Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1860-08-25
Letter from Gov. Wise.
The following letter was read to the
Jackson Democratic Club, of Boston:
RoLL1sToN. NEAR NORFOLK.

The following letter was read 10 the
jackson Democratic Club, of Boston:
RoIL1sToS. NEAR NORFOLK.
Princess Anne Co., Va, August 2, 1867
| find it very difficult to decline the
complimentary invitation OF yours OF
the 10th ult., received within the last
few days. l would prefer Boston and
Faneuil Hall in Boston to any other
standpoint to speak from in the United
States, on the topics, especially OF these
dark times. Bnt it is impossible. Do
nestle duties, building and illness to-
gether, forbid me to form any engage
ments that will require additional labor
or absence from home for many months
to come. l shall give to the Breckin-
ridge and Lane ticket all my support.
l do not agree with these nominees i'll
some essential particulars, and certainly
do not subscribe the platform, in two
respects, on which they are placed by
their nomination; but their triumph will
be the triumph of the vital doctrine OF
protection to persons and property in
the common Territories of the United
States.
That is the issue of this contest,
whether protection everywhere, to all
and all alike, shall prevail against this
emasculating theory of Non-lnterven-
ton. If protection be an abstraction,
Non-Intervention is not. If the Leg1s-
lative department, Congress, and the
Executive department, the President,
which is to see that the laws are faith
fully executed, are both to ignore the
parens patrie duty of protecting all cit'-
zens equally and alike, wherever the
jurisdiction of Government extends, In
the rights of person and property with
out discrimination or distinction or dill
ference, and are to throw the powers
and duties of protecting persons and
property wholly upon the Judiciary,
which is the umpire department between
citizen and citizen, and Government and
citizens, in matters Of individual rights,
what is to be the result? The first and
worst consequence will be that it will
drag the Supreme Court of the United
States from it's bench of equality, equity
and law and justice, and bedraggle it in
the mire of partisan politics until its
ermine will be so stained that it will be
unfit to hold the scales Of right, law,
Justice or morals at all. The second
consequence will be that it will set up
a mere municipal umpire to be arblter,
or umpire between sovereign States,
which in the last resort can only decide
for themselves. The third consequence
will be that this Executive, by ignoring
it's duty and power of protection will at
last obtain all the powers Of the Govern
ment; for the judges are nominated, and
by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate, appointed by the Presl-
dent.
Nothing could be bluer than the Fed
eralism of this Non-Iptcrvention doc
trine. And does it leave slave property
alone at the mercy of Federal power
concentrated ultimately in an Execu-
tive? No; lands, too, are at its mercyl
What else, who else, | won't stop to
enumerate. For one, | will never quiet
ly submit to it. The issue compcls me
to side with the ticket Of your choice.
God grant that our efforts be not in vain.
l fear they will be-tbat Black Repub-
licanism is to triumph in the coming
election. If so, / NEAR for n to abide
by and in the Union: to fight in it, not
out OF it-aid in saving the country and
it's Constitution; but not to submit one
moment, or to concede one single item,
. to a triumph which will degrade me and
l mine, in this confederacy of free and
equal States. n A. WISE.