The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-05-20
Henry a. Wise on the Node OF Dealing
with TrAifOrs.

Fernando Wood wrote a letter to
Gov. WISE of Virgins, seven years ago,
suggesting the communication of the SEN
tenoe of death passed on John Brown
10 imprisonment for life. He did this
not from merciful motives, but because
DE feared the effect the execution OF
Bsown would have in the non-slaye-
holding States against the democratic
party. As a sop 10 the Virginia Cerbe
rus, he avowed that he would hang Mr..
Seward if he could be caught But
Wise didn't bite at the bate He re-
Piled in letter Of some length. The
following extract is = specimen Of this
precious epistle
De shall be executed IS the law
sentences him snd his body shall be
delivered over 20 surgeons, and await
ihe resurrection without grave in our
soil have shown him all the mercy
which humanity can claim.
Wise did lot swerve from his pur-
pose. he hung John Brown, taking
advantage Of the opportunity to make
a military display which excited the
State Of Virginia throughout al her
borders. This was done Tor a purpose
70 inAame the popular MAD, and to
Tipen the people for mischief
IN pursuance Of this nefarious de-
sign the pixies captured with Brown
were distributed amongst the Southern
States Thousands of visitors to our
State Library handled, and commented
onthe pikesentt TO Tennessee and depos-
ted for public inspection there. It was
regarded as a terrible witness Of the
murderous Intentions Of abolitiOnists,
who, it was alleged, sought to ineite
the slaves to instruction, and TO re-
enact in the South the horrors of St
Domingo Political leaders descanted
upon the theme - crossroads party
drivers, echoed their sinister teachings;
hangers-on, ignorant of what was meant
By The horrors of St Domingo" were
dark and wrathful in their mutterings
against the enemies Of the South
Wise did not miscalculate the effect Of
ms grand hanging scene, or of his de-
pOsItes with the States. John Brown
and his pixies became through his in
strumentaiity effective weapons in the
hands Of conspirators sgainst the ma
uonal Government
The history Of the country has been
strange and eventful since Wise fulmi-
mated hIs decree that the body Of John
Brown should await the resurrection
without grave" A political crisis
aud . crisis Of war have occurred. Men
OF the cast OF Wise have been conspic-
uous as traitors and enemies of the
Government, making deadly struggle
10 OverJurn it; whilst those who palli-
ated the conduct of Brown, together
with other Union patriots, have met
these enemies on every battlefield OF
TINS bloody contest The banners of
treason have been stricken TO the earth.
Wise is now 3 fugitive from his home,
where daughter Of his victim IS eE-
gagged in the charitable occupation OF
teaching the children Of oppressed
slaves Tor whose sake her father haz-
arded uis life. The violated laws OF
ui- country demand that Wise should
Doe brought TO the bar Of justice. When
JL.s Is done, what reason can be given
that the measure Of mercy he gave
Rrawu shall not be measured unto hm-
s,lIt "He shall be executed gs the
l4y sentenced him, aud his body shall
be- delivered 10 the surgeons, and await
jh- resurrection without grave"
Cruel words The poisoned chalice"
Insy yet return 70 plague the in
yeatOr