Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-19

nected with that matter, land in justice to my
self will state the reason why | offered these
resolutions
Ills n matter of notoric,y known presume
to almost every citizen in Virginia, that rumors
were ailoat that certain rash and Ill advised
citizens" among whom certainly, never would
class \ gentleman who has filled The EXccu-
tive Char of the Commonwealth, did mediate
4 conspiracy TO seize the fortiicRtlons and other
pronerty of the United States. Private letters
which received from abroad have assured
me that such reports were very injurious to the
poace of the country and calculated to impair
the prospects OF favorable adjustment OF
difficulties. \ gentleman from Virginia
now resident Of Illinois, stated to me in
Il letter that the impression made upon
the hubble mind Of that State was, that 4
large body of men you'd accompany the
President elect To the city OF Washington
men of like passions and like eXcltahlllty rs
those referred to in the rcsOlution-and that,
being confronted there it might originate civil
war. thought it was my duty to offer the
resolution with view TO obv!atc any act Of!
this kind and to satisfy persons abroad that
there was no ground for such rIimor as.
sure the gentleman thar he in no wise entered
into nv mind in connection with that matter
acquit him, sir, entirely, OF any belief in my
own heart that he, ut any tlmc would engage
in any such enterprise.
Mr.. WIsE-I ain satisfied, sir. thank the
gentleman for the satisfactory answer which lie
has civen me At the same time, whilst the
public prints did connect my name with this
matter they have lal, certainly reason to acquit
me, on the evidence Of my uwn declarations
before the public would have preferred
and would not have WINGED so much under this
resolution, connected, as it is, with other lnior-
nation that have if the resolution, instead Of
taking the fact as true and serious, had been
resolution Of inquiry whether there was any
foundation for the charge or not They took
that course at Washington, and court OF IN
quiry has been sitting there 10 ascertain whether
the cnemv hati been sent to meet the Lieut..
General wonder why they did not summon
me Us u witness? They found no witnesses
and no evidence Of any such fact. 1t would
have been better il this resolution, instead OF
assuming that the fact existed had rs.
sulncl rather doubt about it, and attempted
an inquiry upon the subject; and had an in
curry been instituted, and been called here,
think that my evidence would have been
such US 10 make The Lieutenant General feel
ashamed of his position; for believe that |
have complete and full evidence that he at
least has made this assumption OF Il purpose
on my part TO crganize l. military force, the
ground Of lis assembling a stan'iiug army at
the capital fear, sir that whilst the
perpetratiun Of that false imruation may
lie alleged agains: the authorities there,
the public liberty may be concerned IN
the Steps that must have been taken To as
certain whether had hcen guilty Of 4 raid or
not, when have reason 10 know and feel that
INV faniIy letters have been peered into,
whether in the Post Office or not, the deponcnt
saith not So much for that.
Last nigh, when larrived mere, sir, this pa
ncr was put into iuy hand-an instance of an
other Islander Of which was ignorant until
saw the debate in the Senate OF Virginia, be-
tween the gentleman from Augusta, MIR. STr-
ARr,) and the Senator from King William, CHR
b. B. DOUGLAS, )-whcn, for the first time, was
appraised Of the ruuIor that it was alleged that
there was 4 conspiracy, not only to prevent the
Inauguration Of the President elect at Wash
ington, but that there was conspiracy
to remove the incumbent Governor OF Viz
rinia ard substitute in his place the cx-
Governor Of Virginia. (.anghler.l That was
the first time that ever heard Of that runner
so utterly unaware was Of the fact that my re.
putation was assailed in that respect. Senator
DOUGLAS sent me this letter last night addressed
to him from S!aunton, signed by j. \. Hartman
and J. d. I'nbodrn. 1t reads as follows:
srArS1Os, Feb s, lStl.
b. g. por5L.s Esq:
Nv Dear Sir hav. Just Aeon the question put by you
to Sir stuart in the last ge.E In reference 10 III.
d.poslug Of Mr. lechrr and Substitution OF Mr. Wise
ipEar yroo md
van, 10 state the circumstances under which Mr.. Stuart
made tn. statement Sow, there Is no innlscy between
NJ S. and myself, and could DO no privacy. Mr.
