New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-12-10
LETTER FROM COY. CHASE.

Ono on tne touIreB IeieIIcu W.
STATE OF ONO, EXECUTIVE DEPARTxESr
COLUNBUs, Dec. ], 1882
SIR: Your letter Of the &3d ultmo, Pos'markcd ZVhi
together "a copy Of Of the same date
ky You 10 the President received Yesterday. No
intelligence other than that contained IN theoe
has reached me of any such preparations as are
described ia them and the letters themselves convey
no such information in respect TO place OF persons &C
,etssarv 10 enable the authorities OF the state IN ,ne
ahence ~ other intelligence 20 interpose with any
certainty or effect Whenever Il shall be male 70 APP
pear either by evidence transmitted by yon or otner
wise that unlawful combinations are beng formed oy
any persons or at any place in Ohio for the INVASION
81 Virginia or for the commission Of crimes against
her nople il will undoubtedly become the duty otthe
Executive 10 use whatever power he may possess 70
break 40 such combinations and defeat their unlawful
purposes; and that dHty, ~ need not De oouVeu wiz
he promptly performed.
/ observe with deep regret an intimatIon IN your
letter that necessity may compel the authorities oil N
sduja 10 pursue invaders Of her jurisdiction into the
ferrifores Of the adjoining States IL 70 be hoped
thai no circumstances viii arise creating, IN their
opinion such necessity. Laws OF the United states,
A. well az the laws Of Ohio indicate the mode IN when
nersons CHARGED with crime IN another State AMI
eseaning into Ohio may be demanded and must be
rurrendered AID the people of this state VIII require
from her authorities the punciua tulilment OF every
obliy alton 70 the other members OF the Onlon Ihey
saunot consent however 70 the invasion Of her terri
tory by armed bodies from other States, even Tor the
purpose Of pursuing and srresng fugtvesfrom justice
have the honor TO be, very respectfully, yours y,sr
His E1esllsuey HESRr 4 WISE, &c. &c
The following is the correspondence with President
Buchanan referred to by Gov. Chase and the letter
from the President is one which Gov. Wise, in his late
message 10 the Virginia Legislature, commented with
G0r Vie 10 the President.
RICHMOND, Va, Nov. %, 1859.
Sin; have information from various quarters upon
Which rely, that conspiracy, of formidable extent
IN means and numbers If formed IN ONO, Pennsyi-
yauia Hew-York, and other States, TO rescue John
Brown and his associates, prisoners at Charlestown,
Va. The information il specific enough TO be reliable.
II eonvuees that an attempt Will be mace 10
rescue the prisoners, and, IL that fails, then 10
seize citizens Of this State as hostages ana victlms
ia case Of execution. The execution Will take place
next Friday as certainly as that Virginia can and
will enforce her laws. i have been obliged to call
out one thousand men, who are now under arms,
and, If necessary, shall call out the whole avaaole
force Of the State 20 carry into effect the sentence OF
our laws on the I'd and 10th proximo. Places
m MARYLAND, Ohio and Pennsylvania have been oecu-
pied depots and rendezvous by these desperadoes
nrobstructed by guards otherwise, TO invade this
State and we are kept in continual apprehension OF
outrares from fire and rapine on our borders. APP
prise Won of these facts in order that you may take
steps to preserve peace between the States P:oes.
that my purpose is peaceful, and that dsclam all
threats when say, with all the might of meaning
hat il another invasion aseas this State or its ctZens
from sny quarter Twill pursue the invaders wherever
they may 20, into any territory, ana punish them
wherever arms can reach them. i shall send copies
of this 10 the Governors Of Maryland, Ohio and Penn
sylyanis.
With due respec. and consideration yogTs truly ,,s
To his K1eeency JAMES BccH4SAS President Othe United
Tie Pres;dent to Governor Wise.
WAsHMGToS CRY, Nov. %, 1859.
SIR: 7 received on yesterday your favor of the 18th
inst stating that You have received information from
various quarters, which you rely that eonspir
"acy, OF formidable extent in means and numbers Is
formed in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and other
estates to rescue John Brown and his associates
"prisonere at Charlestown, Virginia" The inorma-
ton you believe, is specific enough TO be reliable;
and YOU are convinced that an attempt will be made
TO rescue the prisoners, and, If that fails, then 10
reye citizens of this State virginia. as hostages and
I" victims in case of execution.
You do not communicate the facts on which your
convictions are founded in the absence Of which II
would seem almost incredible that any portion of the
people of the States mentioned should be guilty OF the
atrocious wickedness, as well as folly, OF attempting
20 rescue convicted traitors and murderers from the
penalty due TO their crimes under the outraged laws OF
VIRGINIA You express entire confidence in which
heartily participate, that the noble old Common
wealth is abundantly able and willing 10 carry her
own laws into execution. Had this been otherwise,
and had YOU as the Governor of Virginia the Leg
ialature not now being IN session., made application
10 me for the aid which the Constitution and laws
of the United States would enable me to afford, this
shoud have been cheerfully and cordially granted.
Still there is one measure which, on the pre-
SUMPTION that your information IL well founded, II Is
both my right and my duty TO adopt-that is, TO re6n
force the guard already stationed at Harpers Ferry.
This NAV become necessary, not only 20 project the
nube property clearly within Federal r,sd,ction but
70 prevent the insurgents from seng the arms in the
Arsenal At w. paeo and using them against the troops
~ Virginia Besides, it is possible the additional roopS
NAV I've required TO act IA posse c0mndes on the re-
cnistion al the Marshal Of the United States for the
Western District Of Virginia 20 prevent the rescue OF
Stephens now in his custody, charged with the crime OF
hioh treason. have, therefore, ms precautionary
measure directed the Secretary OF War to order 1--WE
oomponies of artillery to proceed Immediately from
Fortress Monroe 10 Harpers Ferry.
You also inform me that places in Maryland, ONO,
sand PENNSYLVANIA have been occupied as depots and
"rendeEvous by these despendoes, unobstructed by
''guards or otherwise, 10 invade Virginia, and You
arrrise me Of these facts in order that "may take
'sieps TO preserve peace between the States am
nj oss 10 discover any provision in the Constitution
or laws OF the United States which would authorize
me 20 "take steps" for this purpose. IL Is doubtless,
the imperative duty Of the respective State Govern
ueuts TO break up such depos and TO prevent their
citizens from making incursons into Virginia 10
disturb its peace prevent the execution OF It's laws.
III the Federal Executive however, were TO enter
those States and perform this duty for them,
II would be a manifest usurpation OF their rights.
Were thus 10 act, IL would be a palpable inva-
son of State sovereignty, and as precedent, might
prove highly dangerous My authority for calling out
abe militia, employing the Army and Navy, is de-
rived exclusively from the acts Of Congress of the 18th
February 1885, and the Sd March, 1907, which clearly
do not embrace such a case rs is now presented. IL
win not be pretended that such incursons from one
State into another would be an invasion of the United
States "from any foreign nation Indian tribe, uu-
her he act Of February 1895 rendering il lawful for
the President 70 employ the Federal forces 10 repel
such Invasion. -,
In conclusion Ibeg TO express the hope that whether
the information you have received be founded IN truth
or not the energetic already adopted under
vonr direction will prove sufficient for any emergency
shatma occur Yours very respectfully