The Madisonian., 1840-02-06


homo. aud pleasure ol knowing him for years, he
would feel that my distinguished friend was incapa-
bic OF ay.ag one thing, Whilst he meant ahoihef'
Farther than this will not trus, myself 10 go IN
defence Of my Fl lend, and even this will be deemed
by those " hu know him, work oi supererogalion.
| But iurher, 10 establish The senseiess cry Of a
connexon between The Wings and AboliionislS
gentlemen have referred 10 the name OF GarrH
Smith Probably this reference would not have
been made had gentlemen been aware OF the fact
thar, within few days past, The name OF Mr.. Spih
was proposed by a distinguished leader OF what
gentlemen are pleased style The Democratic par
~ TO be inserted in the bill then on is passage
through the House OF Assembly Of New York pro-
vding for the ecion OF United States Senator
Yes, sir MIR. Cbaited proposed this same Mr. Smith
Tor the high office OF Senator in Congress. As this
name has been brought before the House pardon me
for calling yonr attention 10 The history OF Mr. Smith
II is pertinent 10 the argument | am pursuing, tend
ing 10 show that the course pursued in aud out Of hi,
House, fur some years past, has had a dircel and
inevitable tendency 10 keep up excitement ay, sir
10 make abjlitionists Personally do not know
Mr.. Smith; but he is well known by reputation
throughout my own State, and deem il due 10 lrnh
10 say, that he possesses high moral character, with
The reputation Of finished scholar and gen LEHMAN
70 which may b, added his possession OF ample
means, 50 far as fortune Is concerned ior executing
his plans. lhiS man, mixing but lIile in political
matte rS-supcTn his prihcely estate, and ioS
terng, in all their branches, The polite art>-waS |
aver, made an abohonis by an act Of ou,rage-an
outrage perpetrdted upon the rights II c,izCns
pcaceably 10 assemble, to discuss and pe,ltion-an
Outrage not 0; The thougblless mob but Of men high
in place lthas been We'll saii sir, that compassion
in the female, is easily converted into love and
would add, that indignation al outrage, is as easily
converted into The rnrS Of the outraged plty.
Sill owe passing remark TO another individual
OF my own State, Gene raj EraSuS Root, democrat
in the sense in which that term was understood in
9S--a man who; with but little interruption, has
been conspicuous in stations Of trust and honor for
the period ot foriy.iwo years, He is a Whie, and
he, il is said, is an ablonis Let me say OF him
hat, in the evening of cventiul life, with
mind in It's pristine vigor, he occupies proud
place in The Senate Of my native Stae,-a place
given him by the irecmcn OF The third Senate Dis
lfict OF New York. Bul, sir in consequence of
| an aboiun movement against this very man, the
councils OF my State came near being deprived of
his services.
Next, sir, in the order Of proofs showing that The
Wings of the North, as party, are aboilionsts, is
The lact that, Governor Seward, a Wig Governor
OF the Empire State, has recently refused deliver
up three citisens Of hSown State, upon The requisi
tion of the Lieutenant Chen acting) Governor OF
Virginia. A requiSiiiuu, | will venture, as ldic-
per, 10 say totally defective in all its essential paris
Bun, sir, ] make point OF the want oil form
matter in the equi ion. No, sir waive all This
Ia reference 70 This refusal, the gentleman from
Tennessee. (Mr. Watterson9 has aSke
WAS his Wing Excelency, Governor Seward, of
New York, hghtmg the battles Of the South, when he
recently refused the demand of the Governor OF Vlr-
gna for three iugltves from justice, charged with hav
ing stolen aud carried away from the State Of Virginia.
negro slave the property Of citizen of the borough
Of Norfolk Was he afraid of offending his abolition
friends who published circular Immediately before the
New York election, in 1885, 10 the ANTI Slavery
electors Of that State, urging them to their
for him. aud against Governor Marcy, the Democratic
Candidate /"
And in reference 10 the same refusal the gentle
man from Georgia, Mr. colquilt] observed that
twenty FIVE years ago, NJ Executive in the Union
would have refused 10 deliver up 4 fugitive from
Justice"
These grare charges; and yet did they but
concern the Governor Of my State, personally,
should feel that he was too well known, not only in
his own STATE but throughout the Union, TO need
from me even passing notice by way of defence.
But, sir, these are charges against my State, and
therefore, whilst have strength 10 stand upon this
floor, shall according 10 HE measure Of my ability,
be repelled. They concern the faith of my S ATE as
plis hled 70 The Union in the Federal Compact.
/ To that portion OF the charge which in spirit,
| alledges that William H. Seward is he Wig DO
rcruor Of the Wig Stote OF New York plead
guilty: and in doing So will only dei,iu the House
10 say that unle>s the signs of the times belle their
own augures, the Uhig voice Of that State, next
| November will not merely be heard throughout the
length and breadth of this Union but will be poleut
! iy leit in the for iaon Of The Ca6nct Of 1871
| But, 10 the other part Of the charge: " that this
high funconary, under his solemn oath of office,
has from fear Of his popularity with abolitioniss,
| violated, not only the settled practices OF civilized
nations but the letter and spirit Of the Constitution"
| What was the rcqusition from Mr.. Hopkins,
Lieutenant Governor OF Virginia. IL was thai, "on
the Goth July, ClS39,) received affidavit signed
by Miles King, Mayor, and justice OF The peace
for NoTfJlk borough, in this State [Vrginia] in
which it Solemly and positively avcrred on oath,
by John G. Coey OF SAID borough, that On or about
The 18Th of the same month"; Peter Johns n. Edward
Smith, and Isaac Gansev attached TO the schooner
| Robert Center, then in New York did teoniously
| steal and take from the said Colley, certain negro
slave named Isaac the property OF said Colleyn
i apH holm all fhaf tbpy. to,ti fr.,,
justice, thereupon made demand upon your Ex-
celency for the surrender Of them 10 John Capharf,
an agent appointed for that purpose, in order that
they might be brought back 10 Virginia, 10 be tried
for the offence charged upon them, according to our
| laws"
! THIS is The demand. Now, sir, not to weaken the
defence, hall say Of Governor Seward No, sir.
! OF the citizsns, one and all Of my State | give
portion Of ii in The rery language of The high tunc-
tionary entrusted with the defence Of those citizens
tic says" But cannot admit, you pleased
10 suppose, that there could be thousand Offences
| or even one offence, which would annoy and inure
the citizens OF this State, and yet which should not
be recognised as criminal BY the universal laws Of
all civilized countries. Neither can | admit, mat
in cases Of thiS kind the want Of power to reclaim
fugitives from justice would be 50 deplorable ca
lany as you suppose, because, in most cases, the
offender may be arrested and punished within the
State and as the chief object of punishment is not
revenge or retaliation, but The prevention OF crime
the occasional escape Of rinsgressor would not
greatly effect the supremacy of The laws. Nor can
admit that its practical operation would be unequal
in regard to the citizens of he offended State and
The citizens OF other Sa.es. Both would be brought
TO punishment within The jurisdiction Of the offended
Stale, II arrese ed therein, and all would alike go un-
punished ii they should escape pursuit.
Let us now inquire what would be the conse-
luences of your position BY The laws of this State
the following offences are declared 10 be nisde-
meanors, that IS, crimes Of grade lower than felo
n.y. They not crimes Of great atrocity or deep
ly affecting the public safey'-nor they crimes
punishable with death Imprisonment in the State
prison'so that they would not be subjects Of demand
under the USAGE Of nations as e exnnnnded hv Chan