Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-03-18

moi say 10 the Governor Of New York, you have no
risht 10 pect me to comply with it, for your own
prrlcnsions forbid my doing so. The Governor oil y
York would reply, that he had refused to surrender 'he
altered fnrves upon The ground that negro strang
was an oii,nce not known 10 the laws Of View York;
bu; that this case did up 10 his ground, be-
cause kidnapping was offence known to the laws Of
Virginia.
In the case he had put which he did not doubt would
occur, Federal Judge would b. found 10 surrender
tic citizen. Is the House prepared III The very teeth
Of that law-pa>sed with .h's view, Ia make such .
change in The Law o. Congress as would ensure the
punishment Of Il citizen Of Virginia for pursuing hs
rights under the Constitution Of the United States ::
MIR. IS did not entertain any such apprehension
As decisive these views against il,r proposed
change there were others not less The change
proposed would accomplish the object the gentle
man had in vcw as he would shew in few words -
The law IN relation 10 fugitive slaves IL precisely
shat the gentle man would have the Ia" in relation 10
ugittves from justice 10 be- And yet We find HAT the
operation of that law is cfltciuay INSTRUCTED by the
authorities of New York. Could not and would not,
similar distractions be opposed 10 the execution OF
law of Congress- providing for the surrender OF tug'-
tvcs from justice; If New York is obstlnnteiy deter
mined TO disregard her duties, under the Constitution
Of the L. S, no law winch Congress cen pass will pre-.
vent her doing So Our only hope ~, 10 pursue a
course Which shall bring New York herself 10 her
srnses aud induce her 10 pause in Ecr career Of out;
rage When lie addressed lie House at large, US he
should do the bill lie Committee, he would she "
that that bill would probably produce this result
In addition 10 these reasons, would be rtc"cced
hat at tie organization of the Government, It was tie
policy o. oar statesmen to conlde the execution OF as
many Federal laws possible la State officers Tie
policy was wise one, and originated in desire TO
AVOID, rs much possible, all oil COLLISION be-
tween the iunctunares Of the two governments. I'm
der /, lev cases Of conflict had and he was not
prepared to change IT, except in case clear oil all dli.
Guilty. lie did not regard the prcsen; such
Before ac dismissed ths branch Of the argument, he
would warn The House against the danger providing
remedy Tor particular case ofadoptns which
II lis operation may produce general and permanent
Inconvenience. In ease III which the feelings were
much excited, this was likely 10 lie done. In 81.
ecrncss 10 provide remedy for il the operation Of The
remedy othr, will not generally BE- carefully
examined. The change proposed if made, must be
general, and apply 10 all cases, where demand IS
made for The surrender OF trgtives from justice; and
ut tin, same time that Il liable 10 wcighty objections
in all other cases. il VIII afford no adequate remedy III
this
These objections 10 the scheme Of the gentleman
were so conclusive il light seem like Of super
crngaton 10 say more But If the House would IN
dulnc him, he would make few remarks upon the last
objection, stated by the Committee, of last winter, 10
The proposition Of the gentleman. The Committee
thought and the Legislature concurred) that 1t was i'm.
proper nr MS 10 afford the Abotionsts the opportunity
Of discussing the subject OF Slavery in Congress
Consistency required that we should not DO II. We
have always insisted that the subject OF slavery
proper subject for congressional discussion Snail
wc now take course winch Will bring on such dis
CUSTOM when il is certain that no practical good VIII
cnsuc +. He knew the answer which would be gwen.
II would br SAID, that II is now discussed there every
year. Grant this yet It cannot he SAID that We
have introduced made the discussion proper.
He would so much object to this, IT any good
result from il. But lie assured BY experienced
members Of Congress that the subject seE there
after weeks discussion OF slavery IN ! II OF lis
bearings: the motion you'd end in nothing being done.
Now dad The Legislature OF Virginia wish 10 produce
such state If things; He should not stop 10 enquire
whether the Of the subject Of slavery IN Con-
r,ess .as injurious to not. II was sufficient Tor
him u know, that Il matter with which Congress
had nothing Ia do L, sides tins, lie confessed that his
objections 10 j, were increased BY knowing that the
ihooaisis attach great Importance 10 II. They take
the ground Us lie should hereafter show in detail, that
Of the most efficient of abolition Is 10 make
the slaves of the Southern States discontinued, I'M
potent in their seryitudc, rebellious and disposed
10 run awaY Produce this disposition, they say,
and decrease his actual value. iou render the pos
session of him of nothing bn harrassncnt and
trouble As soon this result IS obtained, they con-
tend the master will be reconci!cd 10 emancipation
Tie discussion Of the subject IN Congress, they argue,
will produce this result The slave will know that the
discussion is going in the National Legislature lie
vii! know that there those who insisting that
he shall be free Thus their hopes will be raised and
thoughts encouraged incompatible with his servitude
These are their views But he would make no further
comments now lie would do il, however, hereafter.
But suppose should appeal to Congress upon tins
OCCASION they should pass the lax desired and contra
~ 10 all reasonable calculation, should prove eircu
al in the Of !ngives from justice Does not the
gentleman see that the remedy only meets half the mis-.
chief Mr. b insisted, that the law Of New York, Of
May last, infinitely more Objectionable than the
course ofthc Governor II would lie comparatively
rare occurrence that lon would steal slave and lice
10 New York But il isn ot frequent occurrence
tina, orr runaway slaves seek refuge there and after
The existence o this law is known, those eases will
more Frequently happen. Yet the measure Of the gen
tcman affords no remedy in such cases Ills remedy
does not meet half the mischief
Bat he would not detain the House longer lie had
no apprehension that the scheme Of the gentleman
would Lc adopted II condemned last winter both
BIZ the Committee and the House. and this winter, no
one voted for in Committee but the gentleman HIM
self.