Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-08-16
Gov. Wise,s Letter.

lQo AtcAbAOnu GuQuitet VI sno - ~ \
communication from Governor Wise on tne
subject of his recent New York letter. The GOV
,rnor acknowledges the commences OF the ieu-
.er, and explains the circumstances under whion
it was written. He says:
"The impression is attempted to be made tna'
I have Extensively obtruded my advice anu III
reference into New York politics, in VAN anu
immoral attempt upon the members OF the ctase
Committee, to influence the appointment VI r uei
egates from that State to the Charleston JUL
@Now. the plain statement of the whole case
is.-tbat for some considerable time past, hau
held private and confidential political CORES
nondepoe with Mr.. B. Donnely, No. 3, William
street. New York. He wrote to me last spring.
replied, and the correspondence ceased until tne
Sth of July last, when he wrote to me again tne
following letter; ~"
Mr.. Donnelly says in his letter, which Is da'-
ed Saratoga, July athl
"This State, which have watched very close
", with view of acquainting you OF what Is
going on, will, as matters now stand, senu ~
Charleston united delegation in favor OF +ioag'
las. Their second choice would be you. l give
Won this information as fact, so that you may re-
" upon it. It's barely possible that Wooo anu
Others in New York city may succeed IN gettlne
up two sets of Delegates to the Convention, put
it is nv opinion your friends in the South need
not expect much support from the aortherh
Ststas If you think 1t advisable to
make a push for the delegates from this State,
write me- and will tell you how it can be done
10 the best of nv knowledge aud belief. Lud-
low, Cassidy and Peter Csgger are the controll-
ing spirits, aud either of these il they supposed
YOU were not completely in the hands of Fernan-
do Wood q Co., would be your friend"
Gov. Wise continues;
Mr.. Donnelly is, believe, not a member OF
the Democratic State Committee OF New YORK,
and is person in private life, so far as know.
Strictly in response to his letter wrote the ioi
lowing reply (now correctly punctuated) and in
tended, as it Shows on its face, to be strictly
private and confidential, and giving no advice or
counsel not called for by my correspondent and
not pertinent as reply even on points ofperson-
al vanity or pretension."
Then follows the letter which we Published
last week. The first Gov. Wise heard Of this
letter was ''the fuss and farce and fraud prac-
tiaed at Albany" and on the 4th inst. ne receiv-
ed from Mr.. Qonpely communication dated
'Staten Island, August 4, 1852" Mr.. u. ex-
presses his surprise and regret at finding the let
ter published in the Herald. He had showed
the letter to several distinguished and honora-
BILE friends" among others Mr., Cassidy, the ed
itor of the Albany Argus. MIR, Cassidy wished
to show it to Mr.. Dean Richmond, Chairman of
the Democratic State Committee, and Mr.. DON
nelly consented, hoping thereby to disabuse the
minds of Messrs Richmond, Ludlow, Cagger'
and Cassidy Of the belief that the Governor was
specially under the influence of Mayor Wood
Copies of the letter were taken, and thus 1t got
out. Mr.. Wise concludes as follows 40
SNOW. this is all know about the Natter
It is no faIlt or imprudenoe of mine which makes
the whole public, and thus explaining itself
have no comment to make, nothing to palliate,
excuse, or Justify. Who needs defence tor treach'
ery, and for gross outrage upon all the conf
dence and good faith known among men IN CIV
ilized life, leave to the public to judge. give
Mr.. Donnelly's plea, and believe, until the con-
trary appears, that he is innocent. Whether now
it win recoil we will see. His name was not
given, to create the impression, obviously, that
Iwrote this letter spontaneously to some mem
Der of the New York State Committee. owe
it to myself to expose this, as you say, worse
than forgery"
The Enquirer, of course, is indignant at the
use which has been made of Gov. Wise's letter,
and lashes tho ''asssssins and conspirators' with
uusparing severity. The result Of their machi-
nations against the Governor, it says, are, that
Mr.. Buchanan's aspirations for denomination are
knocked into cooked hat, and squatter sover-
ereisnty has received the severest blow it has
vet encountered. "a voice which cannot. be
mistaken in its import, has been elected to pro-
claim that Senator Douglas cannot be nominal
ed. or. il nominated, cannot be elected.
"Psr SoDtrG. The assassin's dagger has only
glanced from the corslet of truth which shields
the breast of an honest man. IN preath, ne
has brought to his feet the traitors who sought
his min New York swndlers have been taught
how much power rests in the unaided truth and
pluck of single Virginia statesman"
How many of Gov. Wise's competitors, asks
the Enquirer, "could Withstand the test to which
he has been subjected Nay, how many of them
dare encounter even the test of full public a.
vowal of their political opinionsa" "The New
York conspiracy" it continues, sis the best 6I0U
that could haze been stricken toeoards ensuring
the unit oote of Virginia at Charleston, for
Coz. Wiss's nomination to the Presidency"
But there is another 'psr contra" in the case.
A correspondent of the Richmond Enquirer is as
much outraged at the Governors course as the
ENQUIRER is at the course of his enemies. This
writer says;
$50 far as know, the effort of Gov. Wise Gas
proved by his late letter to some one IN New
York; is the first in the history of the country
where an aspirant for that digniied and high po-
sition THE Presidency has made a personal ef-
fort to arrange the details of a canvass to suit
himself and thus become, at the same time, Drill
Sergeant and strategist, Martinez and Msjor-Gen-
eral, So far as Virginia is concerned, submit
to the reading constituency of Virginia that this
movement of Gov Wise lowers her flag below
any point in its previous decadency."
In 1854, Gov. Wise would not consent to seek
nomination for his present office
"What has wrought so remarkable change
in his Exceency's sentiments it is for himself to
say, if ne plesses; as also to explain on what
ground he loftily refuses to seek a nomination
for lower office, but, in reference to one of far
more power and dignity, says to his friend, get
that. lthe nomination. and am confident of sue
cess"
The writer objects to the Governors "pledge"
that Virginia ''shall be a unit" She oiU be a
unit, but not because Gov. Wise saysshe 'shall, "
even though he couple it with ''pledge. p
''Shall" is too large word for him to use in ref
erence TO the peope of this State.
"But if the pledge that Virginia shall be q