New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-12-17
REQUEST TO GOV. WISE FOR TIE
BODIES or THE COLORED MEN.
The following letter has teen sent to Gov. Wire by
Committee representing the whbes Of a meeting OF
csl ored persons recently held in Philadelphia

The following letter has teen sent 10 Gov. Wire by
a Committee representing the wiibes Of meeting OF
celored persons recently held in Philadelphia
PHLADgLPHIA, Dec. 3, 1859.
Ia Hl E-ce.leney Cos. Wi,eof T.ysiAia
DEAR SIR: Having learned with great satisfaction
Of vonr generous and humane conduct in granting the
bodies OF tie unfortunate, misguided men who fet at
Hnrrers Ferry, 10 Their friends, IN their respective
aies iOr burial. has ereaied within us The atefng
hore and The belief that the noble dignity OF ca rAc-
ter ard the maguanEnity Of soul that YOU have al
ways 20 cleverly manifested would secure to US from
We therefore, humbly ask that yoa viii grant TO ",
10 tie event o. their beng bung the bodies OF Snelis
Green and John Copeland De transmitted 10 Us for
q respectable nterment.
We need not Sir, argue 20 yen, with your Keen
sense OF the sympathy OF the human heart aud oil TIE
urre moving love inherent and peculiar alone 20 our
noe We need not, repeat, offer 10 you anything
in extenuaton Of presumption in making his re-
quett.
executve influence IN behalf Of these poor, mseflbly
nj, Guided men. Whatever may have been "a" M
misses that moved them this desperate act Of self
destruction be remembered that they are ore,
IN IDENTITY OF interest, complexion ana OF H0t'oAH Po
scrrf0E with the men whose liberty ihey sought to
sscuIe.
dared against them, IL the indictment OF the Gfand
Jury 10 i impossible after a critical examination OF
law 70 convict them. solely on the ground Of their
having 10 part LOT in tie common blessings OF tins
Couiederacy save by sufeHanee, MT by right
Wien yOu Iember, sir, that these men were
driven to Desperation by prcscUgtiSe laws, when
vouI own maGEood would never tolerate or submit 10,
If srpied 10 your own race and thai even your own
acts = eeches ard example, have taught them those
ssri "a j, ssors-l0re Utterly, hate Slercry.
When Won remember, sir, that all these tninSs may
have operated upon their minds as an incentive any,
irg them INTO tie ranks f CAPT Brown, DO tlcy NOT
present strong arguments IN tse exienuation oil Their
guilt and may they not justly claim ne n-efpos 'ion
OF Executive clemency n their behalf .
We have Leard, that you, u one tine, tho1ght u
reasonable 70 commute the sentence Of one Of the cu
priia Coppie,. Whsieysr may have led you 70 snen
conclusion, or caused your radical and decisive eaass
Of ee;eEmBs7iou on tbs subject, We indulge the hope
that Heaven and clear consciousness Of rient may
dictate to you more potent claims han we are abe 10
osr IN favor Of uziion of the sentence Of lhese
poor zen.
Bat, sr We reques, again that in u event Of ther
beng hanged and payg The forfeiture o. their ives
for NiFginas violated law thai yon gran. % u. tneir
ff1sr5s and 5rsi, en- the rrTliege OF pay1g ne lsi
ad f-uts ef respecl 10 the memory OF men, ~ho nave
reckesy tom lsmselyes nom home and irirnds 20
de fienajefs ard The reproash even Of an eEgAieHed
| CtrigfisH coRnssHr.
Hem. md hoPafsy srLitinf yo1r fey We 0U
seIr-s s-vsr-IfT ssrr oheaisrt hltl1is -s-ysnfs
A u .GREFT' Up. CAMPBELL JEIIEAlAh AnfiEI-
Esz. Il. A. MISE, Richmond, Va