The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-02
Tlle Aorfolk 2ust.
FRIDAY. MARCH 2. 1865.
CORRESPONDENCE.
From the Richmond Enquirer.
RfcunoNn Va Fab 10 IQdd

RICHMOND, Va, Feb. II, 1895
| To The Hon. Fernando Wood,
DEAR SIR: The past and the presen
both justify me to myself in appealing
| to you, Sir, for such information anC
counsel, If you have 1t, as will relieve
my mind and heart of the painful doubt
and anxiety which Cypress them re-
specting the fate, not only of the south.
| ern states and people, but of the Repub.
lie, and Of the civil liberty which it was
| created to establish .and defend. My
own views are, in a word nothing In
my present position to be needed even
much less to be made known, with any
hope that they would prevail. You
know my position before the war: "ro
fight i'm the Union, under the express
letter of the Constitution--to take up
arms by the sovereign authority OF
states-to repel invasion and to suppress
'insurrectiOn.'
assented to secession on the grounds
of Mr.. Madison, that 10 was at most but
a revolutionary remedy In the conflict of
sovereignties among the states of the
Union; that If successful, 1t would pre-
serve Constitutional limitations, defend
the right Of selfgovernment, and secure
civil liberty; and IL unsuccessful, that 1t
would leave US at least as we were ante
6elt1na, under the egis of the Constitu
ton of the United States, as the supreme
law of the Nation and all its parts, the
Confederate States remaining bodies
polite, or sovereign states, still In tho
Union.
The revolution of sovereignties was
unsuccessful, never contaminated Con-
federate independence, and never for
~, No. n os, ri la fof nf
the Union, but left each and all as they
were under the Federal Constitution,
bound by its compacts and protected by
Its provisions and guarantees. By the
result of the war the Union was not re-
stored, for 1t was never destroyed or
broken; it was not to be "reconstruct-
ed" for 1t was already constructed by
the Constitution; states were still states;
citizens were still citizens; Federal
rights and relations were still the same;
obligations and duties were the same;
privileges and protection and penalties
were all the same, just simply because
the Constitution of the United States
was still the same, and the Union was
still the same, as neither had been de-
stroyed, though the former was heavily
assailed, and the latter had often been
violated; the one stood the shock and
test of arms, and the other still reigns
the supreme law. Such, fairly stated, /
appreheHd and hope, to be the position
OF President job nson, founded on the
laws of civil war among sovereign states.
Can you inform me, then, why, the
war having ceased, peace has not yet
been proclaimed Why the writ of ha-
beus corpus has not beenrestored? Why
civil Jurisdiction has not been allowed to
Al. <~f ~ k.I<
to the courts OF law and equity under
continue long after the ordinary pro-
cess of the judicial tribunals can be ex-
ecuted? Are the civil laws to be sus-
pended? Are original and sovereign
States to be propincidiized and "territo-
rallied ?" Is the Constitution of the
United States itself to remain suspended
until some power or other can or shall
form new National Government? j
might add inquiry to inquiry, further,
but these are enough, and l confess to
you that have seen nothing from any
quarter as yet shedding light ON these
momentuous questions. Whether look
to the Federal Executive, or Congress,
or Ju iiciary, or to the country at large,
all Is dark. / sec q lurid light only In
the CAMPS of the army, still surrounding
our very homes and firesides. Can you,
from your stand, point me to any clear,
unclouded prospect, to cheer the patriot
heart which longs to see the old Union
and old Constitution respected aud hon.
ored, and obeyed as they really exist and
have ever since 1887 existed, without any
reconstruction
A year ago you implored the Southern
people to return to the Union on basis
of equality and fraternity. This you
did from the Hall of the House of Rep
resentatives, where we have no repre-
sentatives now, while we are paying
heavy excise duties and other taxes. Du-
ring the war you were manfuliy opposed
to it, but you were for the return OF the
South, and for the Union on an AMIGA
BILE adjustment of all questions at issue ;
you did not believe that the differences
existing were either irreconciIable, or to
be determined and adjusted only by the
sword. The main difference, that of
Slavery, has been since determined for
ever, Vi cOncitdte beH. am convinced
that it could never have been settled in
any other way. and that for that reason
the war itself was providential, it was
Gods war, and who on earth dare gain
say it. 1t has fixed the Union firm on
its base, unless it has unfixed the Con-
stitution. But if the war has destroyed
the latter, it has destroyed the former,
forever. Why have you been silent SO
long? What is the state of national af-
fairs, present and prospective? Let me
hear from you soon. Very truly yours,
HENRY A. WISE.
REPLY OF Mr.. WOOD.
Nkw YonK, Feb 10, 1886
MY DEAR SIR: You say correctly,
that have been silent on national poll
tics since my speech Of February last in
Congress, in which 1 impIored the
southern people to return to the Union.
have been purposely 30. During my
absence in Europe, last Spring and
Summer, the war abruptly closed, the
Executive was more abruptly changed,
and the consequences of these events
precipitated upon the country condi-
ton Of things, to comprehend which
few minds were capable. thought that
silent observation would the better en-
able me to understand and appreciate
this new order of public affairs, and to
reach conclusion which, however un-
important to others, would at least be
satisfactory to myself. / have reached
this conclusion, and having been thus
called upon in your letter of the 18th
inst, will give it in reply. The form of
government established by the present
Constitution was not the first created
after Independence, nor was it republic
can. The first was that established by