Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-05-07

: Governor, itu dSsuHiSu lis
which that denial has been vindicated Inc dec's'o"
,s moi ns YOU have assumed, designed as an asgFrs
sion upon Virginia and intended 10 affect her hS'''.
tons Virginia was admitted, IN the oroaaest seh' -
be sovereign within her territory IN the enaslei. "'1
execution Of her laws. 1t was dehiea ohiy iva. T
could cx,end her legislative power so as To give "
TO the Executive Of this State, or render II MS Up
surrender its citizens be transported 10 'n"l
n,onwealth To be tried condemned and puhisheo, W.
acts not in themselves wrongful, nor res,h :,
criminal by the laws Of this State ana '"' s ~,
i, Inference. muht exist between the coues y, oe wv.
So, = IN. Conceded that in ascertaning the intent
| of The compact between them, reference ins a.,
made in such cases, not TO the paf'cuia oansd hy
| one or the other, but to the common law - :;,J
both the laws Of nations, and the laws " ac,r
800 -, tho States in which slavery exists OUT "eie Wv
emo by which other demands upon lhs o'ae "ie w.
ad and they have been applied not oniy VI ,''e $50
ones,ion. but in others presented oy a" 49,
New Hampshire, where that 'oronue, con.
become obsolete The discussion was moreovel' con'
anc,ea IN manner which 1t Is hoped WIN De iouna "
h,vo been ALWAYS courteous and respecuui 10 virginia
III croruor Of Virginia, i'll submitting the cores
,ondencc to the General Assembly, thougnt proper -
i;t;nnnish the non compliance oil the Executive OF
49,: CT, mon the grounds assumed by hun, as Il la
| r,p, INVASION of the rights oil that commonwealth
h;cb in the event OF the failure OF other remedies,
;h, render it the solemn duty Of Virginia to appeal
from The cancelled obligations OF the Federal compact
| IN
n, ! ,ccu,iye of this State laid the correspond
n before the Legislature, with the reluctant express
SION of his surprise and regret on account vi e se
mo menace of the Governor of Virginia. me TX
ecntye Of this State, DESTROYS TO avoid increasing e
embarrassment which had resulted in consequence OF
The course adopted by the authorities oil Virginia, de-
clared that he regarded the subject as one iains pc
cuarly within the province OF The Executive DePa,t
men, and in relation 10 which the duties OF lhat ae
partment prescribed by The Constitution anu IA"
! 4 h,,f lIa Cons I'm q
this State and he carefully abslalned from Invok'hs
aay legislative sanction Of MS DECISION he i.Necu
tive of this State subsequently complied, promptly "',u
cheerlully with the request OF the Gencrai Asse''.
of Virginia. and submitted the appear OF ina. oouy ~
the Exec TO the Legislature oil this STATE
b the able ARGUMENTS of the Gov. OF Virginia ana Of
a committee of It's House OF Delegates all OIL "n'ch
documents were laid before the Legislature without
comment. The Executive also, with cqna eeefuness
comned with the further request oil the delerat As,
.amhlv If VIRGINIA BY reviewing the positions assumed
by HIM and he trusts performed thai aaty III sp u
caudor and courtesy. The correspondence osihg tius
ro;u closed the Governor OF that State submitted ITO
,be General Assembly in the manner he deemed proper
lie nj The same time offered large pecunIary rewards 10
;,duce indy duas who might thus be tempted 10 seize,
within the jurisdiction of New York and IN violation OF
lis laws and convey to Virginia The three div'aiis
whose security douby assured TO lhel ms ~ e
decision of competent legal tribunal, and then by lhe
Executive authority Of the State The Governor OF
virginia also addressed public circular letters 10 suc
and such only, Of the American States a3 ne assumed
had peculiar sympathes with Virginia, inviting them
to make common cause against New lofh. lac Eae-
cu,ire of this State submitted these proceedings ana the
correspondence 10 the Legislature ot " ork without
remark The General Assembly OF Va then thought
proper 10 pass act attempting 10 impose nViuos r.
strc;ions and mposionS upon citizens oil l's
State engaged in commerce with that Cominon"cali'
citizens otherwise responsible IL. the action ol te
Government than as being among It's constituents; ana
this was done with purpose fully avowed TO obiige me
Executive Of this State 10 rescind decision maze I'M
der his constitutional responsibilities and 10 compel
the Legislature of New York to repeal law found on
its statute book, accordance with It's Constitution
and the Constitution OF the United States, and having
no connection with the question IN controversy.
