Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-08-10
coMMUGIoArIoN.
AccoMAc. Va, August 4. 1919.


you publish my reply, and request those papers
that have published the article alluded to- and like
pieces, to do the same.
Under law passed March 18th, lsii, entitled
An act TO prevent the citizens OF New York from
stealing our slaves, and to prevent her Governor
from harbouring them," Sc. the G overnor OF Viz
ginia authorized to appoint inspectors a, such
places as he should think proper. Gov. Gregory,
unsolicited, offered me the appointment for this
County which at first refused, but afterwards, by
the persuasion of friends consented to acee pt.
Hav ng accepted the commission, I determined TO
enforce the Law at all hazards for had been told
by my old friend from Aibemarle, (hir Coles) when
this bill was under discussion, that We could not
enforce the law; AMI felt deep interest in having
IT enforced, rs had given pledge that if the bill
was passed, We in lower Virginia would see that
the law was enforced. And so far, I think, |
have redeemed my pledge that we can and ieiH en-
force il.
will now notice the piece in the Tribune, and
give brief statement OF tho facts connected with
this mighty outrage" About two weeks since,
there came into one Of our inlets seven Northern
vessels; took my boat with two men, boarded
them, and demanded that they should comply with
the inspection law Of this State, which they refused
to do.
This Captain Hemmond, OF the Banner, who has
published piece in tho New York Sun, taking
thought It no harm to steal Stare. thought that
a man entertaining such sentiments as he did, and
expressing them in a slave holding State, amongst
slave population, deserved to be dealt with rigid
y; and determined, IT, could, to enforce all the
provisions oil the law. returned to the main about
eight miles distant, and stated that these men had
resisted the execution OF the law. had the power
to summon as many men as thought proper, or TO
call upon the Colonel OF the Regiment TO aid mo in
its execution; but neither was necessary for several
nj N MI A IA
professional gentlemen, volunteered their services,
which l accepted, and numbering l3, besides those
employed to row the boat. we boarded these ves>
sells, determined TO enforce the law. The first YES
sci We boarded was the Banner, n New York vessel,
with New York Captain, and one who thought il
no crime to steal slave. We soon made him
comply with the law. We then left to board an.
other vessel; but on our way somo person on board
the boat remarked that there was a man on board
a red streaked vessel who had hand spike raised,
and that he intended to resist. | Immediately or
dered the helmsman to stear for this vessel and as
the boat came alongside the yesseI Jumped on board
entirely unarn,ed, and this fellow dropped h IS wea.
pom and fed TO the Cabin, where could not AFTER
wards find him, or should have SEN, him TO prison.
As We approached this vessel, the fellow told us TO
keep off, and threatened 10 strike any one who should
attempt to come on board By this time, several
boats, loaded with men from other vessels, came
up, as II by previous concert they had deter
mined to make resistance on board this vessel. As
these boats came alongside, the men attempted to
toard the vessel we were on, but told them not to
come on board, and ordered the men to shoot the
hrst man that put his foot on deck without my per-
mission, except the Captain who | permitted 10
como on board to comply with the law. Had we
permitted these men 10 come on board, outnumber
ing more than two TO one, We might not have been
able TO resist and have been entirely at their mercy
Alter having made this fellow comply with the law,
and sent these men TO their own vessel we boarded
the vessel OF this fellow Parker; asked him where his
vessel was bound; he replied, 10 Hoboken, and was
owned IN New jersey. then asked him il he did
not have 10 stop at the Quarantine in the State of
New York, and get permit to proceed to the City
OF New Yofk7-which every vessel coming from
any port south Of Mason & Dixon's line has to do
under penalty of several hundred dollars He
replied, yes then told him tina, I had the written
opinion OF the commemorative attorney for this
county, that he was liable TO the operation of the
inspection law. But II appears by the very piece
he has published that he went directly TO the city
OF New York: where had he carried fugitive from
Justice who had stolen slave, the Governor of
New York would have refused him; or mad he car |
RED slave from this Safe, and then attempted |
&c recover him, the laws Of New York would have |
given the slave trial by jury (Which the Supreme
Court OF the United States has decided to be uncon.
