Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-13

" ed Of two-fflhs Of the man"
This is the construction which was given by one OF
the trainers Of the Constitution, which every one OF Us
has TO support, to the nature of slave property,
as recognized by that sacred instrument And these
papers in the "Federast, it will be recolected, were
written Tor the express purpose oil defining ths Ionsti-
luton and persuadng the people of the United States
TO adopt IT. And docG the Governor or his friends, al
ts late day. attempt TO St. up an OPINION at variance
with this we'll received construction OF the Constitu-
ton and to persist in it at all hazards The Cover
nor says IN one Of his letters to the Executive oil Fr
gina =" IL is freely admitted that the argument
would be at an end i! u weAs- clear that one
human being may be the property of another as
II IS that stealing - 4 crime Sir (sald Dir. u
have my feelings III common with the people Of
the North, on this question Of slavery, ard shall al
ways consult those feelings when | consider myself al
liberty 10 act my pleasure. But in a matter Of con
suonal construction and constitutional right, fee
that have option but to carry out the fair consruc
ton and intent Of the great IMPACT and upon nil doubt
inl points TO recur 10 the conlrmporaneous construc
tons, well the uniform practice and usage under
IL from the earliest period Of history regardless
all local considerations sectional interests.
Mr.. G.. here passed TO the consideration Of the point
Of courtesy, raised by the gentleman from Albany,
(Mr. Wheaton,) against Virginia, and went into an
examination of the rise and progress Of the controversy
that has near TO an open rupture; in the
course Of which lie remarked that 1t was the llh oil
last April that Governor Seward sent in to the Legs
laure "a communication from the Governor of Nir-
gina, and proceedings Of the Legislature OF that
State ; that this was about month before its ad.
journment that the communication and proceedings
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary in
this House, where they lay until the last day Of the
Session and that then the report of the Committee
was brought in amid the confusion necessarily attend
ing the close of the Session. and adopted without any
consideration whatever.
Shortly after the Governor had submitted this com
municaton 10 the Legislature, he wrote as follows
'7jany 9prI 18Th, 1870
"sr-I acknowledge The receipt Your Of the
9Th has seemed IL b. my duty submit the the
Legislature send Of M message on tina, OCCASION
mcut Of the legislature In i- time, pray you accept
the assurance OF my very high respect
Ills Eyeceney "" Tnos W. ". Gnsp, Rchnonl = ~ '
On the 9th of juno, or twenty days after the ad
journment of the Legislature, The Executive of Virgil
MIA solicited the promised answer, but without effect
On the 18th Of July, or thirty days later, he
again so!;cts an answer, concluding thus:
Il cannot fobe again 10 The hope, that this question
viii hr satisfactorily determined in The mode clearly indicated
hy IN. Constitution of The United States; and that Exce!cn
y Will restore those relations which 80 long existed between our
States AMI which could mol be interrupted without PAINFUL regret
yonr ohcdicn servant .'rlioMAs ". GILMER.
TO his ENcenency Wilhelm H. seward,
Five days after this, and more than two months after
the adjournment, Gov. Seward writes as follows:
''7aburn, lily l5th ls4O.
"rn-Yonr Of the 18Th instant addressed Alba
has been received At this place. where spending
timc with view 70 the restoration Of my health, somewhat
paired by confinement and occupation incident the o
The legislature. hope he able 10 cow due consideration upon
The subject correspondence very In The meantime with
Of the highest respect !,wnT }., EScslenc! oe
ellis Excvlcncy Thomas W. Gllurn."
About month after this, that IS on the lith August
the Governor of Virginia writes again, and concludes
by saying :-o hope your Excellency's health has
5" been entirely restored, and beg 10 the
5" ance, &c.
~, L. - 81. l.goS
the Executive ofVrgina again addressed Governor Sc
ward which calls forth the following reply ten days
thereafter
.7itarp, September 2sM 1910.