Simultaneous with tbs proceeding the Governor -
Virginia refused compliance with reqnsilion, auiit-
ted 10 be in due FORM for the surrender OF fugitive
CHARGED with the crime Of forgery, unless the Execu'
tive Of this State would first rescnd the decision pre-
yiously made BY him, allowing however, TO the Execu
tive of this State months reasonable period 10
decide upon the extraordinary proposition thus submit
ted The Executive Of this State lost time III assur
inc the authorities Of Virginia that tie original sub
ect had been reconsdcred upon It's merits, and also IN
come xon with those injurious ana rela1iatofv pro-
ccedngs aud submitted the result that the decision
having been made i'll accordance with convictions Of
constitutional duty still entertained, ne found no subj
Gent Ground for reversal of the same. 1t became
The duty Of the Executive 10 communicate these pro-
ceedinas Of Virginia 10 the Legislature OF THIS STATE
In doing So he could not but foresce that 10 one wond
think OF repeating and s2cciay under such circui-
stances Law Of the State designed for the protection
and security Of its own citizens and others cx-
posed to the risk of prvation Of liberty without
even u charge of crime There is no good reason
to believe that the interests Of the citizens OF tins
State are less carefully regarded b. lis Lcg'sa-
ture than the supposed interests Of citizens Of
Virginia are by the General Assembly of that
Commonwealth. There is no ground 70 suppose
tina, the principles in regard to personal liberty and
State sovereignty maintained by the Executive Of tis
State are less seduousy cherished by the Legislature
than the institution Of slavery is by the General AS
sembly Of our sister State When the commercial Po-
sition condition and relations of this State cons-
dered il is not unreasonable to suppose that the Lee
gslaturc if could transcend its constitutional bar
riers might annoy harrass and Cypress unoiiend
ing citizens of Virginia, at least az severely as the
General Assembly OF that Commonwealth can Cypress
such citizens of New York. Nevertheless, the ES"cu
cutve declared that he deemed any reallaory action
unworthy the dignity and inconsistent with the rela
tons of this State. He recommends such measure.
He declared that none should be adopted on his part;
and assuming that the citizens OF this State have ample
constitutional remedies against any innries they may
suffer from the wrongful legislation OF Virginia, he de-
cared his confident conviction that it might safely be
left TO the magnanmiy Of that State and her own ex-
perence of the consequences Of her TO induce
an abandonment Of them ANA the performance OF her
constitutional obligations The Executive OF tins State
has sincere pleasure in acknowledging that go far as
of the concerned, this anticipation has
been already realized.
From this cursory review, rather Of what has been
done than OF what has been written will appear TINT
the authorities Of New York have been the
in any transaction tending towards arrangement Of
the relations between this State and Virginia. New
York has done nothing and has spoken only when and
so often she appealed 10 by Virginia. and then
always in the language OF respect and affection New
York has made novel questionable demands, COM
planned of wrongs, offered rewards for violations
of laws Of Virginia, passed no vndcve acts, made no
menaccs, has she endeavored in any manner, TO
excite her sister States against Virginia although she
doubts not there many and enlightened States among
them which cherish her prime Piles and respect her
decision
trust therefore, Sir that you will be satisfied that
the spirit Of concation kindness and devotedness to
the Union which you have properly invoked will
continue prevail here, since other spirit has been
indugcd from the beginning. You have guaranty
also Of that spirit in the fact that, although not loud
and frequent in professions, New York is constant in
works showing her attachment 10 the Union. Her his
no in which has cd