July - T.
Phila: July 20. 1858
My dear Gov:
You seem to think that I wished you to renounce or abandon principle. Perhaps I am the last man on Earth to advise any such thing? Surely prudence is not inconsistent with principle; & one may exhibit caution, tact, management, & wisdom & yet remain as true as steel to this principly. Do not understand me as having advised you to abrogate your anti-[?] view, or your peculiar ideas in application of territorial "Popular Sovereignty". It is true your opinions on this subject do not accord with my own views of a system of comprehensive Democratic states [?], but I have no doubt of the depth & honesty

of your convicting. I thought I saw an opportunity occur [?] you night, by proper management, in despite of the [?] of your [?], fully restore yourself to the very strong position you occupied before your January letter made its appearance. It was simply to take the [?] of [?] the English Bill as a finality to declare that while the Bill did not meet your personal wishes that it was the act of the Party- from which you did not choose to separate & with which you did not choose to combat, & that ended the circumstances you could regard it as a finality in a party sense. Had you done this your rival [?] would have been vexed to their hearts, & your friends everywhere would have shouted with approbation. I wished you to avoid the very

context in which you now find yourself engaged with the [?] & the Democratic party in most of the States, while [?] to defend
Mr. Douglass, in the desperate course he has taken in Illinois.
I know not, however, why I should fret & scold except that I am your true friend & that I have had no small share of feeling, to day [?] of personal interest, in the whole of this business?
If the success of Mr. Douglass in Illinois is necessary to you in Virginia, I can of course [?] your policy; but if you can stand in Va on your own merits (as I suspect & hope you can) then I repeat the last thing you should desire is Douglass' election & you should never have permitted yourself to be drawn into a

new [?] with the [?] in is or any other man's behalf.
I wrote in order that you may distinctly comprehend my reasoning?
My view is if Douglas be elected [?] the [?] [?] all set up for him & labor you in the bench. If he has defeated them then probability is they all must come to you; I will come if you carry Virginia. Then if you stand aloof & gradually work your way into the party organization, especially if it becomes this instant as pleased of the President to aid you as might be the case, you would stand in an extraordinary position of strength. But I do not think you can now succeed so long as you deem it necessary to wage war on the President & the general Party. If this [?] not [?] [?] (tho hastily & banglingly expressed) I am an ass. Believe that I have always rejoiced in your prosperity & success
Yr very truly
Ro. Tyler
[?] Esq.
H. A. Wise