Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-14
crnpGIA AND MAINE.


GEORGIA AND MAINE.
r. ,sc Ei;tor of the \. y. En-. STIR:
10 nt' .' 1900 md citizen of the South, crave
100 O. ,so vopr columns to dsabusc this community
of some fatal errors, upon subject on "ch ,e peace
e not the existence of this Union depends Inc light
and contempuous tone Of me Guy paPsrs rs,a.ng
"a the controversy now pending between Georgia ana
Maine and Virginia and New York, bctrays total
IGNORANCE Of the question and its vital lmporlancc-l
subject important has never yet been presented
since the formation of the Federal Constitution: and
| venture to say from an intimate knowledge OF the
neopIe that unless Maine and New York yield up
and abandon the positions they have assumed that
this Union does not last five years. They will have
accomplished the end TO which every enlightened
statesman forcsaw the spirit Of Abolition tended
THAT Abolition could never accomplish its ends and
preserve the Union, clear; that IN the attempt 1t
might break it up, has always been quite within the
rance of possible things In this view of the case, II IS
al-imporiant that the people of the nonsavehoding
States should at least be right TO the facts If they
are fully and fairly stated and admitted and then they
choose rather yield mp the Union than abide b. the
wcll.settlcd principles of international law, be So
The slavehodne States desire nothing but the truth,
and the whole truth, and will abide by the principles
which are admitted all ages and all countries, TO De
essential to national existence and integrity Permit
me- then 70 state the facts, which know to be true,
relative, first, to the Georgia case, having pcriscd
every document in the consisting OF the affidavit ano
bill of indictment, and correspondence OF the Govern
-
zcns of Georgia, was carried away from Savannah IN
vessel belonging to the State of Maine, being seceted in
her The vessel arrived in Maine, and the negro was dis
covered is stated, about the premises OF the Captain
Information reached the owners and circumstances IN
duccd them to believe that the Captain and Mate were
prvy to and aided in coignng and scducng this slave
1rhcn in tie territorial limits Of GcGrgia, to escape
from his owners. BY the laws of Georgia, any white
person who shall nvcgle, elogne or aid any slave IN
escaping from his owner shall be deemed guilty ola
felony, punishable BY confinement III the pen;tcnarJ
An affidavit made charging the Captain and Mate
with This against the laws o. Georgia. and there
upon the Governor of Georgia demanded the delivery
OF the parties charged 10 the authorities Of that Stale
to take their tria III the State where the crime was
charged to have been committed. The Governor
of Maine refused to deliver the parties upon the
ground that the affidavit was not positive, hut only
as to the belief Of the party making ii. bill of in
diclment was afterwards duly found by the Grand
Jury of Chatham County, Georgia, charging the Cap
tain and Mate with crime under the laws of Geor-
ga, clogning and carrying away the slave mention
ed. copy of this Indictment certified according 10
the act of Congress- forwarded TO the Governor OF
Maine by the Governor of Georgia, demanding the
persons named in the indictment 10 be delivered t. the
agent of the State of Georgia, To take their trial the
Indictment pursuant to that provision of the CnnS
tuition Of the United States which states that "any per-
son rharecd with a crime i'll any State, who shall lice
from Justice, shall be given up upon application OF the
Executive, and the act of Congress prescrbes the mode
and manner of making the application, which were
strictly complied with. On the second demand, the
Governor Of Maine, in the most emphatic manner, de-
carcd that the peculiar nature 81 Mc crime had cf
feet upon his decision; that Maine recognized the right
of every Stale pass what laws pleased for the pro-
lection Of liz institutions, and recognized the duty Of
every one when within its territorial limits 10 obey those
laws or abide their sanctions. II is gross absnrdity 10
think otherwise. II the citizens Of Georgia arc bound
10 obey her laws, by what reasoning can he pretended
that strangers may violate them, and then icr rnGi JUS
licc' citizen Of Name Cannot do act in Georgia
