The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-12-20
WASHINGTON CITY, Nov. %, 1859

SIr-l received, on yesterday, your favor of the
Goth inst, stating that you have received nforma
ton from various quarters, upon which you rely
THAT conspiracy, of formidable extent in means
and numbers, is formed in Ohio, PENNSYLVANIA
New York and other States, to rescue John Brown
and his associates, prisoners at Charlestown Va
The information, you believe, is ''speci6c enough
to be reliable, and you convinced ''that an at
tempt will be made to rescue the prisoners and if
that fails then to seize citizens Of this State (Ea)
IS hostages and victims in case of execution. -
You do not communicate the facts on which
your convictions founded, in the absence of
which 1t would seem almost incredible that any
portion Of the people Of the States mentioned should
be guilty OF the atrocious ckedness, as well as
folly, o. attempting to these convicted
traitors and murderers from the penalty due to
their crimes under the outraged laws of Virginia.
\ Ou express entire confidence, in which heartily
participate, that the noble old Commonwealth is
abunGanty able and willing to carry her own laws
into execution.
Had this been otherwise, and had you as Gov
ernor Of Virginia, (the Legislature not now being
in session. made application to for that aid
which the Constitution and the laws of the United
States would enable me to afford this should have
been checruly and cordially granted. Still, there
is one measure which, on the presumption that
your information is we'll founded, il is both nv
the guard already stationed at Harpers Ferry
This may become necessary, not only to protect
the public pro erty clearly within federal urisdc-
ton, but to prevent the insurgents from Selling
the arms IN the arsenal at that place and using them
against the troops of Virginia. Besides it is pos
sibie the additional troops may be required to act
as posse conanit"tw$ on the requistion cf the
Marshal Of the United States for the western dis
trct Of Virginia. to prevent the rescue of Stevens
rtOl,. Il. Il ~ -
high treason. | have therefore, as precautionary
measure, directed the Secretary of War to order
two companies of artillery to proceed Immediately
from Fortress Monroe to Harpers Ferry
You also inform me that places IN Maryland,
Ohio and Pennsy lvania have been occupied as de-
pots and rendezvous by these despcradoes. unob-
structed by guards or otherwise, to invade Nir-
glnia; and You apprise NE of these facts in order
that ''nnay take steps to preserve peace between
the States am at loss to discover any pro-
vision in the Constitution or laws Of the United
States which would authorize Inc to take steps"
for this purpose 1t is, doubtless, the imperative
duty Of the respective State Governments to break
up such depotS to prevent their citizens from max
ms mcursIons into Virginia to disturb its peace or
prevent the execution of its laws. Ii the Federal
Executive, however, were to enter those States
and perform this duty for them, it would be
manifest uSurpation Of their rights. Were | thus
10 act, It would be palpable Invasion Of State SOW
crcgnty, and as precedent, might prove highly
dangerous
AIy authority for calling out the militia or en-
rloyIng the army and navy is derived exclusively
from the acts Of Congress OF the 18th Of FEBRUARY
| 49, and the Sd March, 1867, which, clearly, do
not embrace such as is now presented 1t
will not be pretended that such incursOns from
one State into another would be an invasion Of the
| nlted States from any foreign nation or Indian
tribe, under the act OF February, 1875, rendering
it lawful for the President to employ the federal
forces ito rcrel such invasion"
In conclusion, L beg to express the hope that, !
whether the information you have received be
founded in truth or not, the energetic measures
already adopted under your direction will prove
sufficient for any emergency that may occur.
Yours, very respectfully, JAMES BUCHANAN.
THE MCKENNA WILL CAsE.-We have Just /
earned that Judge Withers has decided to giant
he writ of prohibition to restrain the Ordinary of
lancaster from issuing the letters of administrator
2ende"tc lite to the applicants pending the appeal
Lancaster Ledger.
HoGS.--Iast week drove of some 700 stopped .
It this place, and sales were made of some 50 at 6
gross. We sec from the Asheville News that |
arger numbers have passed the French Broad, by ,
wo to one, than this time last year. W hen the price
vas but little higher-Rock Hill Chronicle
FORGERY, &c-The T. S Deputy Marshal, Mr..
Adams, passed through here on last Tuesday, with
: G.. Howell, of Cherokee county, n c., as
prisoner. He was arrested on q charge of obtain
nc pensions and bounty land certificates for In
ians, who it is alleged were not old enough toserve