"Dcar Sir-Ycnr letter The
have prepared my c, {" The communication q Your Scellcncy
The subject Of The demand certain fsltive+ from Justice l
pose. With many thanks Cor long 'rcarance
CIVILIAN H. SEWARD.
oils Excelcncy Tnoa,. W. GuMrR Governor Of Virginia.
On the 22nd October, twenty -four days later, the Co.
replies and says 81 shall be gratiicd to hear
g. from yonr EXcecncy, soon your reply can be
Again, on the 9th Of November, fourteen days later
tho Governor of Virginia addresses Gov. Seward, and
says
scycn months have elapsed since lraI the honor to commit
preamble and resolution adopted y Ilr Of
Virginia, and invite your Eycccnry's
subject have received rrpeatr Of ynur READINGS 10
comply with this request Of September you
formed me that reply Ia communication Of Aalar had
been prepared and renamed only Ia be copied Informed
the aad October that reply had heen received,
awaiting focbonc execute the request con
tanned in the fourth resolution nj the Virginia IL garc
last moment because was unwilling 10 take for granted that
any department ANY officer n Tie government sister
would persist in adcring deliberately The dangerous
lion on Federal compact which ESccency had assumed
former correspondence. Your Excellency has
pleased 10 acknowledge this orearance in respectful
and trust after reminding that the legislatures Of several Of
the States already in session, will be deemed Of
Impotence part L. inquire whether the copy Excel
ency's reply has been complccd,'i sc, &c.
This letter, appears called forth Governor Stewards
long, labored review of the whole matter in dispute,
dated November 9th, $780, copy of which II took for
ly-two days 10 transcrbe.-Does this correspondence
show any want Of courtesy the part of Virginia:
On the contrary, does it not exhibit almost unpar
donable neglect on the part Of Gov Seward?
Now (said Mr.. g. what think you Virginia would
say fappriscd of the fact, land have the best auho
rity for averrng it TO be fact) that much of this de-
lay and hesitation the part Of the Governor Of New
York, out of the circumstance that the latter pre-
ferred, before sending his final answer TO the Governor
Of Virginia, TO submit it for the revision and advice OF
certain "coored gentlemen here at the North; Yes,
sir the coloed gentlemen of this city, whose views
and wishes, rather than the obligations of the con-
stitutional compact, the Governor DESTROYS to
suit and obey! Perhaps Virginia might say that this
scarcely 10 have been expected, but that the Exc
cutive Of New York had undoubted right to call in
councillors and advisers of just such complexion as he
chose But what would Virginia say of the sincerity of
such course, if appraised Of another fact which have
hesitation in stating here, that Of the friends
Of this very Governor at time when all the clergy
of this city, black and white, were invited TO oi!ic-
ale in this House as Chapalns, went privately toI
The colored clergymen or clergyman then in charge
Of congregations in this city, and dissnaded them
from coming under the invitation profered to all
without distinction Of color,elling them that they
would be paid with the rest whether they came or
not In n word, that these eolorcd gentlemen were
offered money not to here and pray for Us! Would
not Virginia have right to charge os with duplicy-
with offering an insult towards her, which dare not
offer to our ctzens-with calling in sable counsel
ors and advisers in matter in which Virginia
cerned, and yet excluding them from the number ofour
own spiritual advisers and teachers' Why, said Mr. G.,
are these coored gentlemen sought out by the Execu
tive, and cosetted with him in matter of the grave
Importance of this Virginia controversy, and yet exclu
ded from the affairs of the pale faces and forbidden
to pronounce their official benedctions here'
But, Mr.. Speaker, have other considerations TO
present in support of my views of this question:
They the views of distinguished Senator of the
United States who has the confidence of the coming
Administration of the General Government, and is
destined, if the rumors of the day are 10 be relied
upon, to occupy distinguished post in the New Cab-
net allude to Daniel Webster, and TO his address
on the 18th March, 1897 at Niblos Saloon, where he