Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-04-26
SPEECH OF ma. CRorPER.


Legislature this question. The General Assem-
bly, Of Virginia appealed to the Legislature Of New
York TO express their opinion OF the monstrous and
absorb course pursued by their Governor. In May,
IstO, the Legislature referred the subject n
mittee, which reported that they believed the po
son taken by the Governor OF the State to be sound
and iudicious." The House did not act the
port, but had they done so, have no doubt, from
what their successors have done, they would have
sustained their Governor The subject has again
been brought before the present Legislature Of that
State, and by party vote the Governor has been
sustained.
How question like this could ever be made a
pirty question, cannot for the life of me under.
stand. How the Wing party could unanimously
sustain the Governor, seems indeed strange whilst
the Van Buren, party, on the other hand, unanimous
ly condemned his course. Will the people of the
State sustain the party politicians IN the Legislature
who, hope, have mlsrepresentcd them IN sustain
ing the Governor in violating the Federal Consttu-
tion7
Those who sustain the rights and institutions Of
the South, to whatever party they belong, will
ceive my thanks, and hope those Of every South
man.
NV colleague asks me "if this law of New York
giving fugitive slaves tia by jury, is rot repeal
ed, whether slave will be recovered after he
reaches New York;" Before this law was passed,
the difficulty was great. Whilst it is in existence
no one wilt attempt it-tor an abolition Jury would
always decide in favor of the negro. But besides
this, there other provisions Of this law which
will deter any one from undertaking it. The sixth
section of this law snakes the fading of the Jury
conclusive against the owner, gives appeal the
slave as matter Of right, and denies it TO the own
err" Another section provides, "that if the verdict
IS in favor of the slave, that he shall be modest
ed again; and that il any person shall remove him
out OF the State, under any process or proceeding
Whatever he shall be deemed guilty of kidnapping,
and upon conviction, shall be imprisoned in the Stale
prison not exceeding ten years" This is TO prevent
applying to the federal courts. Another section Of
this law requires the owner to give bond in the
penalty OF one thousand dollars, with two securities
trccu0lderS State. Il
pens.s; also pay the slaves two dollars per week.
until the is decided; and should IL be derided
against the owner, he is bound to pay one hundred
dollars TO the slave, and all damages he may sus-
tain" Who would give the bond and security re-
quired, the risk of going to the penitentary7
The only way counterfeit this law pass
this bill, which will prevent our slaves from
ping to that State. But, gentlemen contend that
there but very few slaves that escape in this
way. They mistaken; many oil the slaves
that off from their owners, above tide water,
God their way James, Potomac, and other rivers
and carried off in Northern vessels; besides the
many that 60 from the lower country. But few
months STAGE, FIVE slaves belonging to Richmond
were found secreled in vessel bound to Norfolk IL
happened that they had stolen from gentleman Of
this city eight nine hundred dollars, which
they gave 10 the of the vessel for safe keeping.
The ht before the vessel sailed, the sailors hrd-
ing they had 50 much money, took the cars TO Pc
tersburg; in the morning the captain found his crew
missing and searching the vessel. discovered the
slaves The practice Of carrying off slaves in these
northern vessels IS much more frequent than is sup
posed. shall bat briefly notice the power and in.
huence and number Of the abolitionsts.
Before saw the accounts referred TO by my col
league, 1 had not supposed them half so numerous
or fearful, as am convinced they are. But when
they number fifteen hundred societies in the nor
thern States and hold the balance of political pow
er in most OF them; and when Governors, and Lieu
tenant Governors, and members of Congress are
found answering questions, yielding to them, and
counting their favour, | cannot shut my eyes TO
faults like these. But IA few years since and no
respectable paper published their speeches. but since
have been in this city, have read in one of the
most respectable papers in New York. abolition
speech delivered in that city, Of the most infamous
character. The time when the very prints that
publish their proceedings, were loudest in de-
nouncing them. few years since and an abolition
society care not meet IN the city Of New York;
they meet in open day and discuss our insti-
tutions and denounce US IN the most insulting man
In this city, now the head quarters of the fanatics
may be seen written in large characters "Anti-
Slavery Depository" a place where incendiary
tracts and speeches sold, be sent to ali paris
OF the world, TO affect and destroy our institutions
And these things are permitted and sanctioned in
city which has been made the commercial empo-
rum had almost said Of the worldly means Of
southern commerce. The northern ships would rot
IN their docks, but for southern trade. Their mer.
