Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-12-05

Of three peron~ charged b, affidavit viii, having 1T,
stolen and carried away from the of Vrg oniossiy
slave The property Of citizen I'll the Borough Of nsr,0
These men tbcing found in the harbour of Me-. ",
The sro alleged to hive been stuen, concealed Ia With
ofile yescl in which he wu> earrisd away f. ~ lhe hold
Norfolk arrested, for the purpose OF AVE.; port uf
maad OF the Executive OF this State, or their e de-
mode prescribed by the ac Of Congress III e IN the
made aud The Gosefnar Of New Yor1 waving SON, va,
objections of form viii uiat ose been easily Or ane
fused la comply with the dcIupIo Of HE oa1tiaied e
the broad aud uudisg used denial OF his otigs i
liver mp any person charged with felony crime in
/ send herewiilthe correspondence between
Of this state and that Of New Nork upon s,e,t
the Governor OF New York has fused perfn Which
gard With oil proper respet for his apfnnns n" re-
aud manifest constitutional duty, viii quote fom his la
- the Lieutenant Governor so much necessary IN
lie saws, "aimitfirg the nfilavi, to he
and substance charge the defendants ih the e "a o
ing negro slave from his the State of W. VI steal
defined bv the laws of that Stne, apinon as
* not within the meaning Of the Constitution of te
! Smtes e"lsd
The Executive of New York then admits I'm, H..
employed in the Constitution, treason felony or words
very eomprehens e'"hat citizens of the CRIME
the regnisian Is made, liable be surrender Which
ms citizens oithe State nnkins the demand-n the well
tive npou whom the demand IS nadc has Legal rich, ca-
fuse compliance il lie offence churged is an nct o
felony OF other crime within the meaning ID the Cons,;,son
lie then expresses the opinion tlat is not
State al lis pleasure declare to he treason or any
crime 20 bring ii within the provisions of the Or
h9n 2nd that the provision applies only 10 those s
which committed within the jurisdiction of tbe S ac
NOUS or criminal by the laws ofihat State "'e'
Aer train of reasoning in indication of these naval
extraordinary positions, which do mean TO noric ct,
than TO express the opinion that is wholly unsat,ac,n
and inco usYe, the Governor of Nav York
that there is law of the State of New York which aY
nizes slaYery,no statute which admits that man con
the property of another that be stolen G 10
mother, aah that the common law which is in force in N
ork, does NOT recognise slavery nor mike the of which
the parties are accused in this either eonous orc
nal' lie therefore concludes that the offence moi tI
crime within the meaning Of the Constitution" md h.
refused 10 surrender the persons charged.
have bought ii proper thus succinctly and in L
own language, TO state the grounds on which lLs
Governor Of New York has refused TO comply viii
the demand made npon him, in order that the Con
eral Assembly may clearly see the whole extern If
the startling and dangerous doctrines preached by,
high iunciionary. to whom is entrusted the execp
ton of one of the most salulary and conseryaIi,.
provisions Of the Constitution. The construclo,
he has put upon the clause of the Constitution con
talnIng Tins provision. IL cue that cannot be ar
quiesced in submitted to. If PERSISTED in. and
acted upon by the Northern States, il must dl,,n.k
The halmnry and amlcable relations hefeof,re AZ
harpily existing between the Siates. and # main
rained by only one single State, il must make tb,
State refuge for all the leons aud criminals who
fee from justice in any of the Southern States a(le,
committing there crimes the most destructive IN
their property, tie most dangerous 10 their safety
ana the odous 10 their laws II the Govern
of New York is right, he is bound mt only IN
protect those who steal our slaves. but those vb
lncie ard assist them 10 abscond from their masters
those who by solutions speeches and writing srlbem
upto make rebellion or insurteclon, or persuade lIpm
that they illegally held in bondage. and NAV
lawfully resort 10 all means necessary rid them.
selves of lis yoke.
