Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-01-20
NEW YORK AND VIRGINIA.
FtY.e the Richn.ond U,hir.

pom the supJect, ana the point In dispute rests
nst where it did, when Gov. Gilmer threw up the
iubernatorial Office. Gov. Seward repeats the
arguments advanced formerly, and vows, that his
onvictions Of the unconstitutionality of the de-
nand by Virginia, remain unchanged. The .'hos.
le law" as he terms the act of the last session,
Precludes any farther action on his part, and he !
submits the whole correspondence to the Legisla-
'ure. His concluding letter of Nov. s,h, contains
the following passages:
"Cheerfully deferrng to your opinion, that the
long correspondence which has taken place be-
tween the Executive authorities of Virginia and
n. York may now be brought to n close, without
dotriment to the publick welfare, shall only no.
tce ono OF the topics upon which you have been
pleased to dwell.
have deemed it my duty to observe, that un-
der the extraordinary circumstances of the case.
and inasmuch as the parties Were equal, if re-
Cancellation were to be accomplished by the acts
OF the parties, it appeared to that the first adj
vance ought to be made by Virginia. Dissenting
fafafrHS Is 'IR6 niss0Sy oSr aSs edosv .ssty 80,
this state of things, when New York has nef,her
@ %ronS IS OF 1hcS e sSe o oam-
plans, what sort ofadvance can she possibly make,
dsit expected by your Excellency, that she should
relinquish her demands, repeal her defensive law.
leave her wrongs unredressed, and her rights un-
protected"
You will do me the Justice to admit. that from
the beginning ofthis controversy until now, Ihavo
been content that this State retain an unvarvinr
Pacihc attitude towards Virginia. and have cheer.
iuiiy lett the authorities Of Virginia To decide nm
on me relations which that Commonwealth shouid
hoid towards her sister State. The proceedings
were commenced by Virginia, with demand IN
which, representing this State could not accede.
nave iuliy explained that the law of New York.
complained OF by Virginia, was passed without
any reference whatever to that Commonwealth
and without any design to affect its citizens. and
!llat IL does not affect any right secured to Virgin
la or her citizens by the Constitution and laws of
the United States. When the Executive of Virgin.
Ia retalated upon this State, by refusing to deliver
fugitive from justice, in case of Acknowledged
obligation, declared that this State wou,a w,it
the pleasure OF Virginia to recede from the nosi-
.'on e,e hau thGs assumed. When Virginia ap-
Peaied TO the other members of the American fam,
NY to espouse her controversy and make comn,on
cause against New York, this State. un,yillinor to
DC active In disturbing the general harmony. and
conilcing In the justice of her sister States nebar
demonstrated with Virginia, nor defended herself
just. '' "'
must now add, that since Virginia has bcon tho
FIRST and the only State, which since the fadera,o,,
was esta0ilshed has, by an aggressive Legislative
ACT, asSaiied the constitutional soverepntv of his
State, New York neither entertains tbourbt ~
retaiiating such unkindness, nor does she remon-
s'la'e' or even complain. In the same spirit that
mas continually governed her proceedings. She
must decline to suggest to Virrinia form or al
vance towards that reconciliation, for which Tic
otate, unconscious Of having committed wronn
or having INDUCED a sense of injury. is readI
whcn 1t shall please Virginia to meet her on the
oasis OF equal constitutional rights. Even &c VIZ
GINA makes no advance, this State will be cnn-
tent to leave her citizens to their individual 800
Gies' ana VIII cheerillly wait until the Supreme
Cour., the arblter between the members of tho
coniederacy, shall have had occasion TO decide
upon inc constitutIonaity of both laws, or yirrin
Id snail see hit TO remove the obstacle she baS in
tcrposed to an adjustment by the States ih..ln-
selves, OF the misunderstanding which both b,wo
SO much reason TO deplore. do not supgest that
Virginia shall reiinquish her demands. or reneaj
Wila' she describes as her defensive law, or thai
one siaii leavei her supposed wrongs unredressed
or her supposed rights unprotected onlv ;re;st'
that while Virginia maintains an aogress;,a 1'S''
t .ule' she cannot reasonably expect the menaccd
o'aie 10 manifest an acquiescence in = n,ooooJ;,
so homogeneous with what she deems tho rnias
lions OF the States, as most assuredlv she ,roid
uiu sie consent to discuss under such circuJn-
Stances, the original subject of controversy |
trust may be permitted to add. With nerfas;, ao
eience' that II Virginia had not passed the inn
iiouS law which now excludes debate on tho ~:
glnal question, she would still have remaincd =,
.rc enjoyment OF all the rights. and all the means
=, ~ oS"''S "iohSS winch this State, and eyery
other state, possesses, and all which in The ;udy
ment OF New York, the Constitution Of the II Z
allows to any State 80
GOV Rutherford, on his part, Celebrates and |
ampiihes the views Of former Governors, and in /
'ists' that Virginia has been injured, and tina, re
paration is justly her due His las, letter of sa,b
oc'ooer' TO which the foregoing letter from Gov.
Seward is reply, thus closes:
"F will not trespass upon the time of vour e.
;ei'ehcy by repeating arguments already addoced
upon the various topics which, have boendscussod
between us. Nor will l again notice tho sent;.
nents you have been pleased to reitera,e on 49, |
,uDject OF slavery, farther than to saw with ali
'ue deierence that mus t continue to REGARD ibero
IS irrelevant to the question in issue and afford
ng no Justhcatlon for your refusal to co,nn,v Win
ne acquisitions OF the Federal Constituted -.
'uiSi'ions which the distinguished men reCered to
y you recognized to the fullest extent Rut he
pre- closing this communication beg leave to M
'oe 'he opinion you express, that in this contro
eIsy' "lnasmuch as the parties ore equal. if .
ocohcliiation is to be accomplished, Virniuia
oght 10 make the first advance" I'm this onin- {
pn' cannot concur +; for, this controversy. sc .
our ESceiiency is aware, originated in the refu ,
a. Oh New lork to comply with the demand rs u
Hghia Tor the surrender of certain fnUitives Cro,
istce, charged with crime against her lave s
men refusal was regarded by her as a pa]pablc ,
Ioation OF the federal compact; that this canso
complaint In her opinion, has been greatly ar
'avdied by the subsequent passage Of a law Iy "
ew ork, which takes from masters lie TroarS, Il
recovering their fugitive slaves guaranteed L,, -
9 provisions OF the Constitution and Law of :he
ntf