chants would go begging the grass would grow in
their streets; the busy hum of industry would be
hushed and the cheering cry of the SteVedors would
scarcely be hhrd.. The Carrying trade of all the
southern productions Is theirs; they import for the
SOUTH they manufacture 10 large extent for US;
they live and grow rich from southern commerce.
L he very coasting trade, by means OF which our !
slaves are carried of, is runous the south. On
every barrel Of flour carried coastwise 10 a north.
ern city, and shipped from thence to a foreign port
there IS loss to the producer Of least one dol
lar The freight, inspection, storage, commissions
and re-shlpping, amount TO fully that sum. On ali
other productions sent by way Of the north TO for.
e'gn ports. there like proPorIonaIe loss 10 the
producer.
My colleague has noticed some of the proceed.
ings of the Worlds Convention" Of which we
have heard so much. But he has omitted TO notice
one Of their avowed objects, which shows the pur.
pose and spirit that pervade that body One oftb.
orators in that Assembly and Representative from
this same State OF New York TOO, declared thai
they INTENDED TO appeal TO the capitalists and
friends OF human liberty throughout the world 10
exert themsevesto introduce the culture Of cotton
into the eastern countries, with the avowed object
&C DESTROYING the production of il in the United
States; he contended that il could be produced in
dindoosian az price so low, that ths southern
planter "could not afford TO raise it," and thai .he
slaves in the south would become valueless and Inc
owners would be forced 10 liberate them.p They
confidently predicted that the thine would soon
come when every cotton warehouse IN the city of
New York, would be converted into n hail, yhers
The friends Of human rights would meet and con
gratuiate each other on their mighty achievements
Ior an oppressed people" Thus see their
hendish schemes are TO he accomplished by uniting
with foreigners, 10 destroy their native countrv-
And their men on their return, are hailed in New
York as patriots, phanthropists and martyrs 10
che cause Of liberty What must the south think OF
the north when they sanction and Justify such con-
Duct What will be the effect Of the course pursued
10y the GOVernorof New Y ork7 Will not New York
become the asylum Of fugitive slave. stea!ers when
II Is known they come Virginia and steal our
slaves, and return to New York, where they will
DE protected Would II be strange II these fanatics
should employ men 10 come to our State and
entice away our savesl DO you know the
character OF most Of these men who are engaged A,
eoasters7 Do you nov that the pirates Of B,tne |
CAT are often the Captains OF these vesselsi Is the
House aware that oil that is necessary to change the
papers OF one OF these coasters Is to 20 10 the Gus
tom House, pay forty cents, and in ten minutes you
can make the grandest scoundres you can find in |
New York, or at Bsrnsgut, land there nre plenty |
20 be found at either plBce) commanders Of ves |
sels-men who could be hired for 6f,y dollars IN |
steal slave or any other properly, and who are
Only checked by the fear Of punishment which they
would urOd II they but once reached New York
What sscunly have we against such men, unless i,
- by inspecting Their vessels, before they depart
from our Wateui An obi lection is urged against
this bill because il will not entirely remedy The evil
complained Of II this objection is valid, il might
b urged against the law Furnishing theft or any
crime whategeri Tor is impossible TO pass a law
wmoh will TO perfect remedy against the evil
sought N be remedieds You pass laws against
murder: still murders are committed. n gentle,
men object 10 this bill LEI them propose soTe bet.
mHm mNw