Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-04-23
4 Young Democrat, Of Philadelphia County.
TO THE EDITOR or TIE ENC UIRE

TO THE EDITOR or TIE E.SQUJ
! SIE-Since the late startling occurrences, with
which the Legislature concluded It's session, and the
differences Of opinion which have been expressed with
regard 10 them, will you permit citizen OF Virginia
removed from the of excitement, TO express
through your columns, the spontaneous impressions
which have arisen in his mind these subjects? In
the first place it il earnestly hoped, that the Executive
Council by whomsoc yer It may be headed will not tame
" recede from the Of conduct which they con-
Cured with Governor Gilmer, in originally adopting
in consequence of the untavorabe opinion expressed
by the Legislature with regard to 1t, or the resignation
Of Governor Gilmer. The opinion OF the Legislative
branch of the Government is certainly entitled 10 all
possble respec bnt it does not thence follow, that the
opinions of the Executive branch of the Government
are entitled 10 respect when expressed and applied
exclusively within their own legitimate sphere In
fact of the two different opinions OF the Legislature
and of the Executive IN this case ine people OF sf-
piniu it is confidently believed will sustain the lat
Ter. At least, let not the Executive Council tnmcly
recede from course of conduct which they have al
ready deliberately adopted, until they have received
more decided expression of the opinion OF the people OF
VIRGINIA AGAINST it. No possible reason can be con.
ceved why the Legislature should nave d'saPProVed Of
The conduct of the Executive, except on the ground
that The course proposed is in conflict with the terms OF
the Federal Constitution. But has not The Legislature
already deliberately passed law winch IS equally liable
to that OBJECTION if it has any weight in tins case
Had they FORGOTTEN, that when they imposed onerous
Tho ,;,s of Neutrality-suspicious. and burdens which
ro borna nv The citizens of other State in like cir
cums,ances-that there was provision IN The Consti
tn,ion NJ the s. saying that the citizens of each State
shall he entitled to all the privileges and mmunes OF
citizens in the several States Why, then, should all
their scupes vanish in case within the
on snhere Of action and Immediately arise again in all
their force when acase almost precisely identical, arises
;,b; tho snhere of Executive action? 1t IS, doubt
less nv the mere abstract requirement of the Federal
Constitution, equally duty to yield to the citizens
Of New York coming within our limits, all the Privl-
leoes and mmuntes OF citizens OF the several olner
siate. of this Union it is to yield up fugitive from
;usce frsm New York, taken within our limits Bat
in fact and in law in both of these cases, IS not the
dutv of Virginia correlatve to the duty OF New FORK
L. moi the one the consideration of the other Is lr:
I'M, under bonds and New York Free May not Vir-
ginia take her stand and say to New York, acknow-
edge the obligations which have incurred in your Ia
xor and stand prepared to fulfil them, but must IN.
sist in return that you shall, at the same tme rum
those. which it is equally manifest to any unpreJndced
mind that you have incurred in my favor, although you
affect to deny them will not pay immedtafG'y your
claim on me- and then he turned round 10 the slow and
doubtful remedy of suit 10 obtain my claim you.
insist upon o6setting my demand against yours ray
yours and will pay mine" Such IS certainly the
stand that Virginia ought to take and it, believed tha'
the peoplc of Virginia will sustain the Executive IN
nlacing her in that position. If Virginia, after having
IN her legislative body taken the course which has Geeh
ndopted should Immediately abandon 1t ~ the Execu-
five branch Of tho Government, and tamely surrender
hold which SHE already has upon the purse OF New
YORK. for future, distant and contingent remedies
be will Justly deserve the aunt with when she nas
the re always talking high sounding
stractons and always being over-reached IN Suostan
I'M realities. / am, Sir,
''D' Very respectfully, yours,
VIRGISlAN.