Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-01-27
LEGISLATURE OF GEORGIA,
REPORT
Of he Committee on The state Of tie Re
pubkie.
REPORT

Of he Committee on the state Of The Re
public.
MILLEDGEVILLE, Dec. 90.
The joint Committee on the state of the
Republic, to which was referred so much
of the Governors message as relates to
his correspondence with the Governor Of
Maine; which correspondence was occa-
stoned by the secret and lelonious abduc-
ton, from the City of Savannah, Of ne
gro slave, named Atticus, the property Of
James and Henry Sagus-by Daniel Phil
brook and Edward Keleran, citizens of
the State of Maine, and fugitiyes from JUS
tice; together with the accompanying doc
Iuments, to wit: the affidavit of Jas. Sagus,
one of the owners of said slave; the war
rant of the magistrate, and the return of
the officers thereon; the consequent de-
mand of the Executive Of Georgia upon
the Executive of Maine, for the delivery
of said fugtives to the agent Of the state
of Georgia, in order that they might be
made amenable to the violated laws Of the
State; and the refusal of the Governor of
Maine to comply with said demand, Re
port
That said Committee have fully review
ed all the circumstances attending said de-
nand and refusal-that in the opinion Of
said Committee, the Governor Of Maine
has signally failed to show any good and
sufficient cause to Justify him in refusing
TO comply with the just and reasonable de-
mand of the Executive of Georgia; but
that, on the contrary, the reply Of the Gov
ernor of Maine contains arguments, UNI
answerabIe arguments, which should at
once have caused that officer, il at all dis
posed to comply with the acquisitions of
the Constitution of the United States, by
performing the sacred duties which it i'm
posed upon him, or to preserve that cour-
tesy which should ever subsist between
the sister States Of this Union, upon any
and every subject, however triaing IL
might be in its nature, but more particu-
larly upon questions ofsuch grave import
as the one now under consideration, To
have caused said fugitives to be arrested,
and necessary notice of such arrest given
TO the Governor of Georgia, SO that they
might be made to answer the charges pre-
ferred against them-and if innocent, to
vindicate their innocence; if guilty, to en-
dure the just punishment of their crimes.
The refusal Of Governor Dunlap, occur
ring at period when the minds of the
people of the South are Justly excited, and
their feelings most wantonly outraged, by
the Vaccinations of certain fanatics Of
the North, who seem determined, in def
ance of sound policy, and the dictates of
honest patriotism, and OF every principle
of natu raj and constitutional law, TO keep
up an excitement in relation to a certain
species of property, with which no other
interference, from any quarter whatsoev-
or, will be permitted a property guaranteed
to them by the Constitution of the United
States, and without which guarantee this
Union never would have been formed
appears, in the opinion your committee,
if not like disposition on the part of the
Governor of Maine, to foster and encour-
age said fanatics in their unholy crusade
against Southern rights, and which, ii per-
sisted in, must inevitably lead to speedy
dissolution of the Union, at least like an
inclination to wink at their proceedings,
by screening their miserable agents, who
alone carry their doctrines into practical
effect by wanton depredalions upon our
from the justice of our laws.
The reasoning of his Excellency OF
Maine, in his letter of refusal, to the de-
mand of the Governor of Georgia, is, IN
the opinion Of your Committee, entirely
and evasivc Of the true ques-
ton at issue. The affidavit THE owner
of the stolen slave, directly charges that
the fugitives did, "on or about the fourth
day Of May, eighteen hundred and thirty
seven, felonously enveigle, steal, take
and carry away, without the limits of the
State Of Georgia, certain negro slave
named Atticus, the property Of deponent
and his brother;" and further states, that
the offence is, as deponent is informed
and believes, a felony under the laws OF
Georgia; but Governor Dunlap affects TO
consider that the belief Of the deponent,
that the act committed was a felony under
the laws of Georgia, was not sufficient TO
authorize him to deliver the fugitives to
the agent Of the State Upon this part OF