Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-23
DOMEyTIC,
From The albany .3rgus.
lie VIRGINIA CONTROVERSY.

DOMESTIC.
THE v FIX ri a SoST asS;;:l
SPEECH OF Mr.. JONES Of .Nsao YORK; In the
assembly, Thursday, February 4M, 164l.
Reported for Daily Albany Arrus.l
The question beng upon The resolution offered by
Mr. Lawrence as modified BY Mr. LOOMS, and the
amendment thereto proposed BY Mr.. l.. Hubbe s'thai
action the part of the Legislature was called for
under the circumstances.
Mr.. JONES addressed the House as follows:
do not rise, Mr.. Speaker, with the expectation o!
throwing much light upon this subject. The discus
siou has been ably and deliberately conducted by the
Executives Of the States Of New York and Virginia,
that argument would seem TO be nearly exhausted.
But Sir, upon matter of such deep import, not only
as regards the two States more Immediately interested
but the whole Of the slaveholdng States Of the Union
deem il u duty TO state TO the House, briefly, and
fear mperectly the causes which induce me TO differ
with the Executive of this State, in the course which
he has seen fit to pursue IN relation to this matter
And here let express my earnest wish that we may
discuss this grave constitutional question with GOODNESS,
deliberations and entire absence of all party feeling
The subject does involve political considerations
and should not be discussed or decided under the in
tlueuce Of political bias. Neither should suffer
local affection or prediction for State her
institutions, TO interfere with just and impartial de-
cision.
Proud as am of the merted fame of my native State
proud Of the nts Of her upon the battle
field ana upon tue lakes WilHiH
borders-proud of the liberal and enterprizng spirit 0!
her citizens of her charitable and religious
institutions; and as am to witness no inter-
ruplon her progressive march of prosperity and hap
pness vet, Sir trust that that pride, honorable and
praseworthy though it may be, will never induce me
TO favor the cause claims Of my State at the
pense of right and justice to those OF another feel
that we called upon 10 decide this question: as
though the State Of New York not Of the par
ties to this controversy and the matter Of difference
49,
Apa;n, Sir sincerely hope that the political senti-
ments Of the Executive of this State may not be drawn
into this discussion Our duty upon the floor OF this
House as Representatives Of the people, bound by
oaths to support the Constitutions ofthe State of New
York and ofthe United States, requires Us 10 act indie
pendent Of political opinions, whether emanating from
the Executive of this State elsewhere. If the Go
vernon of New York is right in the position which ne
has seen fit to in this deeply exciting centro
versy let him be sustained by the hearty concurrence
of this House If wrong 1t 10 due TO the maintenance
of Justice and the establishment Of true constitutional
principles that the dissenting voice of this Legislature
should reach the Executive ear and that he should be
earnestly and respectfully warned to correct the fatal
though trust, unnentional, error, which he has beer
unwisey led to adopt.
But have been told ny gentlemen, that there IS nc
necessity for legislative action, and that we ought to
allow the subject TO pass off without the expression Of
an opinion.
Sir, conceive that action the part of this House
is due TO Virginia. who has deemed the subject OF this
controversy of such vast importance as to cause reso
lutons of the Legislature hereupon to be laid before
the Legislatures Of all the States of the Union Yir.
GINA deeply in the settlement OF this ques
tion The final disposition of it involves, she be
leves, the continuance and prosperity of her domestic
institutions we'll as the perpetuty Of the Union
She has argued the subject Of her constitutional rights
with an energy and ability, which, while they bear ties
timony to the distinguished intellectual capacity Of he
Executive, bcapeak also the depth of feeling and The
unparalleled interest which to perrade the breasts
Of her citizens SIR, is not some action due also on thu
part of this Legislature, to the savehodng States &c
morally, many of whom, through their representative
have forward 10 sustain Virginia in this matter
sovereign States OF this Union, whose rights and pro
perty guaranteed to them by the Constitution
which clcrds protection 10 us-Staies which cannot 81
passiveiy by and any part OF that sacred structure
shorn of it's toness proportions or Invested of it
strength And they cali upon THIS Legislature TO sus
tain them in this trying emergency, and TO give then
the encouragement Of legislative sanction TO preserve
forever inyolate the halloweG temple of the Const
tuition.
II appears, Sir that three coored persons, citizens
OF this State Of the of Peter Johnson, Edwar'
Smith aud Isaac Gansey are charged with "sean.
and taking from John Or. Co!!ey, citizen of fiI
gina 90 rtan negro slave named Isaac, the property
81 sad Colley, and conveying the said slave TO New
York. 1t being alleged that they fugitives ron
Justice, lac Governor Of Virginia thereupon made
n demand uaoa the Executive Of this State that the
s,oud he surrendered to un agent appointed for tina
purpose, in order that they might be taken back L
VIRGINIA 10 be tried for the offence charged upor
them, according TO the laws vi that State. The
Governor Of the State Of New York is at frat dis
posed to dispute the legality Of the manner o.
form in which the charge against these alleged ia
,i,iyes was presented to him. But he immediate',
concludes 10 waive all the defects therein, and refuses
10 make the required surrender, upon the ground ,ha
the offence is not within the meaning OF the Constr
tuition of the United States" And here let me correc
M error into which The gentleman from fompkns (s'
l.. HubbelD has fallen in regard to The CONNIE ncenen
ofts constitutional passage at arms between te tw'
Executives Of the Suites Of Virginia and New ork
The gentleman observed, On his speech as reported N
the Evening Journal Of Jan. 2l,) charge upon he'
(Virginia) that in the absence OF all necessity, IN de-
iance Of all danger and III Disregard of her own and
our invaluable interests she has raised constitution
fiction simply to force the Executive OF this State
against his Judgment and his conscience, TO reccg
nlze its existence.
Sir, is the gentleman correct in this statement Did
Virginia raise this constitutional felton,, as he is
pleased 10 pronounce it, or the Executive of our own
State? Did not the Governor of New York yoluntari-
w. and as think unnecessarily, waive the informally
of the charge, and place his refusal expressly upon
constitutional prohibition, Ifn unconstitutional fiction
IVA, raised. the Executive of New York and not Vir-
onia is entitled to the credit of raising it. The gen
ieman from Tompkins will observe on reference to the
correspondence, that though matter OF but te Hon
SEQUENCE vet he has allowed himself to tall into an
error in this particular. -
il is denied by the gentleman from Albany (Mr'