Governor of Virginia to a friend.
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Henry A. Wise Jr. to Unknown, Monday, November 12, 1860 (Southern political climate)
From Henry A. Wise Jr. to Unknown, November 12, 1860
Richmond Nov. 12th 1860.
My dear friend,
This is my first opportunity & this is but a poor one, for redeeming my promise to give you the result of my inqiries and observations among southern men as to the purposes of their section in the present crisis. You showed yourself a wiser man that the rest of us in West Philadelphia when you expressed the opinion that some difficulty would ensue from Lincoln's election. The secession of the cotton states is now a fixed fact. If our Phila. papers have not already convinced you of this, you must doubt it no longer when I assure you that the unanimity and resolution of their people are unquestionable and unchangeable with regard to measures of disunion. The earnestness -- the bitterness of sorrow, with which I contemplate such an event cannot blind me to the certainty of its occurrence. But now as to the effect of such action. I express no mere individual opinion, but gather my views from those of the most judicious and the most experienced when I say that Virginia will remain in the present confederacy, and that she will remain because no effort will be made to coerce the return of her sister slave states. The secession movement will be consummated under Buchanan -- recognized by him as legitimately establishing the independence of the seceding members. Thus the question cannot arise under Lincoln's administration. He cannot find any just cause of war unless in the case of a repudiation on the part of southern debtors towards their Northern creditors; and this, improbable with honest men under any circumstances, will be impossible unter the present. The too obvious policy of maintaining peace will compel a faithful recognition of all pecuniary obligations. Thus the matter appears to those in whom I have most confidence. The cotton states, yet none but the cotton states, and perhaps not all of those will go out. There will be no war, and nearly as may be in such a time, there will be no great financial disaster.
The wedding came off at the appointed time. I was not unreasonably embarrassed, but have been most intolerably fatigued & engrossed by the succeeding entertainments. Remember me most affectionately to my friends. I shall write to some of them soon, and shall greet them all a little later -- that is at the fixed date. Mr. Clarke & Mr. Drexel, Mr. Bacon and Mr. Brown I cannot help mentioning by name, but not more especially than I do Mrs. Quicksall and your little girl.
With great eagerness to get back,
I am more truly than ever
your attached friend
Henry A. Wise Jr.
Excuse my stationery &c. I am writing in a public office, & with nothing at my command but a steel pen.
H. A. W. Jr.