The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-04-17
From the atlanta Christi an Advocate.
Letter from Hon. Henry A. wise.
RICHMOND, Va, March 81, 1869.


Dear sir,-In reply to yours of the 18th
instant, | can only say that am perfectly
content to await the "delay" simply which
was resolved on. 1t may be ,oise as to &C.
ton, but is dangerous as to the work Of
preparation. OF this, however, your au-
thorities are the proper judgea.
AS to the points in my frst letter touch
ing the effects Of the abolition Of slavery
on the relations Of the two branches OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church, I can but say
that my convictions are strong, and il I
clearly expressed them to you / have no
sort of objection to their publication. My
letters main subject-matter called forth in
cidentally an expression on these points,
but not fully enough, perhaps, to be under
stood in o clear light. What I said, ex-
aetly, in that letter. don't remember, but
l know what meant to say, and should
have said, and have no hesitation in re-
peating now my true meaning.
The long agitation Of the question of
slavery, it's history before the war, and the
war itself, convinced me that an exodus
from African bondage was obliged to be by
the Almighty hand of Providence. God
knew what poor finite minds North and
South did not foresee-that nothing short Of
fire and saoord, of war and its blood and
violence, could emancipate negro slaves on
this continent, in country governed, as the
United States, in the form Of constitutional
republics bound together by constitu-
tional union. By no steps in normal times
could Congress ever have abolished slavery !;
and the States would never have COM
menced emancipation by peaceful means,
gradual or otherwise, for reasons which it
would be irritating now to state. 1t is suf-
fcient to say that too many in the South
fought for nothing but the right of roperty
in slaves; and it is time that the North
was informed that by far the most
respectable portion OF tho southern
people fought for something far more
precious than the legal privilege of being
the masters of slaves. They fought for the
more glorious privilege Of elf-government.
They were willing to emancipate slaves in
their OWN time and own way, but were not
willing to allow Congress to regulate their
domestic government and concerns for them
either as to slavery or anything else. Thus
there were double restraints against eman-
cipation which could not be removed in
time to prevent either dissolution Of the
Union OF civil war. The war was ma
tional necessity, permitted by Divine Pro-
violence to prevent lin the end, hope,)
greater evils than the war itself.
And mark this view of the case as es-
sential to guide all good Christians and pa-
triots in their endeavors now to ease most
glorious country, still suffering from the
awful conflict, and in the greatest danger
of losing civil liberty for all races in the
struggle to emancipate one race. The view
have taken is heliocentTic one. 1t strives
to reach Gods throne, and to look thence
out upon the ways and the end. That He
ordered, and directed, and forced the result
Of emancipation of slaves in America,
knowing that there was no other way to
bring it about and at the same time save
all that is precious, have not the least
in any unreasonable way obstructs the le-
gitimate consequences Of this special provi-
dence "kicks against the pricks." This
brings up the question
What should be regarded as the legiti-
mate consequences My answer is peace.
The old strifes must cease and be hushed,
and their wounds be healed. Next, charity,
liberation, brotherly and patriotic kindness.
1t is not for me to upbraid you or you me
for the offences and in uries of this War.
Slavery was it's cause, was our weakness if
not our wickedness, and God has purged
out it's sin and satanic influence by fire and
blood. His fire and blood, for the war
YVES His if the sin was mine. But woe
unto those, on either side, who shall cause
the fires to burn and the blood to heat
after the sin and causes of woes have been
burnt to ashes. We must not keep the
fires ignited-the ashes must be allowed
to cool, and then, az from battle fields, the
green herbage may be made to grow more
luxuriant than ever; 30 good fruit may be
made to spring even from the cinders and
ashes of this horrid war. No man, or set
of men, must dare to take any bolts of ven
qeance in their hands. God often used the
heather to punish his own chosen people;
but if they dared to do even his will in
heathenish and unchristian way, Jehovah
never failed to make them, too, feel his
wrath. Let the North remember that,
and that if the war was Providential,
then we all were but mere instruments
Of the Divine Government, and should
not attempt to play petty providences in
the place of God. If we do we will
curse ourselves and our country-we
will become petty tyrants. Guided by
a catholic spirit like this, and looking to
God all the time, in every act and plan, we
will prevent the white man from being
enslaved by the causes which made the
black man free we will prevent the con-
tinuance of the causes which separated the
Methodist Church as the precursors of the
attempted separation of the whole country;
and we will cause the whole country to be
stronger, and safer, and freer, than 1t ever
was OF could be before.
l have written enough, and you are vel
come to weave these views into those of my
first letter, and print them together.
I have examined your pamphlets, and
thank you for them.
Very truly and respectfully yours,
HENRY A. WISE.
New York sWells use blonde hair powder.