Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-05-07

attend. . =.
NJ The above notice is given by respectable cltl-
zen Of the county of Buckingham. We hail it with
great PLEASURE and trust that other counties may m
tate her example We rejoice she is about to strike
the ball against the nearious schemes projected to be
carried out at the Extra Session Of Congress
THE NEW YORK NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Cor. Strard-and The X. Wing.
We lay Governor Stewards late letter before our
readers-and in submitting few remarks upon IT, we
cannot at the same time overlook the very unnecessary
and unjust structures of the r. Wing upon Mr. Hop
kins. They follow
Esceliency lofty tone, and with somr just Re
Elections much sophistry. II Is evident, that he finds
himself false positions IN respect TO The abstract question W
controversy and he studies 10 throw that out view BY pres
ing The informally Of the demand and me incrney o' m
evidence convict the thieves OF the crime alleged Had
he based hs refusal upon tins ground :" ths oesnns a H
pleasant and Improbable controversy had never arseh bn
alleges Of ms COURSE The eascrhe>
exhibited Governor, IlnpkmS f"r discussion :"
lie abstract pa.n-and less wise than
opened wiki such ridiculous dissertation upon INC
fair mark that could resist The temptation 10 use nm
up. did him around hi finger IKE wei rag ~
t condition Governor The lie forth
with abandoned the unienahe and nnnSen'cai positions o i"
kns the Law o; Nations and al that ana brought hr "Dl
say Seward found he had very different %
deal with, who understood Tue enptnes u u, "a - m
Could"
The rabd spirit of the Richmond Wing never do
Justice n political opponent, or ever spare NM III us
wrath Mr.. Hopkins has, of course, claims upon us,
and we feel bound TO defend him by hunting up Inc
flcts of the case in reply TO the hciions OF tile wing
Mr.. Hopkins is personal as well as pocai ifieho
but he has higher claims this question: upon every
man who loves Virginia. lie has done the State some
service OIL this important controversy lie was the
first TO defend her ghts against the aggress'ons OF
New York He defended them with an ability when
obtained the appreciation Of the Legislature, and the
commentator of Governor GIlmer hIrnsei-whom me
Richmond Wing seeks to honor nj the expense OF MI
Hopkins We shall take the statement OF the facts
themselves from the beginning OF the chapter, as they
present themselves upon the Documents OF the Legs
ature
Ertracts from Governor CampGeits Message,
Of Dec. !, le39.
uDnrinu my absence from the seat Of government IN
the summer, demand made upon the Governor
of New York by the Lieutenant Governor OF thus Com
monwealth for the surrender Of three persons charged
by affidavit with having elonously stolen and carried
away from the State Of Virginia negro slave, the
property of citizen of the borough of Norfolk in this
State. These (being found in the harbor OF New
York with The negro alleged TO have been stolen, con-
ceaed in the hold Of the vessel III which he was car
red away from the port Of Norfolk were arrested tor
the purpose of awaiting the demand Of the Executive
Of this State for their surrender IN the mode prescribed
by the act of Congress. The demand was made, and
the Governor Of New York, waving some technical
objections of form which might have been easily obvi
ated refused to comply with the demand OF the Execu
tive of this State upon the broad and undsgused de-
NAL of his obligation deliver up any person charged
with felony or crime in stealing slave send here
with the correspondence between the Executive OF tins
State and that of New York upon the subJect-Io re-
move all possible doubt Of the principles on which the
Governor of New York has refused 10 perform what
regard with all proper respect for his opinions as
plain and manifest constitutional duty, Will quote from
his letters to the Lieutenant Governor &c much as IS
necessary TO exhibit his conclusions:
"He says Admitting the affidavit to be sufficient IN
form and substance 10 charge the defendants with the
crime of stealing negro slave from hrs master IN the
State of Virginia defined by the laws OF that State,
vet in my opinion the offence IS not within the mean
nr of the Constitution Of the u ).
1.-THE Executive Of New York then admits that the
words endowed in the Constitution, treason, felony,
or other crime ARE very comprehe nsve'-'that ct-
zens of the State which the requsitlon IS mad" are
liable 10 be surrendered well citizens OF the State
making the demand that the Executive upon whom
the demand is made has no legal right to refuse
compliance if the offence charged Is an act OF treason,
felony or other crime, within the meaning OF the Con-
stitution lie then expresses The opnlon that It IS not
competent for any Stale at lis pleasure 10 declare an
act be treason felony or crime, so as 10 bring II
within the provisions OF the Constitutions; ana that
uhe provision applies only 10 those acts, which u CON-
mled within the jurisdiction Of the State in which the
person accused is found would be reasonable, ieo-
NOUS or criminal by the laws of that State. After
train Of reasoning in vindcaton OF those novel and
extraordinary positions, which do not mean TO notice
further than to express the OPINION, tnat u - wnohy
unsatisfactory and nconcusivc, the Governor OF New
York proceeds saw shat there is no law oil the State
| Of New York which recognizes slayery-no statute
which admits that can be the property oil ano-
ther that can be stolen from another; and
| that the common law which is III force in New York
does recognize slavery, make the act oil winch
the parties accused in this either elonous OF
criminal lie therefore concludes, that the offence IS
not a felony, nor crime within the meaning OF the
Constitutions; and he refuses 10 surrender the person
charged
q" have thought it proper thus succincty and in his
Lana tn ST grounds
or of New York has refused 10 comply with the demand
made upon him, in order that the General Assembly
may clearly the whole extent OF the startling and
dangerous doctrines broached by high .unctonary, to
whom is entrusted the execution OF one OF the most
utary and conservative provisions Of the Constitution
The construction he has pu upon this clause OF the
Constitution continuing this provision, Is one that can
not be acquesced in submitted TO. IT persisted III
and acted upon BY the Northern States il must disturb
the harmony, and amcabe relations heretofore so hap
pily existing between the States, and # maintained by
only single State, it must make that State refuge
for all the felons and criminals who Zee from justice in
any of the Southern States, after committing thar
crimes the most destructive 10 their property, the most
dangerous to their safety and the most odIous to their
laws lf the Governor of New York is right, he is
bound not only to protect those who steal our slaves
but those who incite and assist them TO abscond from
their masters those who, by scditious speeches and
writings, stir them up to make rebellion or insured.
ton or persuade them that they are Illegally held in
bondage and may lawfully resort to all means
sary to rid themselves of its yoke Under the sane
ton of this reading of the Constitution, the in
cendiary Abotonisis may send their missionaries
and emissarcs into the Southern States, Of
protection and immunity, if they can escape detection
unit, they reach some State whose laws d" not rec"g
nize slavery Such an Interpretation Of the Consttu-
ton is incompatible with the rights and destructive Of
the safety of all the States holding slaves. None Of
the fanatic doctrines dsoganlz'ng practices Of the
Aboitonists are so well calculated to endanger the
security of our property or to jeopardze the tran.
guilty and hazard the dissolution of the Union 1t is
possible that the Union can continue long, if the
opinion should be generally adopted by the States
where there are slaves, that laws recognizing
the existence of slavery, and of property in slaves
not be regarded in executing the provision of the
Constitution for the surrender Of ugtves from jus
| lice.
"If any confirmation were wanting of the proper in
depreciation of the Constitution on this subject, il
would be abundany found in reference TO the known
condition of the States of the Union in regard to tn,
institution Of slavery, at the time Of the adoption o.
the Constitution In more than half certainly,
IN nearly all the nd