which citizen of Georgia cannot do He IS entitled
10 the but not superior rights II citizen OF
Georgia coirncs slave he commits a crime. If in
dclcd. he is s'cargcd with I crime, and may, II
fugitive be demanded and must be surrendered under
the very letter of the Constitution, and The Governor
of Maine knew too well the Law Of Nations, which
enions on all persons obedience TO the penal laws
within the limits Of every sovereignty. lie expressly
disaYowed ans such abSurdity as to claim mpunity
for citizen of Maine, if he had violated the laws of
Georgia, but he placed his refusal solely upon the
ground that the parties charged were not tngurcS be-
cause they sailed from Savannah 10 Maine in I'll"
usual track Of vessels Il is clear that herein he is mis-
taken A fugitive from justice is one who cannot be
arrested TO stand his trial The criminal process OF
State cannot be executed beyond its limits and who
commits crime and leaves the State, is to ali legal in
tcndncnt a fugitive, although he goes away boldly and
Openly But the Of Virginia is quite different Here
the position is taken by Gov. Seward, that as negro
stealing is not crime in H. York, citizen OF ~ York
can 90 to Virginia, steal negro, and escape and be
protected although the act is felony where it
mted-a position which is utterly uncnable that it
curious that any who has read the Elements Law
should venture his reputation by assuming it. The gene
raj law of civilized nations to the delivery OF tugvcs
from Justice has been decidedly in favor of the delivery
in all of crimes nin IN Sc, the suppression
of such crimes interest," but treaties usually
settle these matters dcinitivcly; and the Constitution
treaty, and is explicit and includes all crimes and all
persons leaving each State to make such acts crimes as
its own policy dictates. "Any person charged with a
crime in State must on requsiton be delivered.
This was indispensable TO the safety of every State
Suppose New York makes il felony to violate the
Quarantine laws believing them essential to the
preservation of the lives OF her citizens citizen
E of New Jersey within the limits of New York,
and is guilty of this felony, and escapes into New
Jersey. The Governor of New York demands him.
, What would he think of the reply, sour State has
adopted the principle of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS believe
quarantine laws barbarous and absurd, and our
law does not punish this act, we will not permit
our citizens TO be dragged before your tribunals
Try him in New Jcrscy-our courts are OPEN
Would moi New York reply, 'sIf your citizens
agonsts, let them stay at homc but if they come
within the limits of n. York and violate our laws they
must be dealt with deal with citizens ::
and il is bad faith for you to haTbor and protect them
We do not ask your n-contagIoniss TO come among
us. If they think us behind the age but free State,
we entitled to own laws, and to punish all who
violate them And your citizens do undertake TO come
here commit crimes and seek refuge within your limits,
and you protect tcm self preservation demands of Us
to cut off all intercourse with you As States ndcpend-
cn Of the Constitution, each may protect itself Under
the Constitution fIgves must be delivered up. Maine
and New York have refused to execute the treaty, and
Of course Georgia and Virginia entitled TO redress.
First by negotiation and f that fall by retaliation and
hostility There is no judicial tribunal 10 appeal to-.
II ctt for the States who are in the wrong TO do JUS
ticc, or take tho consequences and lei this
community that every citizen Of Georgia ard Virginia
would rather encounter all the evils Of civil war, than
yield 50 clear and vital right that Of protecting their
limits from negro stcalcrs and Insurrcconsts. Name
and New York must decide if their immunity is worth
violation of good fai,I and good neighhorhood, and
E constitutional obligations. A SOUTIiRON.
LEARNERS, BANK VIRGINIA. dividend IL three dol
lars per declared of the profits since d
June amended charter accepted: out of which
- cents share the new stock 50 thai
The holders thereof will receive only 81 - a share.
dividend paid holders Of old sleek, Of three dollars
p,r share has been declared from the contingent fund.
J. G.. BLAIR, Cnshirr
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