The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1859-11-23

Il GOVERNOR WISE S REPLY TO MRS. CHILD.
RICHMOND, Va, October 90, 1859. &
Madam:--Yours of the Goth was received by me
Yesterday, and at my earliest leisureI respectfully
reply to it, that will forward the letter for John
Brown, prisoner under our laws, arraigned at the
bar Of the Circuit Court for the county Of Jefferson,
at Charestown, Va, for the crimes of murder,
robbery and treason, which youask me to transmit
to him. will comply with your request in the
only way which seems ONE proper, by enclosing
it to the Commonwealth Attorney. with the re.
quest that he will ask the permission Of the Court
to hand it to the prisoner. Brown, the prisoner is
now in the hands Of the judiciary, not Of the
Executive, of this Commonwealth You ask me
further to allow you to perform the mission sof
mother or sister, to dress his wounds and speak
soothinsly to him" By this, Of course, you mean
10 be allowed to visit him in his cell, and minister
to him in the offices Of humanity. Why should you
not be allowed, Madam? Virginia and Massachu-
sets are involved in civil war; and the Constitu-
ton which unites tienlin one confeder scy guaran
tees to youthe privileges and immuaities of citizen
OF the United States in the State of Virginia That
Constitution am sworn TO support, and am, there-
fore bound to protect your privileges and ipmuni-
ties as citizen Of Massachusetts, coming into Viz
glna for any lawful and peaeefnlpurpose. Coming
as you propose, to minister to the captyeiprisop,
you will be met, doubtless, by all orr people, not
only ina chrivarous, but in a Christian spirit. You
have the right to visit Chatlestown, Va, Madam,
and your mission, being merciful and humane. will
not onlybe allowed but respected ifnot welcomed.
a few unenligbtened and ipcoRsderate persons,
fanatical in their modes Of thought and action to
maintain justice and right, might modest YOU or he
disposed to do 50, andthis might suggest tbeimpru.
dence of risking any experiment upon the peace Of
a society very much excited by the crimes with
whose chief author yon seem to sy,npathize 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
would be weak, indoed--weak in point Of folly and
weak in point Of poNer-if her State faith and con
stitutional obligations cannot be redeemed in her
own limits to the letter of morality as wen as Of
law and her chrivalry cannot coarteously receive
a hdys visit to prisoner. Every arm which
guards Brown from rescue on the ono hand and
ron lynch law on the other, viii be ready to ganrd
your person in Virginia. Icould not permit an IN
suit even to woman in her walk of charity among
us though it be to one who whetted Knives Of
butehery fer our s'nothers sisters daughters and
babes. We have no sympathy with your sent.
ments ofsympathy with Brown, and are surprised
that you were taken b. surprise when news came
of Capt. Browns recent attempt. His attempt
was natural consequence of your sympathy, and
the error of that sympathy ought to make You
doubt its Yirtue, from the effect on his conduct.
But it is not Of this / should speak When you ar
rive at Charlesown, you go there, it will be for
the court and its officers, the Commonwealth Az
tornry, Sheriff andJailor, to say Whetheryou may
see and wait on the prisoner But Whistler you
arc thus permitted o,rnot fand you will be- if my
advice can preyail) you may rest assured that he
will be humancly, lawfully, and ncrcilully dealt
by, in prison and on trial.
Respectfully, HENRY 4. WISE
Toll NARH CHlp.