stIutiona) and that jury, perhaps, composed of free
negroes. And, moreover, this law makes the find.
ing OF the Jury conclusive against the owner gives
an appeal TO tho slave n matter Of eight and de-
MES 1t TO the owner. Ii also provides, that 'f the
owner appeals TO the Federal Court, and unIer the
decision of that Court he attempts TO carry his
slave from the State, he shall 10 deemed guilty of
kidnapping, and upon conviction, shall he impris-
oned IN the State Prison not exceeding ten years"
another section of this law requires the owner TO
give bond IN the penalty Of one thousand dollars
with two securities, freehoders Of the State TO pay
all costs and expenses, and should it be decided
against the owner. he is bound to pay Sl0O TO the
slave, and all damages he may sustain. Is our law
too severe or rigid Upon vessels bound 10 a State
with such Governor and such aws7
have said that did not act in this matter with |
out the written opinion Of the Commcnwesth's At |
iorney, which is-"That every vessel owned in |
whole, or IN part, or commanded, or navgated BY /
any other person than actual inhabitant Of tn
commonwealth, and departing from any port 10 this
State for any Port in the State OF New York, is
liable to the operation of the inspection law This
law, think, embraces every vessel owned in whole
or IN part by any citizen Of any other State than
Virginia, and bound for any port in New York. I'll
such vessel must necessarily touch at any port Of
New ork, though that port be not the port OF final
destination, yet think she is liable to inspection"
had, also, the opinion Of the gentleman who drew
The bill, and was the prime mover in the enactment
OF this law, that Cali vessels owned or commanded
by any person other than citizen Of Virginia.
and bound TO New York. is liable TO inspec
besides tho opinion Of other legal gentlemen TO the
same effect. Thus you see | did not act without
the authority and sanction Of the law and for thus
enforcing law Of the State, it is called a "eross
plratical outrage" This idea OF pratchl, perhaps,
Tor having said in the Virginia Legislature, that
many Of these New York vessels were commanded
by b1rnegat Pirates, which is true, and tho Tombs |
In New York, and the prisons OF New Jersey, will
bear witness, that many or those fellows had been
tried Tor plundering vessels in distress and do not
know but for numbering their crews. Nothing but
The fear OF punishment will prevent many OF them
from committing the blacklist crimes. To pilfer and
steal Is looked upon by many Of these in the same
light that cheating, SwartwOuiing and defaultng is
viewed IN N. York: He who does il on the largest
scale, and goes "unwhpped OF Justice" is a first |
rato fellow, and keen active chap.
One OF these fellows a short time since came into
me Of our harLours. went into gentloman's pas
ure, stole m OK, killed il, carried il on board, and
With that Yankee economy for which these Northern
rs are so celebrated, saved the hide, stretched il on
deck 10 dry, and suspect sold il in New York.
nd these nro the men that talk about "piraticnl
'uirnees" Some Of these men thought il very hard
hat New Jersey men should be dealt with 80 strict
" but bod no particular sympathy for them; for |
remembered that eilizeR from Northampton
county, (Mr Edward Waddy) in returning TO Viz.
,inia through "Cnmden, New Jersey with his
lave, IVES attacked, his slave foTciby taken from
,lm aud himself so badly beaten scareely 10 leave
tc. Ia the piece taken from the Tribune il is stat
ID that took and kept the papers Of the B,nner
md Arrival. Not satisfied Of my right 10 take the
1arers OF this vessel (the Binnefl very soon nf /
forwards offered him his papers; bot he put on he
lignty and refused TO take them; I then took them
IN shore with me, and told them | would return
hem next morning, and should have carried Them on
BOARD but for letter received requiring my pre-
Ienco al ChingOieaquo. where there was another /
elbow making resistance. / Immediately emp Dyed |
IN agent 10 60 on board and deliver them their pa |
)ers he started, but was afraid 10 20 on board, 90
desperate was the character of those men. On NV !
etufn home, | found he had brought the papcra