Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-01-19
NEW YORK AND VIRGINIA.
GOVERNOR Bouck's MESSAGE.

The following extracts from the Message
the Governor of New York. in relation to IL,
controversy between Virginia and New Yorl
VIII he read with sincere pleasure by ever
enlightened friend of the Union.
1t remains to be seen whether Gov. BoucL'
Democratic friends, who constitute q decide,
majority in the Legislature. will act out thes,
sentiments.
"While we are thus careful to watch ant
defend our own rights, we are bound honestly
and faithfully to discharge our obligations L.
the General Government. and to the several
States with whom we are associated Nv ths
compact under which the Union exists, the
States have made themselves a name amonc
the nations OF the earth; they have reared a
buiwark FOR the defence of free institutions
aud secured. 10 the people advantages OF the
highest value, which could not have been
maintained by separate, and perhaps rival
States. AS we cherish the Union, we ought
carefully to abstain from all encroactments
upon the legitimate powers of the General
government, and scrupulously fulfil our obi
cations to the other States. SO long as we re-
mann IN and reap the advantages of the Union,
we are bound, by every consideration of hon
or and good faith, to yield to others what we
demand Tor ourselves-an honest fulflmcnt of
The compact 10y which. for 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 finding upon our
statuie-books laws which have been a,!iuJned
to stand IN conflict with our obligations TO the
other States. allude 10 our laws relating to
persons held 10 service or labog3 i'm other
states who may escape iuto this. The Fed
cfai Constitution has provided that thew shall
ho', IN consequence of any law or regulation
OIL The State TO which they may escape. sbe
discharged from such service or labor. but
snail be delivered up, upon claim Of the party
10 whom such service or labor may be due
In 1908, Congress passed law prescribing the
mannel IN which the surrender should he made.
ana forbiddmg all persons, under heavy pcn-
atty, from interfering with the claimant.
-Our laws have thrown many obstacles
IN the way Of the claimant in the assertion
OF lis right The principle upon which
these laws are based has been pronounce
ed unconstitutional by our own Supreme
Court, and by the Supreme Conrt of the
United States. That high tribunal made
a decision ct its last January term. which
goes the whole length of declaring our laws
repugnant to theConstitution. and consequent
ly void. After the question has been thus
settled, in the mode prescribed by the Con-
siiiution, submit whether these laws ought
any longer TO have place upon the statute
book. IL does not become us; rs a member
of the Confederacy, to hold a language TO our
sister States which they may deem offensive.
and which the common arbiler between us
has declared TO be repugnant 10 the national
compact.
81 will not discuss the question of slavery.
The abstract right 10 hold any man in bond
age is question upon which, in this State,
there's no diversity Of opinion. We have
happily relieved ourselves from the evil Of
slavery But we have no right 10 interfere
win that institution as ii exists in other States
we have virtually agreed that it shall not be
Gone; and until we are prepared to break up
the national compact, and take the hazard of
civil war, our obligations TO the other States
should be faithfully discharged.
"The Federal Constitution Las also proyil-
ed that "a person charged in any State with
treason, felony, or other crime, who Shall flee
from justice, and be found in another State.
shat! on demand of the executive authority OF
the State from which he fed, be delivered M.
TO he removed TO the State having jurisdiction
oil the crime At the las, session of the leois-
ia:ure, concurrent resolution was adopted bv
the two Houses, declaring that, in the opin-
ION OF 'his Legislature, stealing slave within
the Jurisdiction and against the laws Of Vir-
gina, Is crime within the meaning Of the Sc
cond section of the fourth article of the Con-
stiiutIon of the United S(ates.' | deem i,
proper to say, that this resolution fully ac-
cords with my own Judgment Although
such All act may not he forbidden by our laws,
the stealing Of slave has been declared to be
crime IN other States; and if a transGressor
of their criminal laws Zee within orr iurisdic-
Ion: we are bound 10y compact not to screen
him. The Constitution declares that lie shall
be delivered up
Sin stating thus frankly tie opinions which
entertain upon this delicate and inportan,
subject, am aware that | NAV incur the cen
sure OF some whose good opinion should be
glad To preserve But reposc w;hconfdence
upon the great body OF the people, who. ] am
! persuaded, are not so blinded by PASSION or
! prejudice, that they cannot look upon the sub
Ject with candor, and who. whatever NAV be
their private opinions, Will not attribute my
course to any other motive than sincere de.
sire to preserve the Union, and To perpetual,
! the blessings Ola free Government, By scru.
pulous discharge Of the obligations Of gooe
imth towards oar sister StateS.'
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| The late tragedy on board the brig Somcrs hat
been dramatized i'll New York and was preseu
ted at the Bowsry Theatre last week. it prove,