Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-05-01
DOM ESTIC.

VIM ~
b,shaI The U. S. Bank, The great Wing remedy tor
every thing was then in existence
DOMESTIC.
NV YonN AND VInGISrA-Most of our readers are
aware That controversy pending between the states
of New York and Virginia. growing out OF the refusal
&c ~ Seward to deliver up to the authorities oil IT.
nia three colored men, residents OF this stale, VIZ
peter Johnson Edward Smith, and Isaac Gansey, VINO
had been demanded BY the Governor OF virginia on
CHARGE of theft in stealing slave within the lhfsdcto
and ononst the laws Of that State. At the recent SEES
; c tbc Viro,nia Legislature, resolutions were pass
"a IN the effect that the assigned by Governor
Seward for refusing the surrender, are wholly unSalS
and that the act of refusal cannot be aclu'csced
IN Also requesting the Governor I" renew ms cores
nondence with Governor Seward, asking HIM TO re-
view the grounds of his decision Accordingly ''o-
rornor Giimer has addressed long and able conmun
co,ion to Governor Seward, dated April 9th, which the
latter has submitted to the consideration OF our cg,s
luture. accompanied by a brief Message, IN which he
expresses desire that the opinion OF the Executive
and of the General Assembly of Virginia may be
sdercd under the favorable auspices and that ms
own may be submitted to the most rigid examination
The manner of Governor GIlmcr's communication is
entirely courteous and the matter, We said before
is weighty and convincing. lie plants himself upon
The national compact-the Constitution OF the L s.
and shows that il does distinctly, and almost in
nv words require the surrender of parties charged and
demanded as are the three colored men in question:
And to make the stronger, he quotes from the de-
csions of Judges, in perfect accordance with
the poson assumed by Virginia III the present case
viii myself says Gov t;imrr) with inviting your
Eyctcnry's the Of Clark fugitive un III"
State Rhode island, decided in supreme court, In tins
assumed that no cri'nr had been COMMITTED or
fact imputed 10 the fugitive, inaSnICh a Tue offence
trc IN his State. Chief Justice Savage delivering l"
opinion of the court sayle first answer Is. that the statute
immoral character and certified by The
Rhode Island have been made criminal by the laws
cccdn.s. He proceeds again thus liad our Constitution ana
laws been silent on IN, subject, a.n u"
be conceded that the practice arising from the comfy OF ma
would be- applicable, AMI before would surrender III one
state any person demanded by another fugitive from justice,
would duty into the evidence OF The alleged
sn I Bat Under our Federal Government nrs
regulated, and not left Ia tie uncertainty arising r an
IN lolirrr then thc Federal Con,tit:on.l i The Iaw
rhc subject positive REGULATION, and tlnrarn"Gnt /" treaty tI
nalio and resort TO the comfy u nation, for on
and shall into another, shall BE- delivered up
1t is proper to add, that the Legislature OF virginia.
in conncxon with the proceedings above indicated,
solved that if the course pursued by Tie Executive OF
New York should be sanctioned by the State, [mcan
ing, probably the Legislature, and persisted IN, 't
will become the solemn duty Of Virginia 10 adopt the
most decisive and efficient for the protection
Of the property Of her citizens and the maintenance
ofrghS which she cannot and will not, under any err
cunlStances surrender or abandon. resolution was
also passed, requesting the Governor 10 open cores
pCnicEcc with the Executive III each s'aTrNpluinn
State soliciting their scooperatiou in any necessary
and proper measures Of redress which Virginia may
be forced 10 adopt
a controversy of similar character is pending be.
TWEEN Georgia and Maine.
The question, in lis bearing upon the slaycholding
States Of manifest Importance: for if men from
the free States may enter the slavchodng States and
carry of slaves, cntIcc them away, and there is
redress TO the MASTER he holds his 'properiy by very
frail tenure. We have doubt that within the last
five years, many hundreds of slaves have been thus
carried off and struggled into Canada, or elsewhere
and that there regular receivers and agents at d
crcnt points along the feasible routes, the free
States whose business it is to facilitate the process Of
escape For further particulars, enquire Of the tbo
nnists.
We make these observations that readers may
see If ,lcv did not see before that the controversy
one which will necessarily excite deep interest
thror rh0ut the slavrhodnr States, and especially
those which border the free States il is not that
Virginia cares for the three above named, one way
or the other. She would never have troubled herself
to look after them, it not for the principle nvov
ed And this movement is designed, presume, not
for their individual punishment, but TO deter others
from similar conduct by securing the acknowlcdg
ment of the 5ht Of demand, and the necessity Of
render
II our Legislature are about to take ground on The
subject trust they will consider the matter well at
the outset While acknowledge the Constitution,
lei abide BY il. If wish IT altered, the mode is
indicated on its pages. That instrument was de-
signed 10 protect each and all of the States in their pc
cuar rights. II we wish to trespass upon those rights
we can have the Constitution altered accordingly; or
dispense with it altogether. There presidents
enough to guide in such Look, Tor in
stance, at Central America -Mcxico--or the Argen-
time Republic Look at any two communities at war
with each other There is the opposite of the principle
which Constitution cnjons in full operation
Would our glorious Republic be benefited by its adop-
ton; Would the general welfare be promoted by it;
If not then let stick to the old s p, which has borne
along for than half century, CALAMITY and
so sairly.--N J. .j0Mr. Of Com.