Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-03-06
REPORT
az the sciee, Cessnisse. the Cemn,unioa-
tie. the Governor relative to the slave

fk and surrounding country occasoned by inability
Of the Ia bring back Virginia his slave George
Laumer. who recently fed from the aforesaid 10 Bos
In Massachusetts. and the documents appended the
report and the official communication Of the Governor Of
this Commonwealth notifying the to the House OF
Delegates has had the under consideration and report
a foiowss
That fully Of the importance Of the subject refer
red to the committee, have -ndeSvoured dVest
minds o those influences Rpt TO mislead the understand
ing, which have their origin excited PASSION We have
desired to consider the subject practically and OF
iemPersey The peculiar circumstance Of nggravaton
IN this which might have betrayed unwingy into
different line OF conduct. suited 10 the line We
deemed IL duty pursue have far deemed II
proper been ban'shed from our deliberations 10 nave
discarded such considerations entirely perhaps not pos
sibc: 20 hav. failed 10 bcstnw them proper degree :"
Prominence in contemplating Justly the entire subject pre-
-rnted for consideration, would have been oil advised
ruroy that have hat upon the due medium Ut discretion
suabencs- necessity, perhaps dispue' that we
have carefully cndeavourcd do 80, consciousness
bcsrs testimony that have endeavourcd earnestly to
enforce what due nhrive State and her citizens
well know; that all proper allowance for honest but
mistaken zeal has been made, leave other To- deter
ine that cherished love for the federal Union OF the
States has Sbded with continually hesitate not To
assert, distinctly and cmphatically
u Just, however to ourselves, essentially due 10
constituents and but right respects Others state that
while regarding oil should with sentiments OF reverence
the constitution OF common country-with the deepest
impressions OF its uity-ushcrcd in by such stirring events
in hiStoso attended it has been with chiccst
blessings all, nil this exciting topic has recently
ed dread importance, dsiraetng and dividing those for
mc:y linked together in the bonds Of interest
and common arction is Just ourselves, due 10 the
people OF Virginia, but right Others state that
have not, will forget that the struc
OF a Govemmcnt-thc peculiar features of Const
luonihc entire frame OF H. whether advantageous or the
reverse all but devices OF human skill attain de-
sired cndsa those ends should be the security the pros
pcry the true interests OF those who provide the Govern
the Constitution bless themselves aud their de-
scendantstat itis futile consider the means Oh
OF paramount consequence, when the ends intended
10 be secured have vanished from percepon-that the
honour due to those ustJus benefacors of their race,
who deservedy live in the recoecons OF their benefited
countryneu due far for their attainment OF them,
their comprising their vir;uous, their admirable purposes
10y vrucus and admirable means, than for the
Themselves.
Had they merely wicd-aye and acted to attain the re-
suit and have failed, while would willingly and admi-
Tngy admit the greatness OF their claims TO he regarded
phanthropists lovers of mankind patriots who lived fer
their country they would hardly receive indeed they could
not possibly expect the gratitude the blessings, the ado
uon OF people!
lis too true have been constrained TO direct
tenuon the the just object the only proper origin
OF Governments aud Constitutions We do 80 To direct
enquiry u the point what II becomes men 10 do "hen the
end proposed unattannbe and the frame work, the
words of ancient statute the simple phraseOogy ct
the Constitution, rcmans-- true spirit gone, its life
which dwe in the hearts of the people, Departed
the mere dust OF an obsolete act OF noble founders alone
Tcmaining
We have looked this, and find ourselves obliged,
called upon uumPetongued, by every interest every sen;
mcn proper and common human nature, say, that
upon the happening such contingency, ought break
up the government To foego, and forever, the dead
constitution! More, would IN such advise yc~,
upon the Injured members the country,
look to themselves 10 look themselves rs-Jo think ct
themselves and their homes their wives, their Children
hrs ana above all things-nor TO think OF utcrs tall their
INST cheiest obligations them had been fully sasacto
rly, adequately provided ior The in such
must refer 10 the end We this very respectfully
our abiding convictions upon this point!
