Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-11-08
iGovEEyoE wIsE's REPLY TO MIS-. CHILD.
EIcuNoSp, Va,

October 2yth, 1872.
Madam Yours OF the 2Gih was received
by Tie YESTERDAY, and At my earliest leisure
respectfully reply to it, that will forward the
letter for John Brown, prisoner under our
laws arraigncd at the bar Of the Circuit Court
for the county of jefferson, at Charlcstown.
Va, for the crimes Of murder, robbery and
treason, which you ask me to transmit TO him.
| will comply with your request, in the only
wav which seems 10 Inc proper, by enclosing
it to the Commonwealth's Attorney, with the
request that hc will ask the permission 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 Commonwca!tl'.
You ask me further TO allow You 10 perform the
mission "of mother or sister, to dress hls
wounds and speak soothingly TO him. by
this, o: course, you mean to be allowed TO visit
him in his cell. and to minister to him Ill the
offices OF humanity Why should you not be
so allowed, Madam: Virginia and MaSsachu-
setts are Involved in no civil war, and the Con-
stitution which unitcS them in one COn!edcra-
/ cy, guarantees TO YOU the privileges and unmu.
mites of n citizen Of the United States IN the
State of Virginia That Constitution am
sworn to support. and am, therefore. bound to
protect your privileges and immunItlcs aS u
citizen Of Massachusetts, coming into Virginia
for any lawful and peaceful purpose. coming,
rs you propose. TO minister to the caP'i'e III
prison, YOU will be met. doubtless, by all our
pcop!e. hot only in a chivarouS but III Chris
tian spirit. You have the right to visit Charles
town, Va, Madam, aud Your mission, being
merciful and huumne. will not only be allowed
but be respected if not welcomed. lew, un.
! enli"htercd and inconsidcrate persons, tanatlcal
in their modes OF thought and action to Inan'
tain Justice and right. might modest you, or oe
discussed TO DO So and this might suggest the
imprudencc of risklnS any experiment upon
the peace OF society very much excited oy
the crimes with whose chief author you seem
10 svmpathiSe so much; but, still, repeat,
/ your motives aud avowed purpose are lawful
and peaceful, and | will. as far as am con
cerncd. do my duty IN protecting your rights
: in our limits. Virginia and her authorities
( would be weak indeed-weak IN point OF folly
and weak in point Of powcr-if her State faith
and constitutional obligations cannot be re-
deemed in her own limits to the letter OF mo-
rality rs well rs Of law, and il her chivairy
cannot courteously receive lady's visit to q
prisoner Every arm which guards Brown
/ IRON rescue OIL the one hand and from lynch
law on the other will be ready TO guard your
person in Virginia. could not permit an IN
suit even to woman in her walk Of charity
among rs, though it be to one who whetted
knives Of butchery for our mothers sisters
daughters and babes. We have no sympathy
with Your sentiments Of sympathy with brown'
and are surprised that you were taken hy
surprise when news came of Captain Brow" ;
recent attempt" His attempt was natural
consequence of your sympathy, and the error
Of that sympathy ought to make Ou doab, its
virtue, from the effect on his conduct. But II
is not of this should speak. When YOU arrive
At Charlestown. it you 90 there, it will be for
the Court and It's officers, the Commemorative 5
Attorney, Sheriff and Jailor to say whether
you may see and wait on the prisoner. But
whether yon are thus permitted or not land
you will be, if my advice can prevail you may
rest assured that he will be humanely, lawfully,
and mercifuIy dealt by in prison and on trial.
Respectfully, HENRY 4. WISE
TO l.. MARIA CHrLD.