The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-16
NEW YORK AND VIRGINIA.

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The controversy between these States Origi-
mated in demand by Virginia the Executive
of New-York, to deliver up as fugitives from
Justice, certain individuals, indicted in Virginia
for having stolen certain negro slaves, the pro-
perry of a citizen of that State. This demand
the Governor refused to comply with upon the
ground that the offence charged against them
was not an offence against the laws of the State
Of New York. The Legislature of Virginia, at
its last session, instructed the Governor of that
State to repeat the demand. Governor Gilmar
addressed Governor Seward, who delayed his
answer so long as that its publication could not
iniuriously effect the Presidential election, and
then again refused to deliver up the fugitives
upon the ground that to steal negro slaves is not
an offence against the laws of the State Of New
York The subject is now brought before the
Legislatures Of both States, and as it involves
the question of property in the slave, and OF
remedy for an infraction of constitutional obli-
cations by State, it cannot fail to produce great
excitement, and to have an important bearing
on the relation of political parties.
It is, therefore, the duty of those who write
are, that their readers may be informed and think
for themselves. We have, therefore, noted the
fact that the Governor of New York, although
: impsrtuned by repeated letters, kept back his
refusal to deliver the fugtives until the Publics
! ton of it could not operate upon the elections
+ in New York or Virginia. This fact in the case,
is producing deep sensation in the South, where
: it is considered striking proof that Governor
r Seward believed that to comply with the de
n mand of Virginia would endanger his election
e in New York, and that to refuse compliance
would prejudice his party in Virginia; showing
= in his opinion, an irreconcilable conflict, upor
this question, in the public sentiment of the re
spective States.
!. We are aware that there is a strsng abolition
= party in New York, and that some of them arr
o the partisans of Governor Seward, and we arr
! grIeved to believe that this has controlled tn
i discharge of his official duty, but we are alst
: gratifed to believe that Governor Seward ha
placed a false estimate ON the public sentimen
of New York, as is evinced by the fact, that al
though admitted to be a man of talents, of grea
!, personal merit and popularity, he fell great.
behind the strength of his party. So much 81
that after it was aseertaiHed that Gen. Harrison
had been elected, it was confidently asserte'
that Gov. Seward had been defeated, and VI
, are assured that had it not been that the presi
. dental question consolidated the party he woul
have been defeated
Having thus stated the question at Issue AM
the facts, we confess our establishment at read
J ing in the New York Commercial Advertise
the following editorial article:
From the .Neso York Com. advertiser.
seNEw York AND MISUNDERSTANDING he doc
, umepts' communicated to the Legislature D.
Governor Seward, with his last annual message
Is renewal of his correspondence with the Il.
/ ecutive of Virginia, on the subject of requisi
, ton made, about two years ago, by the latter
for the surrender of three men charged with lib
Grating, or in Virginia parlance, stealing slav
from his master. The slave was retaken, AM
the three men accused became residents Of thi
state. whence they were demanded As fugitive
4 from Justice The demand was not complies
4 with by Governor Seward, and his refusal ha
i given rise to long and certainly very able ser
les Of letters, in which the subject is discusses
: with great amplitude, both Of authority and ar
gument
Having read nearly all that has been writte
= on both sides, we still adhere to the opinion ex
II pressed on former occasion, that Governor Sc
/ ward is in the right. The justice OF his actio
Is lies in nutshelf--he refuses to surrender tn
&; men because the matter with which they ar
er charged is not crime known to the laws OF th'
re state. CLEARLY no other principle than this ca