Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-04-08
FERNANDO WOOD AND HENRY WILSON-EMEl TIE
BETWEEN THE MOZART HALL DEMOUR ACY
AND TIE RADICAL ABOLITIONISTS.

| AND TIE RADICAL ABOLlIIONISTS.
Henry Wilson has written letter to Fernando Wood.
as he recognized brain, heart soul guide and phoso.
pher OF the Mozart Hall fiction, OF New York SAYS he
Wood should be held responsible for the ac q and ut-
terauces of his liege cansmen who do his bidding
WI son says that Mozart Hall that the eonscrp
ton act makes an infamous distinction esween the
rich aud the poor "Sir this accusation is faI Sc wick.
edly. wautonly UNANIMOUSLY fase-a foul SIAN der and
| damnable libel upon the Law aud its framer9."
Wood has published reply, III which he Ears
regret that YOU do not concur with Mo1aTt Hall in
IL estimate Of the CONSUMPTION act. You appel to be
surprised that should have misunderstood Al d con
scaueny msrepresented law Of law iuterv ded for
ou special advantage and for the advantage Il other
poor men who have 5000 to pay for exemptis from
| the abolition crusade jOgn South, as you under
sand the objects OF tao IL may be that N clecs
of plain like ourselves are not sufficiently riant
u comprehend the Justice and philantlrop&g7 of this
humane act but inasmuch as common sens is the
ONLY guide we in the construction tOl al w. YOU
should overlook the error which you % var mly de-.
nOuuCed.
To whom YOU refer as "the red handed TRAITORS whose
souls arc stained with the hood of our murdered roun
trymen" | cauuot say Ia New York. where mon are
in the habit Of tracing effects 10 uses and of thus
placing the responsibility of guilt pom the MIN who
pcrpetrates IT, either directly il directly common
public sentiment would point Hen ty Wilson. of Mas
schuset one OF the primary es ders in this band of
"reo-handed traitors
In repy to the allegation that the Conser-nn, hill
maxes dstinc ion between the ri "a and the poor Won
say that it does not because the Secretary OF War ma
in his discretion regulate the tariff OF prices for exa1
pe con the sliding scale truly Yankee oeyce end
may consequently fix it at ten aolr or lefs as he NAV
pease You say further in s defence tb at il is more
mercl than tue State Militia laws which IL il intended
% ignore or override nasmucb 1t is more sweeping
ia its requirements, having feUer Iersons on the "fee
St" And in conclusion, You stat that the act is "ey
dence OF the patriotism, Justice and humanity OF the
Thi-ty.seventh ConqTss.s-
Taose tn: eAy grounds of yonr defence OF the
from the charges of re solutions aside from the
slang atvo qgQted To vhi ID | say
FirstThe fact that the cetary has th power can
not alter the principle 30 @hich we object. The rich
pay but the poor, consequently il does dscrmi-
in iavor OF the iOTme to the injury and oppression
Of the latter class PB the first snsVer is found in
your avermeI shat one of the objects of the lew
was TO ghteu tia Ourdens OF the Treasury If this
be So Of ae ma Snum of three hundred dollars
will be requre&by the Secreu nv OF War especially in
Democratic Saates
Sccondae decll alton th at the act was intended TO
override sAa State Militia laws is an admission which
better sR Per would have made for such authority
was never conferred upon Congress. Wh8,t yOl are
rgha that il does thus eItr guish State rights you
wt0g in the assumption II at constuoually the fede
~ government had power to do o. The ablest lawyer
aud constitutional e1pou uder which New Eng and has
produced (Mason) said 0at such Law vac not only
iocOn sten with tie spirit and provisions Of the cons-
tuition but also with all the principles of civil lib
erty.n
ThirdThst it Is "evidence OF the patriotism, JUS
ee anu humanity Of the Thirty. seventh Congress
cOrdiRg to your idea Of these qualities admit. Let it
remain a monument to the memory Of that assembly
Of patriots But fear it wl not The act itself like
the fell spirit that conceived and moulded 1t into shape
and being, will pass away midst the exeers tons of the
Amascap people,
S9 er me express the nope that it may be submitted
to judicial determnao before the national exigency
may require its enforce men Notwithstanding MS obi
Gus fear dres if it shall be declared valid under the
situt ON we will RESP ect and obey it, Indeed Is
dur we shall support it authority until otherwise u-
y ciay settled But we will not yeh rights to de-
nounce it as an IN warantabe interference with tho
served power of the States and unjust aud opEres-
siye to the d. ople We hope the administration tuay
not feel bour to enforce it An army OF conscrdpts
he ava liable against tho South unless the Cove
ment repuda ties the anatical teachings OF men like
Yourself Au orleans will fight and die for their country,
lis unity and be preservation of its institutions, but not
to crafty the partizan ambition Of mistaken zealots,
who whilst no unding ou others bloody grave, take
care IN keen a. III out of danger themselves.