The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-04-07
Legislature Of New York. .BarcA 10.
To THE SENATE.

legislature Of NeC YORK. .BarcA 10.
oTHE SENATE.
Geu''emen~-Among he duties devolved by
the constitution upon the person administer
ing the government, that Of " taking care
that the laws are faithfully executed" is, per
hRpg, the most important Altrge portion Of
the lab tbitantS oftbe tate has been FOR more
than u yraf, highly excited by the alleged for.
chile aud oiaudcsttne removal Ola citizen. and
by the uncertainty uf his tate. II is believed by
| many that lie has been murdered and il Is Ger
tain that, If aiiv" he is held in captivity. This
outrage upon our laws. has Justly alarmed our
fellow ci'izens IN that part Of The state, and has
produced exettioas, such as might have been OK
pected fiom treemen conscious Of their rights,
and determined 10 maintain them, to develope
the mysterious transaction, aud TO bring the of
lenders 10 ia tee. As vet. their Efforts have
f'ilcd The rewards aud inducements hereto
! fore preferred for q discovery, have been una
y%ailihg. Ihr trials and convictions that have
taken place, have rather increased the mvStets
Of the transaction. The efforts of individual
citizens, stimulated hy a patriotic zeal. nave not
always been guided by discretion, and there Is
reason 10 fear, that they have sometimes tended
rather to prevent than promote a judicial deye-
lnpementoftl the truth II is publicly stated. that
q witness, while on his way to attend the trial of
74tbA W NV - gina Ia 49, 'AAF "a pa '''vil
ia the original outrage, has suddenly and msc-
countably dlsappt AIRED. AMI advertisements Of
fering rewards Tor his discovery have been cir
"aiatPj. lfthrte b. any foundation Tor this
| suggestion, IT affords a strong reason for the IA.
| iopiion # proper measures to qui't the alarms
OF onr fellow eitizfns. Under these c%ircumstan-
ces, il has appeared to me important that such
constitutional measures as maybe within the pow.
er Of the legislature should be adopted in order to
facilitate the discovery and punishment Of the
Offenders. II IA equally dur TO the violated ma
estY of the L. ws "a to the apprehensIons Of our
t How citizens. viii h never can OF ought TO be
satisfied un.ii Justice is obtained. aud to those
wha have been, or may be included in the gem
etal and vague suspicious whirh are always
| producrd by such rans1ctionS-i is an inprra-
tive duty 10 the innocent. that those really guilty
should be detected and punished.
Without intending tn encroach upon the par
ticular duties Of the l. gislature. | respectfully re-
commend. in accordance with these views, that
n law he passed authorizing the appointment Of
a competent pc, Soa. for the succial purpose 81
investigating the alleged criminal transactions
in relation to the removal Of Nhlism Morgan.
AMI all the incidents connected herewith that
tire powers of distriCt attornies be also vested in
him that II be made his duty to repair 10 the
pliers where the offences were corumitted 10
examine witnesses ; TO enter complaints 10
cause witnesses and parties ind'cteato be bound
over to appear 10 conduct all criminal prosecu.
tons which may be Instituted, aud 70 perform
all other acts and duties which shall be necessa.
~ to n fuil and fair judicial investigation and de-
termination of the alleged offences.
Thet our government is adequate to the pun.
ishment ofcrimeS aud the protection of limo
cencc. is the belief of all who are best acquaint.
ed with its principles, Hitherto. justice has
been administered With or any arbitrary stretch
of power or any violation OF the constitutional
principles by the constituted authorities, aud
mithoutthe interference of any private citizens
not clothed with public authority. By exerting
the power of the government in a constitutions
manner, we can show. that the present instance
need not form an exception Ia the general
course Of justice. All experience teaches us.
that designing ,aeu viii be found ready always.
10 avail IN ,mselyes OF a strong and honest pub
! lie feeling. To peryert it 10 tlIeir own selfish pur
poses-Anv such attempts will be most eftctnal.
" prevented, by the interpositinn OF the govern.
mput because it wilt then he perceived, that all
individual Interference viii he unnecessary
then fhe public mind will he preserved from un
secr,sary agitation aed prejudice fair ara ,a