Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-27

that weapon, which IT might be, Yas iaed 10 cleare this
Union in twar-t!ilt n Ell oppressive and "vcrpow-
crinr anxiety Oh tic ect Of The question before thci
There were elements of fearful import around them;
the nut,.iir. 81 the Grcp-tcncd thunder turn where
they might broke upon e ear mol The les fearful tiat
il rncd for the present to be pcnt up, and alta distance
The question nf slavery, asitatng now between the
Northern aud Southern States had grown 10 be fncs-
ton Of the first importance 10 themselves ana TO lac
country, and there ground 10 apfrchend thi mat
subject bore within ITSELF evils Espeakabe II al he
measure proposed b. this bill cbi.ct:cnajic 10 ln
on many accounts Independently Of objections o
the most insupcrabe character growing out Of its Gm-
cons,ltutionaty he opposed 10 it because Of The
nature Of The remedy which il proposed, because Of tho
time and circumstances III which i WAS presented Il
had been sa that they stood pledged 10 action on this
subject that they stood pledged TO the present
of action and the proceedings of that House. of that
Legislature at its last session, had been appealed 10
III confirmation Of this asscron;-ior one he took II
upon himself to say that he stood there pledged TO
action, certainly action which, in his Judgment,
threatened injury their interests and their ins:
tutons. Whilst lie entertained upon the subject Of
the controversy between themselves and New York,
opinions decided any gentleman on that floor
whilst lie held undivided belief IN the moor
RICHNESS of the positions assumed and n.Istcd upon
by the Governor of New York-wh.t he would
be w.lling, proper occasion and IN proper
manner, 10 all that ght be III his power to maintain
their rights and to yndcae their cause, he was mol
wiling on that account, 10 be pTecpitaed now INTO
measure which, II say The least Of OF most doubt
u propriey. In grave question OF this KIND where
controversy had arisen between two OF the sister
States Of THIS Republic, and in which the passions Of
their citizens might be too fully enlisted it became them
10 pause and reflect well upon the steps which It was
proper 10 pursue lie thought they ought TO pause here
pause now-sha they should reflect well upon this
question-hat they should give time for the people Of
this Commonwealth TO reflect and consult upon the pro-
pretty OF such measures wisdom might dictate. Were
they prepared a, that time to say that they should
esprcss the feelings Virginia in regard to the remedy
to pursued in this cGniro:eTsi Were they prepared
to reflect thr will OF their constituents, When had the
people Of Virginia consulted together upon this qucs
lion; and whence had they learned the will OF their
constituents: When, where and BY whom had the ali
sorhng questions arising from tins controversy, been
discussed before the people, They had just passed
trou. an exciting and absorbing Presidential election
in winch the whole attention nf the people had been
directed in other channels The action taken III this
matter last winter of nature TO lead the good people
o!the Commonwealth to expect pcacefu! termination
oithc question at issue. Prudence warned them to be-
ware lest they might sa!ter the fair fabric Of their lbcr
ties and PROSTATE those liberties in the DUST and he n
plored them II wait awhile, and 10 let the people
suit this question and prescribe the measure Of
dress the most becoming them to pursue Acting under
these, with other weghty reasons he felt constrained
move The indefinite postpnncment o. the measure.
Mr. Scott then in an able speech Of two hours
length attacked the ionalty the practicable
IT, efficiency and general character Of the measure.
The measure he conended, was essentially one Of an
hostile character matter what the garb might be III
which il arrayed II wa dcs .ncd measure ore
,aatiun upon the aunl,t.cs Of sister State for the
failure 10 discharge, the people of Virginia under
stood them !heir constitutional obligations. The l2lh
clause enacted, that their Governor might, by procla
nation suspend the operation Of the act until the end
o Tie succeeding session of the Legislature of the
Siatc-yyEencvcr he shall be officially informed that
the Executive OF New York shall have bona fde con
scented to comply with the demand Of the Executive OF
this State for the surrender Of Peter Johnson, Ed
ward Saith and Isaac Gansey,as iugtvcs from justice,
and that the law Of New York, the 9th Of May, 1870
entitled aa act 10 extend the right Of trial by Iury
las been repealed by that State Thus, 1t was not
enough that the Governor should consent TO redress the
wrong complained Of in the controversy, but the Lee
gisature of New York required TO repeal one OF
their laws to suit the Legislature of Virginia The
sovereignty OF Virginia thrown in hostile position
with the sovereignty OF New York, and what possible
good could result from the conflict Of these two
reigns, Would Virginia repeal one Of her acts at the
call of New York; Neither the Legislature OF New
York nor the people, had confirmed the proceedings
Of the Governor and yet they about 20 visit upon
the heads Of ALL the offences of the Governor, 10
found the innocent with the guilty. The law was, in
his opinion, clearly unconsttutona;-t violated the
provision OF that section declaring that le citizens oil
each State shall be entitled TO all privileges and immu
mites ofczens in the several States. This bill was,
in fact matter what might be lis name or cloak
bill regulating commercial transactions with New York.
and the Constitution had expressly reserved to Con-
gress the power ito regulate commerce with foreign
nations and among the several States and with the
Indian tribes He found, too in, the report OF last
session reference to this matter of inspection, now
recommended, the following: "Ihs has much TO
recommend it. In the first place, the remedy is
specific to the wrongIt is clear OF all constitutional
difficulty. The principle upon which such law
would be founded, has been frequently recognized
&c the of The VALIDITY
of quarantine regulations and last, in the law furnishing
the transmission Of inccndiary publications by mail
But it is liable 10 objections. To bring il, perhaps,
within the Constitution, it would have TO be general.
In such an event, the law which would be harrassng
and vexatious would operate equally upon those who
had wrongcd u.s. and those who had not. Besides, II
would be difficult TO enforce it in an efiectual manner
4 vessel might be inspected in one hour and in the
next take slave board, and be OFT. This would be
the case particularly in the navigation of our long RI
vers.
"The requirement Of security for good behaviour
from The citizens Of New York.-Ths would be per |
fectly Just in ITSELF and might produce desirable re-
suits. But your Committee will not recommend It at
this time, it is liable to many objections-ln the
first place. its eonstitutionalty might be qucstioaed
Thus they about TO adopt the very course which
they had deprecated last session.
we much regret that limits will not allow us To
90 through all the powerful arguments of tins gentle
man He showed that the act very LOOSELY drawn
that It's provisions were partial and I'M
lust and called upon the House in a very eloquent
strain, to support his motion for indefinite postpone
ment.
Mr. BaYLy has the floor for tomorrow.
On motion Of Mr.. Bow, the House adjourned
Thursday, Feb. %.
The Senate announced that they had passed the bills
entitled aAn act fixing the school quotas Of the coun
ties of Wylhe, Montgomery and Pulaski-and ian act
authorizing the raising of troop Of Cavalry in the
counties Of Bedford, Campbell, and Pittsyvanla