Under the sanction of this new reading fIbe
constitution, the iuccndiary Abolitionists NAV send
thelr missionaries and emssarles into the Sonhe,n
States, secure OF protection and immunity. il they
can escape detection until they reach some Sas
whose laws do not reco gnize Slavery.
,t,tNp Af =,
with the rights and destructive of the safety ofal State,
holding Slaves. None of the fanatic doctrines dorgan-
zng pract ces of Abotionists well caculaiede
endunger the security of property oopardze
tranquility and hazard the dissolution of the unon Ii .
impossible that the Union continue long if the opinion
should be generally adopted by the States where there
Slaves that onr laws recognizing tie existence Of Slave
ry and OF property in Slaves, he regarded exc
cutting The provision OF the constitution io the surrender
fuEitiyes from justice.
lranv confirmation wanting Of the proper ntgpret
ton Of The constitution on this subject would be abundant
ly found, IN reference 10 the known condition OF lie STATE,
Of the Union nrerafd 10 the institution OF Slavery the tine
of tho adoption OF the constitution.
Ia more 'ha9 one half cc5tal' and pcTh2ps in nearly al
the institution Of slavery existed The right of propen,
saves known by all to exist and there quesiionm
all the slave holding states there statutes, Furnishing
any interference with that recognized right OF rtopen@
with the masters authority and control over his slHe full
LOB our laws made the stealing slave a capital clont
The parties 10 the constitutional compact entered into The
Uno with full knowledge of each others domestic
us III hsfSltct ANA formed Inns close and intimate Rt2
and made for their mutual security and protection
IN reference to these known existing institutions. When
therefore, IN the same aillce ana same section OF the co
tuition it provided that fugifves from Justice and fugitive
slaves should be delivered up it is little less than asWdh
suppose, that while The slave be delivered up, lh.
criminal who aided him ahscond, to he protccedfom
punishment aud that although the icon who stole ddo
boadciuih might be demanded, and there was no legal right
to refuse 10 surrender him. the feIon who should or
mousy carry away negro slave be protected by
StHie IN the Uuion into which he nigh fec.
ee that owe You an apology for addressing any irs
n the way ct argument TO yen for the pose Of exposing
the unsaunnrss and allacy of the tructon assumed ami
acted on by N Governor OF New York is very much
be deporrd that when the excitement OF The public mgJn
the South justly caused by The unwaranabe assaults
our and nights by organized
States having no slaves, beginning subside that tn
Executive OF powerful and influential State New lo
should have adopted consultation Of the Consttuta
which has induced him 10 disregard uf lis
questions, upon grounds well calculated toinspire the
tauncd Aboionists with hopes aud ,sh zca then
nnhoy crusade against our property and and m
time To them Of immunity and protection from
responsibility ion the violation OF our laws.
But this question has been raisPd in practical fomt0
tween this state and New York and between Georgia ac
Main And it bchooyes meet il at and to mss
upon our rights nj hazard. 1t the duty of Congrs
10 any ambiguity, ithCre he any the laws made
carry into effect the provisions of the constitution for the
render of fngtiye and if there be defect ambiguity
those laws TO provide orthe prompt aud fth execution
them by conhdlng the execution to those whose interpret
uon OF then duty consistent with rights and the beh'
oil the CONSTITUTE lredrss for these wrongs and secgn
Their repetition cannot he procured o W
modes, IT. behOove the General Assembly CONSIDER
mer iher own legislative power will not nrnh means
curing the State against such fragrant invasion OF Their M
without infringing the restrictive provisions of the co
ton OF the United States. If there be such means t'
patible with their Obligations the Union il may ultimate
become our imperative and solemn duty appeal from
cancelled obligations OF the compact original nshe'p
the law of se-pesery alton.
In closing this my last annual message tender to the G
eral Assembly, and through Them the people Of the eo
monweai, grateful acknowledc em9nts for the nt2f1
manner in which all my public acts have been received
to their Judgment on them, whatever it may be- Ispp