Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-04-15
VIRGINIA AND NEW YORK.
Message IF Cor. Se,oard 10 the New York
Legislature.
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, ALBANY, March 26,
1871

] transmit resolutions of the Legislature Of
Mississippi concerning the decisicn Of the
Executive ofthis State declining TO comply
with requisilion made by the Lieutenant
Governor OF Virginia, in 1889, for the surren-
deroi certain persons represented To be fngi-
yves from justice, charged with the constrac-
! ave offence OF stealing negro slave. | a.
vail myself OF the occason to lay before the
Legislature certain other proceedings affect
ing the same question.
On the cath OF February last issued a re-
QUESTION to the Executive Of irginia for the
| surrender OF Robert +. Curry, fugitive from
Justice, charged with an aggravated crime OF
forgery. His EXcellency the Governor OF
Virginia admits the regularity Of the requisi-
ton, and acknowledges that the fugitive has
been arrested, and is in actual custody, in that
Commonwealth. upon the charge contained
in the requisilion. Nevertheless, he deems it
proper 10 make his compliance with the re-
QUESTION dependent npon reversal fthe de-
cisIon heretofore made by the Executive OF
this State in the case before referred to, and to
detain the fugitive in custody six months, to
afford time to the Executive Of this State to
reconsider the subject. By the documents
transmitted, IT will be seen that have deem
cd II my duty, under these extraordinary cir
cumstances, to inform the Governor OF Vir-
ginia, without delay, that the decision in cues
ton cannot be reversed.
Itappears from the public prints, and is un-
doubtedly true, that an act has been passed
by the Legislature of Virginia, designed TO
subject vessels owned or nQYigated by citizens
of this Stale, and departing from Virginia, to
Inspection, and attempting TO impose other
onerous and offensive restrictions upon cit-
Zens otthe State carrying OH commerce with
the State of Virginia. 1t is understood 10 be
| among the provisions Of this law that it shall
| take effect after the LIST day of May, 1919; but
that his EXcellency the Governor of that Com
monweallh may suspend the operation of the
same until the end of the succeeding session
of the Legislature of Virginia, whenever he
shall be officially informed that the Executive
1 of n. Y rli has consented 10 surrender The
/ supposed fugitiyeS before mentioned, and tina
the law of the State Of n. y ork, passed May
/ u, 1910, entitled "An act TO extend the righ
OF trial by jury has been repealed. A full
/ copy of the said act of the Legislature Of II
York, as contained in the public prints, i
here with laid before you.
1t will belong to the Legislature to decid
| whether the law that seems to have given Of
fence TO the Legislature of Virginia shall
repealed; but tustit will not be deemed in
propet for me to state that, although suppt
sed the trial by jury was already eltectuall
: secured to persons claimed as fugitive slave
without the passage of the act in question, an
therefore believed it unnecessary, yet chce
FULLY deferred In that respect,to the better JUDI
/ ment OF the Legislature, e. approved the la
the repeal of which is thus demanded. IN II
: Judgment. :he law could not now be repeae
and especially under the singular crcUmsta
ces presented, without raising prcsumptit
y that the Legislature intended to deprive o
}. own citizens, or other persons claimed as {
ri giilve slaves, of the righ' Of trial by jury
Believing that the rights invaluable as a pr
= lection 10 personal ii5orty, is peculiarly prop
d IN Cases where persons are exposed TO tire 10
! OF liberty without even charge OF crime. a
C lhatitl Is important to every human bel
within our jurisdiction, in proportion TO t
y humbleuess and defcncelessness of his CONF
d ton, cannot recommend the repeal Of t