New Orleans daily crescent., 1859-11-11
1QEs Mh heart rsspect, sympathy and aiection,
II 4sss 5.giss ssfssss u s s L. MARIA CHILD.
I sfooVERNoE vIsR's REpLY 10 MRS. cHILD.]

RIcHMOND, VA, October 20, 1850.
AAdein Yours Of the 26th was received by me
reply = Il that will forward the letter for John
M0Nns = prisoner under our laws arraigncd at the
nar g the Circuit Court for the county Of Jefferson
g uhnxiestown, Va, for the crimes Of murder,
nit N hin. viii comply with your request, in
the only way which seems to me proper, by en-
closing a to the Commonwealth's Attorney, with
the request that be will ask the permission Of the
onerl = NOW il the hands Of the Judiciary, not Of
the Execntive, of this Commonwealth You ask
mo "a allow yOu to perform the mission "of
mother or sister, to dress bis wounds and speak
so9inln8ly g g him By this, Of course, you mean
e ean0Med 70 visit him in his cell, and minister
% him Y the Offices Of humanity. Why should you
not BE- allowed, Madams Virginia and Massachu-
eetts ere Involved in civil war; and the Constitu-
taon which mites them in one Confederacy guaran-
tees r. Zoa TIE privegs and mmunities 81 citizen
q w United States i'd the State Of Virginia That
Consqfndon am sworn to support, and am, there
lore pound TO protect your privileges and immuni-
Les q citizen Of Massachusetts, coming into vir-
ginia TOR any lawful and peaceful purpose. Coming
% you propose to minister to the captive in prison.
You VIII De met, doubtless, by all our people not
only IN chiyalrous hut in a Christian sprit. Yon
nave ne right to visit Charlestown, Va, Madam,
and your mission, being merciful and humane. will
not only be allowed hut respected If not welcomed.
a lew, unenllghtened and inconsiderate persons.
fanatical in their modes of thought and action To
MAINTAIN Justice and right, might molest you or be
disposed TO do so, and this might suggest the mpru
dence Of risking any experiment upon the peace Of
society very much excited by the crimes with
whose chief author you seem to sympathize so
much; but, still, repeat your motives and ayowed
purpose are lawful and peaceful, and will, as far
as am concerned, do my duty in protecting your
rights in our limits. Virginia and her authorities
wonld pc weak, indeed in point of folly and
weak 10 point of p0werif her State faith and con.
sututIonal obligations cannot be redeemed in her
own limits to the letter Of morality as well as Of
iaw and If her chiyalry cannot courteously receive
iady's Tlst 70 prisoner. Every arm which
guards Brown from rescue on the one hand and
rom lynch law on the other, will be ready to guard
yonr person in Virginia. could not permit an in
SUIT even 70 woman in her walk of charity among
us, Ihougl II be to one who whetted knives Of
puscnsry !or our " mothers, ssters,n daughters and
OaDes. w have no sympathy with your senti.
Men. g sympathy with Brown, and are surprised
tnat you were taken by surprise when news came
o. captain hrown'srecent attempt.n His attemnt
was natural consequence of your sympathy and
the error Of that sympathy ought Ia make vor
doubt ns virtue, from the effect on his condnct
But It Is not Of this should speak, When Won ar'
rive At Charlestown if you 20 there II viii ba sa
the court and it's officers, the Commonwealtlnsc Al
torney Sheriff and Jailor, to say whether Won ma,
see and wait on the prisoner. But, whether w;
are thus permitted or not (and you will be, if M
advice can prevail) you may rest assured that h
will be hnmanely, lawfully, and mercifully dea
BY, IN prison and on trial.
Respectfully HENRY A. WISE.
Tol1M4RfA CHILD.