Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1841-12-23

ant controversy 50 long depending be-
tween this State and the State and the
State OF New Yurklwill be satisfactorily
. adjusted. | submit herewith the cores
pondenee between the Executive author
! tiles Ct the two States. not heretofore
communicated. 1t will display, it is be-
lieve.l. on the part of the Executive Of
this Commonwealth, an anxious desire
! to maintain unilnpaired the most friendly
: relations with q State to which we have
ever been bonad by ties of affection and
interest. With devoted LOYALTY to the
Union, we have manifested patience, for
bearance and courtesy, earnestly hoping
Il possible to obviate the necessity of re-
sorting to any measure Of defence. Our
just claim upon that State. under the
solemn covenent If tie constitution, and
our reiterated appeals to her reason and
justice have as yet been nnavailng. The
course OF her Executive has been fully
sustained by her lsgislatase, and under
circumstances which aggravate the iuiu-
rles we have received. | sincerely trust
1T may yet be possible for other councils
| to prevail, and that returning sense OF
Justice will result IN the recognition of
our rights and the perpetuation of that
harmony, which, if not actually interrupt
ted, IS at least most seriously threaten
ed. Under present circumstances, the
Common wealth owes it to herself to de-
wise and to execute firmly proper meas
ures to guard the rights and protect the
property of her citizens. fir the dis
charge Of this duty, imposed by the most
solemn considerations, unkind feelings
1 or unpleasant collisions should unhap-
PLY arise, the responsibility must rest
with those who have left US no alterna-
tive. A due regard for the peace of the
Union, and an anxious desire to remove
as lar as practicable, all cause of irrita-
ton, will no doubt dictate a resort to
measures purely protective. With this
view the inspection law of the last legis-
latuie was adopted; and the remote pc
Rod to which its execution vas deferred,
affords conclusive evidence of the pa
tience and-forbearance of Virginia. AS,
however, the first day Of May next is the
specified time when its provisions will
become operative, unless the course of
New York shall in the mean time render
unnecessary. respectfully recommend
its careful revision, and the adoption OF
such additional enactments as your wis
dom may suggest, nose effectually to ac-
complish its objects. The eorrespon-
deuce herewith submitted, so fully ex-
plains the views and course Of the Exec.
utive Authorities of the two States, that
| forbear further reference to the sub
iect.
| cannot omit to notice here the un-
firing perseverance with which wild
and blind fanaticism is urging on the
consideration OF Congress, subject of
vital Importance to the peace and tram
guilty of the Union. Year after year
the tables ct Congress have been loaded
! with petitions for the abolition OF slave
ry in the Distrist of Columbia. This
fanatical spirit rests not, tires not, -and
pursues its purpose with zeal which, if
not checked, may lead to consequences
deeply to be deprecated. Its influence
is already sufficient to cause it to be
courted by those who are candidates for
popular favor in the North, and it too
frequently sways, if it does not control,
their public action. Its power is rem
Idered manifest by the legislation of some
Of the States indicating policy not on
~ to entice away our slaves, but, to take
them forcioly from the possession Of their
masters, against the consent of the slaves
, themselves. The recent instances of
, the foreible abduction of slaves from their
masters, cannot have escaped public OBJ
servation. These indications, portend-
ing much future mischief, should deeply
impress US with the Importance Of pre-
pairing for the crisis with which we are
threatened. A successful interference
+ with the right Of slave property in the
District of Columbia, will be but the pre-
Jude to a similar effort in the Southern
States. We should resist every such at
tempt as we would an invasion of our
firesides andsaItars. II is time that an
, issue be made with those who reckless
Of consequences would dissolve this hap
) lpy confrderacy, hitherto bound togeth-
er ia peace and friendship. 1t is time
that these disturbers Of the public peace
should be fully apprized Of the conse-
quences which must inevitably result
, from the accomplishment of their rash
designs. 1t is due TO the enlightened
and patriotic portion of our fellow-citl-
zens of the lNorth, who disapprove the
mad schemes in agitation among them,
and who place proper estimate upon the
value of the Union it is due to Yir
ginia herself, plainly, unequivocally, and
without delay, to announce to Congress
and to the members of this confederacy
mot in the spirit Of menace, but with a
, deep sense Of the painful consequences
which NAV ensue, - that she cannot sub
nit to an interference from any quarter
with her domestic institutions. The
! deep importance Of the subject entities