Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-02-13
INVASION OF STATES.
II THE SENATE, JANUARY a. 1860


Douglas Ito enable him, Mr.. H., to speak TO lt,):
RSsolred That the Committee on the Judiciary
be instructed TO report bill for the Protecloh OF
zach state and Territory OF the MON sgalns. IN
ssion by the authorities inha btants of any other
State or Territory; and for the suppression and
punishment Of conspiracies or combinations, In
sDv State or Territory with intent To invade, as
sail or molest the government inhabitants, prop
erty or institutions OF any other state or Ferrtory
of the Union
Mr. DAVIS, while not objecting to its post
pOnement said MIR. President, must con-
fess myself rather at loss to perceive the
object of the resolution. Before the reso-
luton was introduced, the Senate had or
dered select committee to examine into
the facts of the Harpers Ferry raid, and
sureiy with view to determine what legis-
istion was necessary. Whilst this select
committee was engaged in Its investigation,
the Senator from Illinsis introduced Il resolu-
tion to refer the question of enacting laws upon
that subject TO the Committee on the Judiciary
wherefore, could not comprehend, unless it
was that the Senator intended to speak to bis
own resolution. That end having been an
swered L do not see why it should be any
longer entertained. If it be the purpose of the
Senate to transfer the question from the select
committee which it has raised to the Commit
tee on the Judiciary, then the select committee
ought to be relieved and discharged. They
going on from day to day, nearly every
day in the week, engaged in the investigation
Investigation with view to the very point
of what legislation is necessary; which is
matter certainly to be determined better after
the facts have been ascertained than before
It so happened on the morning the Senator
from Illinois made his address on this resolu-
ton that 1 was engaged in the select commit
tee, lnqulrlng into the facts connected with
this HarperS Ferry raid; I therefore did not
reach the Senate until after he had commenced
his remarks; but this morning learned from
the printed report Of his remarks he took q
fTnT0 hTah han.v xls
day to notice. The resolution being before
the Senate, the Senator, addressing it, referred
in the beginning of his address to a CORES
pOndence between the Governor Of Virginia
and the President of the United States The
President, he says, replied to the Governor of
Virginia on the 18th of November and he
quotes single sentence of that reply:
e. am at loss to discover any provision in the
Constitution or laws of the United States which
would authorize me to take steps' for this pur-
pose
The Senator inserts in brackets, ssthat is, to
preserve the peace between the States" He
vent on to say:
'' This announcement produced profound i'm
preston upon the public mind, especially I'm the
slaveholding States. 1t was generally received
and regarded as an official and authoritative an
nouncement that the Constitution of the United
states confers no power upon the Federal Govern
Inent to protect the several States of this Union
against invasion from the other States''
Now, sir, deny that any such sensation was
created In my breast, or any one with whom l
communicated. / do not know that there is in
the length and breadth of the land one man
who denies the power of Congress to legisate
for this purpose. The injustice which the
senator, however, does to the Executive of the
nlted States, Is in presenting him in the at
titude of denying that the Federal Government
has any power to protect the several States of
this U Union against invasion from other States
The answer OF the President was that he had
no power, under the Constitution or laws of the
I nited States, to perform that which Gov
Wise requested. What did Gov Wise request?
That combinations in the other States organ
lied with view to invade Virginia to rescue
criminal from execution, should be broken up.
That the position of the President may be ex-
actly understood, will send to the Secretary's
desk the Presidents letter and that of the
Governor OF Virginia, and ask that they be
read.
The Secretary read as follows:
RICHMOND, Virgins, Nov 25 1880
SIR have information from various Quarters
upon which rely that a conspiracy of formid
able extent In means and numbers, is formed in
Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York. and other States
To rescue John Brown and his associates, prison
ers at Charlrstown. Virginia. The information
Is specific enoug b to be reliable. Itconvfnces me
that an attempt will be made to rescue the prison
els and II that lls then to seize citizens of this
State as hostages and victims in case of execution
Ihe execution will take place next Friday, as
certain as Virginia can and will enforce her laws
have been Obliged to call out one thousand men
who are now under arms and if necessary shall
call cut the whole available force of the State In
carry Into effect the sentence of our laws on the
"a ana 10Th proximO. Places In MARYLAND Ohio
ana Pennsylvania nave been occupied as deDots
and rendezvous by these esperadcs, uuobstructed
bV guards or otherwise, to invade this State; and
We are kept in continual apprehension of ont
RACES from fire and rapine on our borders I an
prise you of these facts in order that YOU NAV take
steps TO preserve peace between the States / pro-
rQ<rf hat i.
claim all threats when say with all tn. rniobt
Of meaning, that If another invasion ass4ils this
STATE or Its CITIZENS, from any quarter, will pur-
sue .ne invaders wherever they may 90, into any
territory, and punish them wherever arms can
reach them. shall send copies of this to thu
governors Of Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylyanis
win que respect and consideration, yours
uuy, HENRY A. WISE
To his Excellsncy JAMES BUCHANAN,
President OF the United States
WASHINGTON CITY, November 2s, 1859.
SIR: received, on yesterday, your favor of the
18th Instant, stfting that you have received infr-
nation from various quarters on 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, Viz
gl1ia-" The information, YOU believe is spe-
elnc enough to be reliable :" and you are con-
venced - that an attempt will be made to rescue
'he prisoners and IL that fails then to seize cit-
.eas OF this State (Virginia) hostages and vic
ulns in case Of execution"
lou DO not communicate the facts on which
ySuf convictions are founded; in the absence OF
uCh' IL would seem almost incred BILE that anv
YoINoa OF the people Of the States mentioned
I4u H Le guilty Of the atrocious wickednese. as
t,,i,.a ioliy. Of attempting to convicted
th.I. and murderers from the penalty due to
Yom crimes under the outraged Laws Of Virginia
ne, APfess entire confidence, in which heartily
sburd ate, that the noble old Commonwealth is
IsyEa able and willing to carry her own
Rad ra.' execution. Had this been otherwise and
Ia,u,. ~ as the Governor Of Virginia 1.-THE Leeis-
ton 10 ~. low being in session. made applica-
Law, of o. iVr Tue aid which the Constellation and
ford mi nited States would enable me to af.
dialIy gr,n,a9uld Suld have been cheerfully and cor
on tb. n,.-'. u. Still, there is one measure which,
founded. /, !. uon that your information is wei
-ttat /. ~ both my gbt aud INV duty to adopt
at Harpe,;s rhiorce the guard already stationed
not oblv To nly. This may become necessary,
within Federal 70. public property clearly
thaf pIsc. ana selzing tue arms in the arsenal at
Virginia Rs.,Sg Using them against the troop. of
statr, fo,9 Of the marshal Of the 4 uited
vent tbe ,.. western district Of Virginia, 70 pre-
CHARGED rui,S OF Stevens, now In his custody.
a. Ia