Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-04-27
From the Atlanta Christian Advocate.
Letter from Hon. Henry A. Wise.
RICHMOND, Va, March 81, l8

Letter from Hon. Henry A. Wise
RICHMOND, Va. March 81, 1862
Rer. James Mitchell.
Dear Sir-In reply to yours of the 29th in
stant, can only say that [ am perfectly con
resolved on. 1t may be acise as to action bu
Is dangerous as the work of preparation. O
this, however, your authorities are the proper
judges.
As to the points in my first letter touching
! the effects of the abolition of slavery on the
relations of the two branches of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, | can hut say that my con-
victions are strong, and if clearly expressed
them to you have no sort of objection to their
publication. My letters main subject matter
called forth incidentally an expression on these
understood in clear light. What | said, ex-
actly, In that letter, don't remember, but |
know what meant to say, and should have
said, and have no hesitation in repeating now
| my true meaning.
The long agitation of the question of sla-
very, its history before the war, and the war
itself, nviuced ME that an e.codus from Afri-
can 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 s,oori, of war
/
negro slaves on this continent, in country
governed, as the United States, in the form OF
constitutional republics. bound together by
constitutional union By no steps In normal
times could Congress ever have abolished sla-
very; and the States would never have COM
menced emancipation by peaceful means, grad
ua or otherwise, for reasons which 1t would be
Irritating now to state. 1t is sufficient to say
that too many in the South fought for nothing
but the right Of property in slaves and it is
time that the North was informed that by far
the most respectable portion of the 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 seIfgovernmeat They were will
ing to emanclpate slaves In their own time and
own way, but were not willing to allow Con-
gr SIS to regulate their domestic government
and concerns Tor them either as to slavery OF
anything else. Thus there were double re-
strainis against emancipation which could MOI
be removed IN time to prevent either dissolu-
ton of the Union or civil war. The war was
a national necessity permitted by Divine Prov
idence to prevent lin the end, hepe;t greater
Evils than the war itself
Aud | mark this view Of the case as essen
ilal TO guide all good Christians aud patriots in
their eudeavorS< now to ease a most glorious
county, stllfsuffefng from the awful Coz hlct.
and in the greatest danger of losing civil llber-
ty Tor all races In the struggle to emanclpate
one race. The view | have ,aken is a heiioce.,-
tric one. 1t strives to reach God s throne, aud
TO look thence out upon the ways anu the end.
That He ordered, and directed. and forced the
result OF emancipation OF slaves III AnIeriea,
knowing hat there was no other way to bring
1t about and at the same time save all thar ISL
precious, | have not the least doubt. And
l.
way obstructs the legitimate consequences OF
this SPECIAL providence kicks against. the |
pricks. This brings up the question: 4
- VI hat should be regarded the legitimate |
eobsequences? My answer is peace. The old
striies must cease and be hushed, aud their
wounds be hea!ed.es Next, charity toterotion,
broiherly and patriotic kindness. 1t is not for
me to upbraid you or you me for the offences
and Injuries OF this war. Slavery was its cause,
was cur weakness if not our wickednes, and
God has purged out its sin and satanic influence
by fire and blood. HIS fire aud blood, foAthe !
war was His if the sln><Yas mine. But woe
unto those on either side, who shall cause the
fires to bum and the blood to heat aitersthe sin
and causes of woes have been burnt to ashes.
We must not keep the fires ignited-the ash
es must be allowed to COOL aud then, as from
battle fields, the green herbage>pay be madeto
grow more iuxuriant than ever; So good fruit1
may be made to >hring even from the ciLders
aud ashes of this-horrld war. \ No man, or set
of men, must dare to take any bolts of cen
gednce in their hands. God often used the |
heathen to punish his own chosen people; but
it they dared to do even his will me- heat hen7
ish aud unchristian. way, Jehovah never failed |
to make them, too, feel his wrath. Let the
North remember that, and that if the war was
Provdentia, that We all were but mere instruA
inents}of the Divine Government, and should
not attempt to play petty providences IN the
place of God If We do We will curse our
selves and our country-we will become petty
tyrants Guided by catholic spirit like this,
and looking to God all the time, in every act
and plan, we will pretent the white man from
being enslaved by the causes which made the
black man free : weS will preVeQt the>eontin-
uance of the causes which separated the Meth
odist Church as the precursors OF theattemptedI
of the whole country andNwe will
cause the whole country to be stronger, and
saters and freer,than it ever was or coula be
before.
have written enough, and you are welcome
to weave these views into those of my first lett
ter, and print them together
have examined your pamphlets, and thank
you for them.
Very truly and respectfully yours,
HENRY A, WISE.