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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