Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Governor William F. Packer to Governor Henry A. Wise, December 1, 1859


State of Pennsylvania,
Executive Chamber. Harrisburg, Dec. 1, 1859.

To His Excellency, the Governor of Virginia, Richmond, Va.:

Sir — Your letter of the 25th, having been missent to Harrisonburg, Virginia, was not received until this morning. Of all the desperadoes to whom you refer, not a man, so far as I can learn, was a citizen of Pennsylvania; nor was their rendezvous (which you say was unobstructed by guards or otherwise), in this State, but in Maryland or Virginia. In relation to them, Pennsylvania has done her duty. Virginia has no right to anticipate that she will not do so in the future. The information you have received in regard to a conspiracy to rescue John Brown, will, undoubtedly, be found, in the sequel, utterly and entirely without foundation, so far as Pennsylvania is concerned. Nor will we permit any portion of our territory, along our borders, or elsewhere, to be made a depot, a rendezvous, or a refuge, for lawless desperadoes, from other States, who may seek to make war upon our southern neighbors. When that contingency shall happen, the constitutional and confederate duty of Pennsylvania shall be performed; and, under all circumstances, she will take care to see that her honor is fully vindicated.

WM. F. PACKER

SOURCE: George Edward Reed, Editor, Pennsylvania Archives, Fourth Series, Volume 8, Papers of the Governors, 1858-1871, p. 198-9

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