Without dwelling unnecessarily upon all the particulars
presented by the documents referred to committee
convinced that the facts follows That citizen oil
Virginia, having the ceaes tite, recognized by the law
Nrgma, to certain slave, has lost him in the following
manner: The slave fled from the in Norfolk Borough
- Boston in Massachusetts,. The informed of
the fact, that his slave Boston, and hiiner
regain him. The slave was arrested and placed in cIstJ.
dy at an agent Of the owner-thst agent Jaer in
Boston, and place OF security, confined the slave IN
la That certain of Massachusetts, and the
excited feelings Of considerable portion the population
o Boston, rendered it essential Tor 10 apply
federal Judge 10 enable him TO bring back Virginia his
said slave. That day appointed by the Judge
eide finally upon the claim OF property and sanction
diciay the removal OF the slave Virginia by the nvi-
dual claiming him. That IN consequence Uf sickness OF
Judge the question acted upon the day ppgt-
cd and that another and remoter day being fixed upon,
uawarranicd inerpostion OF force which the Of
ide slave could not render Intellectual.
stoned him authorize surrender Of the prJpeTy he found
iimpossibIe recover.
The motives to this surrender by owner can only
be adequately appreciated by reference crcuIsti-
lie one, surrounded by an excited multitude far
from has home in the midst o! stranger, regarded OBJ
Ject OF peculiar adherence nsuiied threatened with ina
prisonmen-acIaly held bail the suit OF his slave IN
large pecuniaEy and only relieved from actual
generation at the suit OF his slave by the accidental
interference OF his legal adviser, who became bound for
hint That counsel, well NJ the agent Of the owner hay
ing IN chare the person OF MS slave, became also marked
objects Of popular Indignation
Whilst the various referred 10 were in prorrcss
the utmost excitement prevailed. Tumuits occurred ai-
most IN the lace OF the COURT popular meetings call
I'D aud actually took place; large ussemblage Of whites
and blacks III Faneu Hall; iniammaory addresses dcy-
cred ny whites and blackstone runaways mistaken,
say worse, interference Of minister, OF TIE gospel
adding the perverted sanctions OF Chnsis religion with
blind bgo To the fury OF the multitude; some OF the mos,
distinguished citizens adding the influence Of their
ahd hiSh stations u the course Of tnIngs- present.
still aiding and abcing; old and boys youth and aro
woman too, present, actually present. northern ladies'
from whom other things were 10 have been expected with
their presence countcnancing the proceedings. In the
mean while newspaper got up entitled the "Latimer Jour
nal tceming with abuse Of the SOUTH and cxecraing the
slave owners Of the south; containing hord fancy sketch
"s Of barburous seventy which nothing short OF most ex
cited mad, blinded fury could possibly have conured NO
and blended iuo shape and which could not have comma
ded single moments attention, had those whom they
where addressed been capable Of upprecatnr the
meaning Of property the object for desiring po..cs IT,
AL the weight Of all these influences brought to beurup,n
tue individual owner himself perfectly convinced too that
his quest would Toe yaucCs-; himself from the very town, in
Virginia from which the slave ken by individual. r.
ccny and Intellectually claimed by the executive Of Virgin
IL from tue executive vi New York aud yet suen
derod.
Ii easy gain the motive which occasoned the owner
10 yield up hs property upon the dictated OF price
for security!
Your committee would deem needless to say more upon
this portion Of the subject did recent facts enable
them yet adequately intimate the character of the
inducements which led citizen Of Virginia to abandon
his property a5rdng by what mas just occurred ample
testimony from which q infer what must have occurred rd-
earlier. We refer 10 petition recently presented the
Legislature Of Massachusetts. In the Boston Courier O.
newspaper Of that city, il IL stated "ihc 1tmcr petition
for the abolition Of slavery in Massachusetts presented
m the house Of representatives. Yesterday and referred
appropriate committee. il afterwards brought o. the
senate chamber II twas large roll, feet in diameter
and about two feet IN width, and weighed said
hundred pounds IL contained 80 7sl names and spread
out would probably extend two thirds Of mile 90 length
This petition headed with the George L1umrr
This asJ stated, that Mr.. Adams Of Boston, moved
the orders Of the day the table, ia order that he might
present the pcuuon-cauicd-and the rules suspend
ed for that purpose.
ne house must derive he conclusions from The facts
he attention Of your committee Of directed
- ic suggestions Of the report Of the committee adopted
10y 'ne meeting az Norfolk, expressive Of opinion the
c'n1s' proper now 20 pursue. The committed hus asrccd
70 adopt 'hr suggestions aud unite IN opuiou that such en-