Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-04-02
.Ntlc York and Iirgiuia.

Last Evenings Mail brings us two MESSAGES from
the Governor of N. York TO the Legislature of the
25th and Goth inst. The first lays before them Go.
vernon Gimers refusal TO surrender Currv-with ths
declaration Of Gov Seward:
His EScelency the Governor of Virginia. is there
fore respectfully informed that by reference the pa
pers heretofore transmitted 10 him and his predecessors
il will be found, that before the requison for the said
Peter Johnson, Edward Smith ard Isaac Gonscy came
under the consideration of the Executive Of this State
those persons by competent judicial officer, dis
charged from arrest upon writ OF hnbeas corpus
which writ secured by the Constitution to every CT
zen Of this State because the papers were defective
and insufficient even TO charge offence against the
laws of Virginia, and that when the said requisltlon
before the Executive Of this State, il decided
that the charge IN form, deiectve and that even
that were waved acts of the description of those laid
the charge of the supposed fugityes not made
elonous criminal, either by the laws OF this State OF
by the common law by the laws OF all civilized
tries and for these and other fully set FORTH it
the opinion of the Executive of this State, that he
had lawful right authority To deliver the said Pc
ter Johnson, Edward Smith and Isaac GaDsey, TO the
Executive Of Virginia compliance with the said
QUESTION. The Governor Virginia is further respect
fully Informed, that the subject has been reconsi
dcred upon its merits, and also in connection with the
position assumed by the Executive of Virginia in re-
gard TO the rcqusition for the delivery Of the fugitive
demanded by the Executive Of his State, and no sui-
Gent found for reversing the decision before
made
The Message Of the Goth transmits the Resolutions
OF Mississippi supPorting the gromndStaken by Virgil
MAJ and other papers connected with the n. \. Con-
troversy The Governor refers to the Act lately passed
by the Legislature Of Virgna-andl leaves 10 the Lee
gslature 10 repeal their Jury Law Of May $50, or
not. lie approves that law, and makes the following
declarations
ain my judgment, the law could not now be repeal
ed, and especially under the singular circumstances
presented without raising presumption that the Lee
ems In rnth
persons claimed fugitive slaves Of the right of trial
by jury. Believing that the right is invaluable
protection TO personal liberty, peculiarly proper in
cases where persons exposed to the loss Of liberty
without even charge oil crime, and that it IL import
ant to every human being within Jurisdiction, in
proportion 10 the drunkenness and dccncelessness Of
his condition, | cannot recommend the repeal Of the
act II 1t became my place to speculate concerning
the probabilities OF legislative action, and if supposed
II possible, which certainly do not, that any dispo-
sition existed in the Legislature repeal the act,
should deem it my duty TO demonstrate against the
measure.
"Unwillng 10 leave any ground for expectation in
regard TO the Executive Of this State, that convictions
Of duty which have prevailed notwithstanding the very
elaborate arguments presented by the Executive and
Legislature Of Virginia, be removed by any injuri-
adopted by that State deem it proper TO
repeat in the most solemn manner, that the humble IN
dviduas who pursued by the Governor of Virginia
felons for the offence Of being board a
snip III winch negro Secrecd nilIlse IN oruer 10 eS-
cape from slavery, they yet remain in this State
under the protection of its constitution and laws and
cannot he surrendered to the Stale Of Virginia by TX.
ecuve authority, the preence set up for that pnr
pose, without deliberate violation of both and that
this conviction, adopted after most mature and Impair
tal deliberaiion and strengthened BY subsequent
Election, is degree affected by the recent proceed
ings of the authorities of Virginia.
We shall publish these Messages in full IN our next
paper The n. y. Times Of Tuesday, in republIshing
Seward, las, Message, says: "Snce the receipt of Co
vernon Gimer's reply to the rcqulston made by the
Executive of New York for the surrender Of the orger
Curry, the aspect of the affair has materially changed.
The Executive Of Virginia has resigned, and the acting
governor has given up the fugitive TO the agent of the
Government Of New York. So far the path Of negoti
alton has been smoothed, and trust that the sincere
desire which both parties in the controversy manifest
Just the difficulties between them, will produce
result mutually satisfactory
The n. Y. Express says: "The compliance Of the
acting Governor Of Virginia may place new face up
on matters and result in more amcabe understanding
between the conflicting parties. We are ANXIOUS to be
rid of this vexed question: and upon terms honorable to
both parties