The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-05-20

8
Curious CerFesPondence.
The following letters, written Arthe time
shthe trial and hanging Of John Brown,
present Fernando Wood in q new chaysc-
ter. For political reasons he interoedes
for Brown. In the reply Of Gov. Wise we
are told what should be done with traitors
and rebels,-they should hang-anA If sup
ported by their whole section tho more
reason for hanging. Out of the mouth Of
Wise We can condemn and hang the whole
secession crew, beginning with Davis:
LETTER FROM FERNANDO WOOD TO GOV.
w1sE.
NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 1860
ny DEAR SIR:-Read this letter over
carefully, and, whether concurring or not
in its views. believe j. euaanates from your
friend, and q man who has q thorough
knowledge Of the pulse Of TIE people Q. the
free States.
Your proceedings and conduct thus fer,
In the matter OF the cons piracy at Ea-per's
Ferry, meets with general approval, ana
ELECTS commentator from your enemies.
The hrmness and moderation which has
characterized your course cannot be too
highly applauded, and to-day you stand
higher than any other man in the Union.
Now, ny friend. dare you do bold thing
2nd ",emper justice with mercy" Have
you nerve enough to send Brown to States
Prison for life instead Of hanging him? Or
rather should ask whether such course
would be consistent with your own sense
Of duty, for know that that is the sole
controller II your official conduct. Brown
is looked upon here 10 the mere crazy or
fool-hardy em!ssary Of other men. Cir
cumstances create sympathy for him
even with the most ultra friends of the
South. am of this latter class az by re-
cent speeches you may have observed.
No Southern man could 50 further than
myself in behalf Of Southern rights, but
Yet were the Governor Of Virginia,
Brown should not be hung, though Sew
ard should be ii could catch him; and in
such q course my conduct would be gov,
eTned by sound policy. The South Will
gaia by showing that it can be magnani-
mous 20 . fanatic in its power. We Who
fight its battles can gain largely by point
ing to such an instance Of .s'chivalry."-
You can Judge Of southern sentiment bet
ter than myself: can Judge Of Northern
sentiment better than you. II the South
will rise up en- masse to applaud it.
have thus briefly and frankly diechar-
ged my duty 40 your friend, to give advice
under trying circumstances.
Very truly yours, FERssASDo Woop.
Eon. II. A. WISE.
ANswER OF GOVERNOR WISE TO FERNANDO
WOOD. ~
RICHMOND, Va, Nov. 4, 1859.
MY DEAR SRI have duly received and
weighed every word Of your letter. give
1t all credit for good motive and good NOR
~ y hat e
good policy. Now, listen 70 ne, for my
Had i reached Harperg Ferry before
these men were captured and I would
have rea ched there in time had been fo-.
waroed as ought to have been from Wash
ing.on and the Relay House I woule
have proclaimed martial law, have storm
ed them in the quickes: possible time, have
given them no quarter, and If any had sur
Vived l would have tried and executed
them lnaer sentence Of Court-maYtial. Blu
was 100 late. The prisoners were cap
tives, and then determined to protec
them to the utter.nost of my power, and
did protect them with my own person;
escorted them to prison, and place<
around them ouch force as to overaw
Lynch law. Every comfort was givel
them by my orders. And they have bee1
scrupulcusly afforded fair and speed,
trial with every opportunity Of defense 70
crimes which we're openly perpetrated be
fore the eyes Of hundreds, and az openl
only by technical exceptions, and the chan
Cos for these they had TO greater DEGREES
BY the expedition Of prosecution. And tn
crimes deliberately done by them are {
the deepest and darkest kind which can
committed against our people.
Brown, the chief leader, has been legal
and fairly tried and convicted, and admi,
the humanity Of his treatment as prison
er, the truth Of the indictment, and til
truthfulness Of the witnesses against hin
He has been allowed excess Of counsel, an
the freedom ofspeech beyond any prisone
known to me in our trials. It was impot
sible not to convict him. He il sentence
code, hamane:y adjudged, and requires q
duty from me except to see that II be e3t
cuted. have to sign no death warrant
IL II the Executive interposes at all, it IL I
pardon; and to pardon him have receive
petitions, prayers, threats from almost eve
" ffee State IN the Union.
FROM honest patriotic men like yoursel
meny Of the01 am warned that nangiD
VIM make him, martyr All! Will it
Whtf The obvious answer 10 that ques
ton shows me above anything the necel
sity Tor hanging him. You ask: ''Hav
you nerve enough 10 send Brown to til
State Prison for lifss instead Of hangin
MN III ~ 401Ou I0x0N No OuS0t 70
hung, and that I would b. inexcusable fe
mitigating his pupishment, I could do
without Ainohing, without . CULVER of mus
Gle against universal clamor for his lif
Bot vas Il ever known before that It woul
b impolit1o Tor etate TO execute her Law
A9ainst til GAest crimes, without brinf
IT dowu,np herself tho vengeance Of
pnblic so@(f0ent outside Of her limits, IN
hostile % k6f 1oWoe s%W
10 it 20 that It u wisely said to her th,
sahe had better spare murderer, robbie
: traitor, becau1e public continent els
Who're wlu glortfy % insurrectionist VII
marty1dOm1 No0, it 10 time to do exec,
ton upon him and all like him. And
therefore cay 70 you, firmly. that I hs,
precisely nerve enough % lot him 30 Ok
cuted With tho certainty Of bio condemn
ton. He shall b executed - tho Law sel
tences him, and his body shall b delive
"a over to surgeons, and await the resu
rection without grave In our soil. 1ha'
shown him all the mercy which humant
can claim. Yours truly.
Hon. r. Woon. HENRY A. WIS.,
The Boston 1ta~script says that the fit
Or Of Commodore WinsloW, Of the Kee