Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-13
Nr,y YORK AND VIRGINIA.


The Controversy between New York and virginia
.ao;,s IN excite deep interest in the country-anG
thanks to the Justice o.! our cause we are NOT ~
If ,c,,c friends in the North. We have already aid
before our readers various extracts from Tue Puoe
;onrn,ls we subioin two others this morning:
From he Worcester Mass reLai'n'n.l
@ S,a,c CoDfr0rerstes-The controversies 10 whIch
we have before alluded, between ueorsa ana MAINE
and virginia and New York. begin TO awaken alten-
,; IN otaer States than those immediately concerned
Tha ects i will be remembered are simply that midi
y;duols from Maine and New FORK are accused OF nav
inn abducted slaves from Georgia and Virginia; and
have been demanded by the Governors OF those states
10 he delivered up for trial in the courts within whose
Jurisdiction the crimes were committed. The demand
in neither has been complied with; ana from the
refusal bitter feeling is growing up.
s.The law in the case is contained IN The Sd section
of the 9Th article of the Constitution OF the United
States which says:
crime who shall flee from justice, and he found IN another s
shall demand Of the Executive authority nf ne stare from
which lie ed dercrd up, be remOrcd 10 the State harinS u
ri,diction II he erime' ~,
"Suc is the rcGuiston Of the Constitution; and there
can be no doubt about its binding force upon all the
States and Of their obligation TO good faith with each
other. Ii this article OF compact between the states
may be dsregarded, SO may any other provision but
the Governor Of New York refuses to comply with the
demands Of Virginia. on the ground that the iusves
have committed offence known to the laws OF New
York This is manifestly evasion of the question
pcrfu and Virginia has laws for the punishment OF ne
gro seaers There therefore be doubt that Vr-
ginia has the right, under the Constitution, to treat
slaves property. and if slave IS stolen from NoroK
hy citizen Of New York. 1t is difficult To see how tie
Executive Of New York. upon any fair Interpretation OF
the Constitution, can refuse 10 comply with demand
Of the Executive of Virginia. in case which seems To
have been directly in the view OF the trainers Of the
Constitution Indeed taking the facts and the law as
they are, and we see not how the Executive OF New
yorE md Of Main d..
otherwise than by publication otMc Constitution AND
the people oths Union prepared 10 see the Governor
Of State such prcrogatiye? Are they prepared
even, see him the power to decide what acts
shall shall not constitute crime III another State o
decide for such State constitutional power OF lis Lc-
gsatre; and the jurisdiction of its courts; and even the
province Gifts ures? All these questions are involved IN
the decision Certain laws may be necessary Tor The pro-
lection of the rights ohe citizens of some OF the States
which may be necessary for those OF other States
What those laws may he, it is not the province OF the
Executive Of another State to decide When the de-
mand is made, IT IS his duty to satisfy himself that TIE
crime has been committed and that the fugitive Is pro-
badly the criminal and then lie must obey the Constr
tuition Of the Union.
"These remarks have felt bound 10 make in or
der 10 full understanding OF question that is likely
attract much Of public attention Tor years to come
unless (Which have not much reason to expect,) II
SHALL be ustcd to the satisfaction Of all parties, by the
Aboonis,s Of the North and the shareholders Of the
South who Joined hands in political alliance for the cleo
ton of Harrison
From the Hudson, ". y. Gaa,c.l
"TuE USIoS IN DASGER.-Somc time since three
men, named Peter Johnson Edward Smith and Isaac
Gansey detected in Virginia stealing negro slaves
and fled to this State for protection The Governor of
Virginia Immediately sent to Governor Seward, de-
handing those men 10 be delivered up as "fusuires
from Justice" This refused by Governor Seward,
who wrote letter TO the Executive Of Virginia, CIV
inr his reasons for refusing. The reasons given do
not appear to have been satisfactory to theVrgnans
and much excitement prevails not very favorable TO
the honor of the Empire State. Kentucky has, or is
about to place herself the side of Virginia. viewing
the proceedings of the Executive of this State as hos
lille 10 the spirit of the Constitution, and as warning
upon the rights of the slaveholding States.
We recommend Mr.. Grout's Speech in the Leglsa-
ture of New York to the consideration of our readers
1t deveIopes some curions facts about Gov Seward
1t upon the first page Of this days paper-What Will
the People of Virginia say, when they find that Co
vernon Seward did not make his reply TO Governor Gil
mer until he had submitted il to some "coored gentle
mem" But Mr. Grout makes other developments about
the Governor of New York, which are OF the most
startling character.
VIRGINIA. LEGISLATURE.
The House of Delegates had high matters before 1t