Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-05-18
TDa GAZETTE,
MARrINsBURG. Mar Is. 1896.


vindicating the principle of this extraordinary
pteport, though we would most respectfully
and earnestly conjure him to forbear. Fhe
character of that Document can scarcely have
escaped the memory of our readers.
This question having excited profound IN
terest among the Southern people, W. have
thought il our duty 10 request Copy ola Cor
respondence, which it has called forth between
Mt Tazewell, ore of our Senator's in Congress
of the U S and MIR. Tyler the Governor OF
Virginia. We submit these letters TO our read
ers. not doubling that they viii participate IN
the interest, which We have experienced upon
the subject hiefnond Enquirer.
Ills Ercelleney join Tyler:
DsAR SIR: The inclosed document
(which has this moment been laid upon
my table contains matter OF too much
interest to Virginia, and TO the other
slave-holding states of this Union, to jas
;fy me in emitting to lay It before you
vt the earliest moment. The facts Of
the case are, that Francis Larche was
the owner of slave, horse and cart, all
of which were impressed by order Of
General Jackson, for the purpose of
aiding in completing the works he had
planned for the defence of New Orleans.
While so employed in caring. fhe slave
was killed by cannon shot fired by the
enemy. No doubt, therefore, coaId ex-
ist. that Larche, the owner, was entitled
to be compensated for the property, Of
which he had been SO deprived by the
Uni,ed States; and, Of course, that he
was entitled to be paid for this slave.
provided this slave was property. Hence
arose the occasion for the committee OF
the House of Representatives to pass
upon the occasion, whether slaves were
property or hot-and their decision up
on this great question, the inclosed docu-
ment states. You will not fail to see in
the reasoning employed by the commit
fee upon this occasion, the annunciation
of another proposition, OF still more lm-
portance TO the slave holding states:-~
Not satisfied with deciding IN effect, that
slaves are not property, the committee
go on to declare, that whenever an emer-
gency shall arise, which will justify the
United States in calling out the citizens
of the country, to contribute to defend
its rights, tat emergency will also lusti-
fy the United States in converting slaves
into soldiersf
write in too much haste, and under
circumstances which necessarily RESTRAIN
me, from adding any observations upon
the facts have stated. But could not
Justify myself in abstaining from bring
ing this matter before you as | have done.
am, very respectfully, sir, your most
obedient servant,
LIFT: w. TAZEWELL.
Washington, .9pril p, 1926.
Mr.. Martindale. from the Committee
Of Claims, to which was referred the
Bill from the Senate, entitled an act for
The relief of Francis Larche, OF New
Orleans, made the following
REPORT:
The Committee Of Claims, to schom 'cas
referred the petition Of Francis Larche,
with Bit from the Senate, for his
relief REPORT:
That this is claim for the value Of
a slavs belonging to the petitioner, nm
pressed into the service OF the United
States BY General jackson in the de
fence of New orleans, and alleged to
have been killed by cannon shot, while
in that service. Without stopping to de-
ny or admit any of the facts by which
the petitioner supports his claim, the
committee recommend its re lection up
on principle. The emergency JUSTIFIED
the impressment OF every moral agent
capable of contributing to the defence
of the place; to call upon the master to
defend himself and slave. as well as the
slave to defend his master 1t would be
the height of injustice to call upon the
free citizens Of states many hundred
miles distant from the place assailed, to
pour out their blood, and sacrifice their
lives for its defence, and at the same
time to exonerate from that service its
! own physical and moral force Men
were wanted, and in that capacity the
slave was put in requisIiion. The master
too. might have been called upon, and
his sons, and his hired servants, as they
were in other parts of the country; and
where sons, and fathers, and husbands,
fought and died, without having their
lives valued, or compensated in money
Richmond. May Q, 1926.
DEAR SIR: Your favour of the cath
April, covering the report OF the com