard your
person in Virginia. 1 could not perHlit IN
insult even "a woman in her walk OF charity
among US, though Il be 10 one who whetted
hhtNSs u DubSuctl TOT our 'ulottcISp FlstcTe,
daughters and babes. We have no sympathy
with your sentiments OF sympathy with
Brown, and are surprised that you were
taken by surprise when news came OF Cap
tain Browne recent attempt His attempt
Mas natural consequence OF your sympathy,
and Che eFtor OF that sympathy ought 10
make you dOabtits virtue, from the effect on
bis conduct But il Is not OF This | should
speak. When you arrive at Charlesiown. if
you 20 there, IL viii be for the Court aud lie
officers, the Commonwealth Attorney, Shsr-