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

docs not entirely control il. That interest will be
most affected by this bill, and have doubt that
petitions and circumstances, will be sent from all
parts OF the State asking the Governor and Legs
lature TO review, and retrace their falsely taken
steps. II is said by the gentleman from Albemare,
that I'VE cannot carry this law into effect that
have no Navy; and THAI New Yo,k will offer re.
ward Tor our inspector, and these captans will get
the inspectors below decks fasten the hitehes and
carry them to New York" As to the ides of ma
Wy being required to enforce this law there is no
ioree ~ II. competent inspector with july boa,
and Tour men will be "navy" enough to enforce the
law. IL not, and the militia OF the tide water coun-
ties cannot inforce inspection law We "will give
up the ship" "But the New Workers will kidna o
our inspectors" Let them attempt it, and we would
imprison every New Yorker within the borders of
the State. There is no fear of this. Pass this bill
and We will sec that IL is sarTied into effect.
This whole question has been treated by New
York, as one of but little no consequence. no.
tced lew days since. an extract from New York
paper Il believe the Express,) which characterized
this whole aft air as "Vrgina abstraction !" which
New York could understand, "but il a hve dollar
principle was involved, then they could understand
H." l have no doubt this is true; for some New
| York politicians, calculate the Union, rs well as
the Constitution, by dollars ami cents. The Con-
stitutlon itself is abstraction, which their con
tracted pcayune minds, never expand suii-
GENTLY to comprehend. II it is required TO gain abo-
lluon influence, that the Constitution should be
tramped on, their Governor does It, and the Legis-
lature sustalns hun. And this is done by party
vote, to sustain party Governor in an unconstitu-
tianal refusal to do justice to a sister State.
Ii is proposed to refer this subject to Congress;
that the power OF surrendeing fusit from justice
may be transferred from the chief Executive of a
s ate to a Federal Officer. The last Legislature
unanimously refused to refer this question to Con-
gress, and nothing has since transpred which would
justify such a course.
It has been truly said by my coease that every
government on earth has made the surrender OF a
fugitive from justice an Executive duty. Ever since
the formation Of the Constitution, the Executives Of
the different States have exercised this power: and
heretofore serious difficulty has arisen between
the States. Then for this, II Tor other reason,
would not transfer this power to Federal officer
] This single isolated case, which may be settled
without this change, would not Justify in making
so important an alteration when the liberty of citi-
| zens is involved. Nor am fully convinced that
Congress has the power to transfer this authority
from the Executive TO Federal officer | prefer
that the power should remain with the Executive,
who is more directly interested IN the security and
protection Of the citizens, than a Federal officer
could possibly be. The Executive is responsible 10
the people OF the State for the faithful performance
of his duty, whilst the Federal officer is only held
responsible TO one man.
beg leave to differ with some OF the friends of
this bill in supposng that no case could arise in
which the surrender of fugitive ought not to be
made case might arise in which III. Executive
ought not 10 make the surrender. For instance
should citizen of Virginia, go TO the State OF New
York and violate their unconstitutional law giving
| slaves a trial by jury) and by appealing TO a Fed
era Judge, get decision in his favour. Under this
law if ''he removes his slave Of the State under
any process proceeding whatever, he shall be
deemed guilty Of kidnapping, and upon conviction
shall be imprisoned in the State prison for term
not exceeding ten years. Should've escape TO this
State, and hereafter be demanded by the Executive
OF New York, as a fugitive from justice, the Gov
ernor of Virginia ought to refuse surrender him
But Il the power TO make the surrender was ves'ed
80 l.G, L..
forthwith, without for one moment considering the
justice or proprety of the demand.
Another objection 10 this change is, that do not
wish 10 see the power of the Federal officers in
creased, nor to invest in them any power which can
be safely exercised by the States, Again, IL would
be impossible TO hiring this question beforc Congress
without giving those who desire 10 discuss tbs SUBJ
ject OF slavery an opportunity TO do so. deny the
right OF Congress TO discuss the institution OF sa-
very IN any shape, or under any pretext whatever
These northern men have been permitted too long
already To discuss that question, and denounce "a
and cur institutions, on the floor of Congress The
Time has long since arrived, when every southern
member OF Congress should have returned home
rather than have permitted discussion OF that
question. do not wish TO give such men as John
q Adams Slade and Co. opportunity or prete1t
10 hur their broad and sweeping denuncatons
against the southern people, and hold them up to
the word as worse than hends or cannibas.
Another, and strong objection TO referring this
subject to Congress, is, that do rot wish to see
Stale md the General Government brought in con.
hIct with each other.
have seen the Union on the eve Of dissolu-
ton, by States attempting 10 resist unconsttu-
honal law OF Congress. | saw an odlous Force Bill |
passed 10 compel sovereign State 10 submit 10 an
unconstitutional law. Had that law been attempted |
TO be enforced by the sword, every Southern State
would have bsen united ia open resistance to the !
Federal Government. Let US then 10 nothing by |
which a State and the Federal Government may be !
brought IN conflict. Though we consider n. York !
wrong yet we do not desire 10 her forced 10 do
US justice by the strong arm OF the General Govern
ment Let Virginia and New York settle this uues- |
ton. Let the attention of the commercial interests
of New York be called to the absurd and uncon
stUtQnal course Of the Executive OF that State nj
then she still refuses to force her Governor 10 do
justice, and sustains ard uslifes his course other
and perhaps stronger means may be taken.
In this BILL gentlemen say they see the "edge Of
The sword That is to the Union" Sir this cry
Of Union, this danger Of dssolyng the Union, that
s always held up In terrOrem," is one Of the chief
causes that operates TO make these Northern men
so bod, arrogant and presunptuous. We should tell
them that there is point beyond which Ihey must
no; go, or this Union will be dissolved Tel Them
that we dare calculate the cost and value of the
Union. Tell them that we desire its perpetuation
only upon the principles, and in the same spirit IN
which our iaIihecs formed IT, Tel them that the
South can do without the North much better than
the North can DO without The South. Tell them to
adhere strictly 10 the compact that binds us togeth
er, and the Union will be perpetual, but let them
beware how they violate The compact, and rampls
on our rights, or the Union must and will be dis.
solved.
Mr.. SDeaker-I have detained the House much
longer than intended for in truth, have not ore.
pared myself 10 discuss this question as its impor-
lance demanded, or the interest my constituents
feel 10 the action ofGhis house on this exciting ques-
tom but u has been fully and ably discussed by
other gentlemen, and am sure the house is conyin-
ced both Of the eKpedency and constitutonality Of
the bill.
In conclusion, wish TO make an earnest anneal
70 the members flom the south west not 10 OPPOSE
this bill in spirit Of retaliation, for the Opposition
have made 10 some Of their schemes OF internal
improvement. Nor to think for one moment, that
entertain the least unkind feeling towards the mem
bers who represent that portion Of the State.
When remember that Little Tennessee WINS the
home OF that hrm, brave, and true patriot John
FLOYD, should he the last man 10 have prejudice
or lll feeling towards the country he called his own
u Virginia ever had son, who was more attached
10 her, and Of whom she should be more proud tbno
any other save one, that son was John Floyd. who
when Il was thought the troops Of the Federn Co
veTnment would pass through Virginia 10 make
war on South Carolina, determined to put himself
az the head Oi the State guard and prevent their
passage or perish IN the attempt
|
ODD FELLOWS.
This association, though long and extensively
known IN Europe, has bot iecenty been miro. |
M IN me a liz -