Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-05-18

pan himself has not does not hold opinions
dangerous to our institutions than does this Abolition
Governor OF y. York. He contends that we have no
rght 10 our saves-that one man cannot be the proper
| ~ OF another-that human being cannot be held
In bondage In the teeth of that clause in the Cons
tuition of the u S, which says, "a person charged in
any State with treason felony, other crime who
shall flee from. justice, and he found in another State
SHALL the demand of the Executive authority Of the
State from which he fled, be delivered up TO be re-
moved to the State having jurisdiction OF the crime,
ne refuses 10 surrender-he contends that New York
never intended when she adopted this Constitution, 10
surrender her citizens 10 be tried in the other States
tor constructive felones created BY law, and nyolv
ing no moral guilt, contravenng of the primer.
Piles of moral justice and exempt from by the
universal law Of civilized nations" He denies that
the stealing Of slave involves any moral guilt,
and that the offender is exempt even from censure.
lie tells the people of New York, that they have
right to come TO Virginia and steal our slaves-that
II is neither q crime felony, and promises them
protection If they but escape and reach the State
Of New York. One of his arguments is, that the
laws Of his State do not recognize slavery,
attach any moral guilt TO stealing save-thereore
| he is not bound to surrender fugitive who
mits crime in another State, which is recog.
nzed as such in the State of New York. Slavery has
been and still is recognized by the State laws Of
New York, we'll as by the Federal Consttu,
ton 1t IS recognized by most Of the ancient and
modern Governments Of the world, and is
cognzed by every State the Union Slavery has been
recognized IN all ages The Bible, which ID acknow-
ledged by all Christian countries the highest and
most perfect standard OF morality, recognizes slavery
How futile then, is the argument Of the Governor of a.
York, when he declares the "seaing of slave is not
recognized by the universal law OF all civilized coun
tries a crime ony.-But care not if no other
n country in the world recognizes it q crimc-t IL
enough Tor this question, that Virginia, b. her laws,
makes it crime. This is not question arising under
the law of nations but it is exclusively question arts
ing under the Constitution Of the U S. Fit be true.
that offence which Is not made criminal by the laws
of New York is recognized by that State such, by
abrogang her penal laws she would virtually destroy
those Of other States By becoming the refuge Of the
criminals from them.
But to return to the course pursued by the author
ties of New York When these fugtives from justice
imprisoned in the city Of New York, 20 be deliver
ed up 10 the proper authorities to be tried, whilst the
demand made by the Governor Of Virginia pend
ing before the Governor Of New York, Recorder Of
the city Of New York, By habeas corpus, discharged
the criminals; upon what grounds, have not learned.
but suppose for similar to those given BY the
Governor Of that State in refusing TO surrender them
AT the next session Of the Legislature Of Virginia, Co
Campbell, in able communication, laid this
subject before the General Assembly. 1t referred
10 select committee, who brought in able report,
and resolutions, Of which requested the Governor
to renew his correspondence with the Executive OF
New York, requesting that functonary review tho
grounds taken by him, and TO urge the consideration
of the subject upon the Legislature of his State
I'm the Oln oil governor
ncaed the resolutions OF the Legislature TO the Exc
cutive Of New York On the llth of April follow.
ing, the Governor of New York laid the resolutions
before the Legislature OF that State The Legislature
of that Stale not only treated with contempt our
solutions, but Immediately passed law giving 10
fugitive slaves trial by jury; and embracing other
features which render the recovery of slave almost
impossible. The provisions of this law ! will note
more particularly, after pay my respects to this
Governor of New York | wish to call the atten
ton of the House TO the time this correspondence
commenced, and the delay the part of Seward IN
answering the communications Of the Executive OF
this State On the 18th of April he communca
ted The resolutions Of Virginia 10 the Legislature Of
New York, and in answer to our Governor, said hls
communication would be necessarily delayed until az
ter adjournment Of the Legislature" In July, some
time after the adjournment of the New York Legsla
ture, Gov Gmer reminded Seward Of his promise TO
reply to his communication II seems ne had LETT
Albany and gone TO Auburn for his healtli-bnt pro
missed to "besow due consideration on the subject OF
the correspondence very soon On the 4;h August our
Governor again addressed him, "hoping his health had
been restored. To this communication Seward did not
reply On the 9Th, the Governor Of Virginia again ad
dressed him, urging reply "lmmedatey,' as the 4th
resolution of the Legislature Of Virginia, che re-
quested to open correspondence, requesting the co.
operation Of the slave holding States, and reminding
him that the time approaching when the Leg'sa,
ture Of the State would convene; therefore, ne could
not much longer defer compliance with The 9Th eso-
luton OF GeneTdI Assembly. OH lux ~1th VI
September, Seward replied that he had prepared his
retly and would transmit il it could be CO
pied Governor Gilmcr waited until the I'D OF Oct,
when he again addressed him, and gave him very de
cided cut BY telling him he should De gratied 10 hear
from his Excellency his reply could be CO.
pied and "fom the delay which had occurred, he felt
warranted in the anticipation that his Exceencys re-
ply, when it received, would save HIM the painful
necessity Of farther correspondence with the other
States" To this Seward made no reply
10 E.l
ceyed and our Governor again addressed hun, IRE
mindng him that several months had elapsed since he
had the honor to communicate the preamble ana reso'
utons Of the Legislature OF Virginia Al lengih
the reply came, dated November 9tl, forty-two days
after it was written, (the lime required TO copy it, and
seven DAYS after the the famous second November,
which, in part, explains the cause of this long delay
The reason is too pain-"he that runs may read
II is useless to attempt to Disguise IT. he feared II
might affect the pending elections. The course 81
this Governor has been that of shutting, trading 20
tcan. AS illusions have been made in the pub
lie prints, to letter ! wrote some time since to
gentleman in New York, relative 10 a charge made
against this Governor by member Of the New York
Legislature will here notice that charge, and the
reason for writing the letter saw il stated in speech
delivered by member Of the Legislature OF New
York. that 'one of the Of the delay IN answer
ing the communication OF the Governor oil virginia
was that the Governor Of New ork, before transmit
ting his reply to the Governor OF Virginia, submitted i
to some of the coored clergy of Albany for approval
A soon as saw this statement, Immediately wrote
to an acquaintance in New York Col. Bloore) in re-
ference to this charge lie Informed the member VINO
made the charge Of my desire 10 know if the statement
could be relied on. From the member who made the
charge received letter, stating that there was mo
doubt fits truth, and that Seward had never denied u,
nor had any of his friends for hun.
wish, Mr.. Speaker, this Governor Of New York dd
not belong to the party that do If tins charge
be true land from the shutting and evasive course
pursued by him in answering the communications OF
Governor Gilmer, do not doubt ~ he IS disgrace
to the State Of New York The truth h he knows the
nower and for that he has been playing! He
would barter not only the rights Of the South, but
those of his own State, for political power 1.-THE Go
vernon of Virginia had acted as the Executive OF New
yorL has done he would deserve 10 be denounced
,ator 10 his State and disgrace to the station he fills
cannot believe the people Of New York will sustain
such man.
I.. US now examine the course of the New York Lee
uisature on this question. The General Assembly OF
Virginia appealed to the Legislature of New York TO