Several
of the graduates of William and Mary who afterward became
Republicans have assured me of this with great emphasis. I
was much pleased to get the following letter from Governor
Henry A. Wise, the eminent Virginia statesman, who was, with
two or three exceptions, the most powerful and influential
advocate of secession in the South.
RICHMOND VA
Feby 13th 1872.
HON MR HOAR
OF MASSTS.
_Honored Sir._
I write for no reason but one of pure feeling of respect--
not even for a reply. I am a visitor of Wm and Mary College
--truly of the most venerable of the "Mothers of Thought"
--and have read your excellent appeal to the H. Reps: in
her behalf. It was worthy of that Grand old Comth, Massts,
the elder sister of this once glorious Comth, which hailed
her heartily in the Night of Revolution against Tyrrany.
It was worthy of sweet memories--worthy of Letters--it was
pious and patriotic. Let me just add a sentence more, to
say that if Rebellion and Sectional Hate are to be eradicated--
and I hope they are--_that is the way to do it._ Your speech
& the passage of such bills, catholic in every sense of love
& charity, will do more to heal our Country's wounds than
all the caustic of reconstruction which can be applied.
Pages:
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482