The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-01-05
NEW YORK, THURSDAY MORNING. JANUARY s. 1s4a

disposed to Fgive to the government strong
| tendency towards consolidation. While would not
lmpugn their motives, cannot withhold the express
sion OF my deliberate opinion, that they labor under
| great and dangerous error. Nothing can be gain
ed TO the federal government by exercising powers
which nave not been plainly delegated to It. On
the contrary, | am firmly persuaded that nothing
short OF the complete sovereignty of the States, in
all matters where they have not clearly surrendered
strength and stability to the Union, and secure in
perpetuity the blessings richly enjoy. And
as love the Union, Iwoud firmly resist every
patton OF power on the part OF the national govern
| ment.
! While we are thus careful to watch and defend
our rights, we are bound honestly and faith
fully to discharge obligations to the general 60
vernment and TO the several States with whom we
are associated. By the compact under which the
Unien exists, the States have made themselves
name among the nations of the earth they have
reared bulwark for the defence of free institutions
and secured to the people advantages of the highest
value, which could not have been mai tanned by
separate, and perhaps rival States. As we cherish
encroachment upon the legitimate powers of the
general government, and scrupuousy fulfil obi
cations to the other States. So long as we remain
IN, and reap the advantages of, the Union, are
bound, by every consideration of honor and good
faith, TO yield to others what demand for our.
selves, an honest tulilment of the compact by which,
Tor many purposes, we are made one people.
have been led to this course OF remark from the
tendency which has been noticed to strengthen the
national arm at the expense OF the several States,
and from hndlng upon our statute DO oks laws which
have been adjudged to stand In conflict with OBJ
legations TO the other States / allude to our laws
| relating to persons held to service or labor" in
other States who may escape into this. The federal
Constitution has provided that they shall not =" in
consequence OF any law or regulation" Of the State
TO which they may escape, be discharged from
such service or labor but shall be delivered up upon
claim OF the party to whom such or labor
may be due" In 1898, Congress passed a law pre-
nd ohOul
be made, and torbidding all persons under heavy
penalty from interfering with the claimant. Our
laws have thrown many obstacles in the way of the
claimant In the assertion Of his right. The princi-
pie upon which these laws based has been pro-
nounced unconstitutional by our Supreme Court,
and by the Supreme Court of the United States.
airy term, which goes the whole length of declaring
our laws repugnant to the Constitution and conse-
quently void After the question has been thus
tied in the mode prescribed by the Constitution
submit whether these laws ough any longer to have
place upon the statute book. 1t does not become
| us as member of the confederacy to hold Ian
gIage to our sister States which they may deem
offensive, and which the common arbiter between
us has declared to be repugnant to the national COM
pact.
| will not discuss the question of slavery The
ton upon which in this State there is no diversity of
| opinion We have happily relieved ourselves from
ev tS OF ,h slavery put we have right to inter-
We have virtually agreed that 1t shall not be done.
and until we are prepared to break up the national
compact, and take the hazard of civil war, our sb
legations to the other States should be faithfully
discharged.
The federal constitution has also provided that
"a person charged In any state with treason, felony
or other crime, who shall flee from JUSTICE and be
found IN another State, shall, on demand of the
executive authority OF the State from which he fled
be delivered up to be removed to the State having
jurisdiction OF the crime" At the last session Of
the legislature, concurrent resolution was adopted
by the two houses, declaring that in the opinion
Of this legislature, stealing slave within the juris-
dichon and against the laws of Virginia. is a crime
within the meaning OF the second section OF the
| fourth article OF the constitution of the United
States deem 1t proper to say, that this resolution
fully accords with my own judgment Although
such an act may not be forbidden by our laws the
In other Sates and it transgressor of their crimi-
nal laws flee within our jurisdiction, we are bound
by compact not to screen him. The constitution
| declares that he shall be delivered up"
In stating thus frankly the opinions which enter
tam upon this delicate and important subject, am
aware mat may incur the censure of some, whose
good opinion should be glad to preserve. But /
| repose with confidence upon the great body of the
people, who, am persuaded, not so blinded by
passion or prejudice, that they cannot look upon the
| subject with candor; and who, whatever may be
thelr private opinions, will not attribute my course
| TO any other motive, than a sincere desire 10 pre-
serve the Union, and perpetuate the blessings of
Tree government, by scrupulous discharge of the
Obligations OF good faith towards our SITTER States.
i
| deration, the subject Of internal improvements bv
| roads and canals, which are eminenty calculated TO
AID the enterprise and promote the welfare of the
people There are few subjects in which our citi
zens feel deeper interest, or that are more int
mately connected with the character and prosperity
OF the State But in making this suggestion, | must
not De understood as recommending extravagant
expenditures or il advised undertakings The sys-
tenn should have far its object the general welfare,
and as far as be practicable should be based on
an equal distribution of the OF the State for
| such purposes.
A public debt is under all circumstances obiec-
tionabe, and should never be incurred except ipon
the most weighty considerations. nd in eyerv in
| stance where debt is authorized ADEQUATE. means
and resources should be provided TO pay the inter.
est, and the power to liquidate the debt should be
placed beyond the reach of contingency As long
as this rule Is observed the credit of the State will
be preserved, and the public faith maintained Ex-
pe1ditures tor roads and canals should not be based
on revenue to be derived from indiscriminate taxa
| ton. Such a system regard as liable to very seri
GUS objections. Few ii any public works can now
De undertaken and constructed that not local in
thelr advantages. A tax imposed directly upon the
people, tor such an object, would operate unequally
and be contrary to the genius of our government
which recognises no such principle. In all our legs-
laon, we cannot too frequently recur to those first
principles which lie at the foundation of our instu
tions the adherence to which constitutes our snrest
hope for their stability.
This State has constructed and put in operation
auou. seven hundred miles Of canal and have in
progress the enlargement of the Erie the consruc-
uon OF the Black River and Genesee Valley canals
the improvement OF the Oneida River, and has pur.
chased the Oneida Lake canal. In addition to this.
the State has loaned its credit to the following ncor,
porated companies -
Delaware and Hudson Canal Company 200 600
New York and Erie Rail Road Co s0O0 GOO
Ithaca and Owego Rail Road Co, 3l5 ZOO
Catskill and Canajoharie Rail Road Co. 200 600
Auburn and Syracuse Rail Road Co 400 900
Auburn and Rochester Rail Road Co. 300 600
Hudson and Berkshire Rail Road Co Ib0 oo0
Tonawanda Rail Road Co, 100 Oo0
Long Island Rail Road Co, loo 0O0
Schenectady and Troy Rail Road Co. 100 600
iloga Coai' iron Mining and Manuf. Co. 10000
s5,2s570o
The New York and Erie, the Ithaca and Owego,
and the Catskill and Canajoharie Railroad Compa-