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

Governor Henry A. Wise to Governor William F. Packer, November 25, 1859

Richmond, Va., November 25, 1859.

To His Excellency, the Governor of Pennsylvania:

Dear Sir — I respectfully send to you the information contained in a letter to the President of the United States, of which the enclosed is a copy. I submit it to you in the confidence that you will faithfully co-operate with the authorities of this State in preserving the peace of our coterminous borders. Necessity may compel us to pursue invaders of our jurisdiction into yours; if so, you may be assured that it will be done with no disrespect to the sovereignty of your State. But this State expects the confederate duty to be observed, of guarding your territory from becoming dangerous to our peace and safety, by affording places of depot and rendezvous to lawless desperadoes who may seek to make war upon our people.

With the highest respect,

I am, sir, yours truly,

HENRY A. WISE

SOURCE: George Edward Reed, Editor, Pennsylvania Archives, Fourth Series, Volume 8, Papers of the Governors, 1858-1871, p. 197