Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-04-06


terms committee is discharged from the consider
alton of the subject upon the ground that hr posi-
tons OF the Governor sound and ludlcious
But they do not stop here. We demand redress Of
grievances; and our demand is responded to BY an ag
grayaton of them We demonstrate against the Course
of the Governor upon the ground that IL violates the
second clause Of the second section OF The ourh ar'
Gle Of the Constitution of the United States, and en-
dangers slave property, by offering refuge from
punishment, in New York, TO evil disposed persons
who may steal or cntice of our slaves. The Legsla
tue responds 10 us by violating the very next clanse
Of the Constitution and rendering the reception oil the
slave himself impossible. The greatest injury they
coud do us, was but half inflictcd-we demonstrate
against that, and they reply by making 1t complete
TIE injury is not only made complete, but they insult
in the manner of doing 1t. The law Ct New
York would have been bad enough, if il had been
an isolated measure But when viewed in con-
ncxion with the course of the Governor OF New
York, and the proceedings growing out OF II, II be-
comes absolutely insupportable. Yet gentlemen I'M
dcrtake to paate The matter, and INSIST that we are
comnl,ited to action, and that none is proper SIR,
have scarcely the patience 10 argue this point fur
Their, and am disposed TO dismiss il. But cannot do
so, without doing Injustice to moderation, and
without failing 10 exhibit in all its cnormty the course
Of the Legislature and Governor of New York.
Our report and resolutions Of last winter were adopt
ed the l7il Of March One Of the resolutions re-
qnested the Governor Of Virginia to open anew cor
respondence with the Governor Of ~ York, requesting
him to review the grounds he bad taken, and TO bring
the ect tothc consideration OF the Legislature OF ms
State The request was complied with by Gov Gil
mer on the 9Th Of April On the llth Of that month,
Governor Seward communicated our proceedings 10
the Legislature. The action which was taken IN rela-
ton to them we have already
Governor Seward, for various frivolous pretexts,
avoids answering Governor Gllmers communication,
though often used 10 do So until after the Presden-
tial election He then replies. As 10 the consdcra-
tons which prompted this delay, the pt'uI subleriug's
TO which he resorted to il, and the character o.
the Councillors whom he called TO his aid in pTepar.
ing his reply, will not trust myself 10 speak. But
his reply is delayed for seven months. Then IL comes
and in informed that the Governor adheres 10
his pos TONS and that the Legislature susans HIM IN
it. Another Legislature Of his State convenes The
subjects again brought TO It's consideration by the Go
vernon in communicating his correspondence with the
Governor Of Virginia, held after the adjournment Of
the last Assembly In cutting up the message oil Inc
Governor with the view Of referring the different sub
ects Oft to appropriate committees, his trends lake
no notice of so much Of relates to his contest with
The omission is noticed and the subject IS brought
before the House, and various propositions are pro-
posed
In the mean time, We having assembled, the sub.
ect is .eerrcd TO select committee. As soon as u is
known that the subject under discussion IN the l.e
gsatu:c of New York, the chairman OF The committee
announces in this House that the committee will delay
any report until the matter is disposed OF ny that Lee
gisature. This announcement is published IN our
journals, and is copied into those of New York The
Legislature of that State, with knowledge that we
awaiting their action, and that the character oil
ours would depend upon theirs, take the subject INTO
considerations j, fully and ably discussed on both
sides and after that discussion, and with the utmost
the further consideration OF the whole
subject is indefinitely postponed Immediately The Sc
lect committee reports, and the conclusions IL arrives
nj are objected to, upon the ground that New YORK
al Ftnr
tac,cd correspondence, in which argument is exhaust
cd and after dclbcration for near two years. the Co.
vernon positively and unequyocaly, without any sort
Of qualification reserve, expresses ms determination
to adhere To his course and two successive Legsla-
lures sustain him in the most direct, and may add Of
fensiye manner and we are told that are acting
hastily and that the contingency upon which We de-
cared we would adopt efficient measures OF protection,
lad not happened If we are not to act now, when
are we to act? If are not now satisfied that New
York has taken her stand, what will satisfy US Are
we 10 cypose ourselves 10 The rdIcue OF the country
By professng an incredibly under such circumstances:
INV further attempt at negotiation any further delay,
will brnr us into contempt, and convince the world
that we do not 10 any thing IN the matter eS
ccpt to brar and buster and agorously back out OF
the contest If is 10 be abandoned, let 1t be done
al once In the name Of my country demand, II we
are to shrink ANONYMOUSLY from vindcaion OF our
rghts that VIC shall make conduct conspicuous
ly degrading by pretending TO disposition to defend
them. He who is not satisfied that the time Tor
action has arrived never will be satisfied and so II
will be rerarde1 " every body The gentleman says
we ought 10 pr Sc before oct ought to reflect
we ought 10 consult the people TO the remedy beht
ting the OCCASION
MIR Speaker, has there been any haste in this case
Has there been any precipl,ancy 1t IS now near two
wears since the difficulty What has been the
character of our proceedings in the meantime? Have
,hey not been marked with the utmost moderation ::
Have we taken ono hasty rash step II So let it be
nontcd ont WHY then this cxhoraiion TO ny to pause
and reflect But We have not consulted our constituents
az tn Tie remedy Is there member here who doubts
obout the wishes of his constituents in this case Is
there one whose constituents will not unanimously
sustain him in redeeming the pledge unanimously
piyen nj the last session of this Assembly, that II our
wronrs were not redressed we should adopt the most
efc;en, measures Of protection Is the measure pro-
nnsed ,nore than most efficient measure of protection:
NV Enr Mr. Speaker, is not that it goes beyond our
nledoe hut that it does not come up to 1t. IL we DO
nothing will not our constituents complain W'ii
,hev moi have cause for doing so : Who can excuse
himself in doing nothing 10 those that sent nm here'
By saving he did not know their Will
The gentleman from Fauquier, with view, pre- ;.
snme of extenna,ing the course OF the Governor OF
New York which he declared to be unconstitutional
and outrageous, Informed the House that this contro.
versv was to some extent forced upon him. had
heard the same thing said before, even IN this STATE
bu wns no, prepared to hear it from any member oil
this House The friends of Governor Seward attempt
ed 10 excuse him on this plea in the Legislature OF n:
York; but it efFectually put down by memoer Oh
that BODY And as cannot add any thing 10 inc ar
gument by which was done, and as am much e s
6austed and suffering from ndisposition which IS OBJ
vious TO all who hear me, will avail mysei OF IT,
though il may not contribute to the satisfaction OF the
House to hear the argument of one of its members IN
contest between Virginia and New York, answered
by member If the Assembly Of the latter Stale.
TThe Clerk at the request of Mr. Bayly' then read
from the speech of Mr. Jones of New YORK delivered
in the Assembly of that State on the 4h oil
1871, the following extract:l .:.;uo,s
at appears that three coored persons s e,zens
Of this State, of the of Peter Johnson Eamaru
smith and Isaac Ganscy, are charged with 'sleang
and taking from one John G. coey, citizen OF W.,
gnn, certain negro slave, named Isaac ine p,opSSsw
Of said colIey and conveying the said slave t" sew
York It being alleged that they were ugves rom
Justice, the Governor of Virginia thereupon MADE ue
Tie ,nas s'sf @ ha h yap Sa
that thew might be taken back to Virginia to be
,Ted for the offence Charged upon them, according to
The laws of that State The Governor OF the o'l.e
N