Stuart MT IN the Rotuhda ut the Exchange Aher o
salua;ion he remarked 10 me that he vas pesse'ci VI
Information tina: went TO prove that one OF the rst acts
Convention would be 10 remove le!cher ana put III "nc
and that Wise aircady been autographed TO- tou m
did not believe It. lrnbudrn up just then anu
told hir h. also said he aid believe IT, and Mr. Stuart
told him that he was nss, Ssio OF Information t It c
.,odeu could possib grt A. and II was certainly -"
nboden a;cl that hc did nos believe one word OF It.
We separated and mentioned the conversation To- mum
her gentl-m-n among the rest, yourself and all agreed
shat they lid not believe II,
Your frisud JoHS a. HAhhAS.
Cup, Uarman hs. Just sowD the foregoing letter, and
the fact. he states ~ occurring after TO where he
and Mr. Stuart talking, are e"uctly tue Mha' pas
I'd before Joined them, did not hear, except maj tal
Hartman when joiEed ,hen repeated TO ir lnaI Mf.
had said that one object those had In view who we're Tor
calling the Convention to le2islie Letcher ONT I"
nediat.ly replied tns did not belle. oor word OF r.
sir Stuart replied, ~ in possesson o! lornat4n no,
accessible 10 you" replied, THAT MAJ DC Hus u".
This occurred In tho hall of the Exchange where csNn
was present. did not hesitate TO- repeat H. 10 "'a mol
consider IL "prirate or confidential.
Signed, J. D. lNHoDES'
Hon H. A. wIsE Present The foregoing certificates a.
dressed to evidently not Intended 10 De reGatHeu
conids.al. rs their contents may he iulpo'sh' 70
YOU and as deem you entitled 10 their possession, ies'
not only authorized but 10 extent Obliged 10 pace
them your disposal TO be used publicly or plira,sy'
you may deem necessary for your personal S,ma,san;
Al IL. IL,
Mr.. WkE-Now, sir, | aver the fact as
gentleman before gentlemen, that there Is mol,
so far as I am concerned, the least SHADOW
&c foundation for any such COMMUNICATION.
] cannot, Of course, undertake TO say that some
body did not undertake to telegraph tn me
Whether he did or. did not, | know no more
than the child unborn. know this, sIr-that
| live more than Gig int miles from the emu OF
telegraph line ! know that when any teie-
graph comes, addressed to me, it is obliged to
be known to several Witnesses 1t Is Obliged 10
be sent to me by Il messenger Know
that no messenger ever came TO me with
any such telegraph-wilh any such letter
with any such sign. know that no
such idea was ever int!matcd to me-neVer
npon earth By anybody, in any form, until it
came to me in this form. And know, as eve
~ man does know who knows me, that had II
cunc it would have met only with 4 smile Of
pity at the idea
Now, this, coming to me from Senator
of my State, alleging that another Sen
ator has information which, it is alleged,
he treats os reliable, implying at least
that was privy to 4 conspiracy to sub
vert the government, to remove the lnc'i'n-
bcnt ri the Gorrrnorshlp and take his
seat, am compelled here, in this presence,
to ask the Senator from Staunon, CIR. STrAKT)
for the facts as he understands them; and if be
has vouchers for these facts, what was his au.
thority for stating them.
Mr. SruARr.-It is "itIi great pleasure
mean to respond to the inquiry of the gentle
man from Princess Anne (Nlr. WtsE). have
only to state sir, that the information con.
tanned in that letter is an entire mistake J
never had any Information upon the subject
never profrSScd TO huvc, 10 any mortal being l.
mentioned the matter as one OF the on dts OF
,b,. ,l,, in tho rotunda of the Exchange Hotel.