Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1844-12-19

geo OF susPecteo o. any cf1es ore oea1eo ana I'M
prsOned, upon srriving in her borders. and kept in
Jail until their vessel is ready to SAIL and are then
liberated only on payment Of costs. Massachusetts,
having determined to test, peaeeGbly and legally,
the constitutionality Of this law, appointed Hon.
SAMUEL HoAR, an eminent lawyer Of Concord,
Mass, an agent Ofthe State, to reside in Charles.
town. Mr. HOar accepted the appoiAtment, and tie
next day after his arrival in Charlestown commu-
nicated to the Governor Of South Carolina, the OBJ
ect his agency, Wis to collect accurate informa
ton respecting the number and names Of the citi
zens OF Massachusetts,, who mag have been or shall
be, imprisoned under the law of South Carolina
above referred to. and to bring suits, in behalf Of
such citizens, at the expense Of Massachusetts,, in
the Supreme Court Of the United States, for the
purpose Of having the legality of such iuiprison-
ment tried and decided He remarks that propri-
ETY. dictates that he should thus communicate his
object to the Governor. e;f
Upon the receipt Of this communication on the
Goth Of November. Gov. Hammond sent message
to the Legislature, now in session, transmitting
with it the letter of the Massachusetts, AGENT
The subject was referred to the committee on Fed
eTal relations, who subsequently, reported as fol-
lows: .. r.r -.. t-- .,af-a % s,
Report of the Committee onFederal Relations upon
the communication Of the Governor transmitting
aletter from Samuel Hoar, an agent from the
State If Massachusetts,.
The Committee on Federal Relations to whom
was referred the communication Of His Excellency
the Governor, transmitting letter addressed to
him by SAMUEL Hoar, an agent Of the State OF Mas
sachusetts for certain purposes submitted the fol-
lowing report: T.. r--...- ~.
BY an act passed on the 10th day Of December,
1885, the General Assembly endeavored to guard
against the introduction of free negroes and persons
Of color in this State upon principles Of public poll
ley affecting her safety and her most vital interests
The right Of excluding from her Territories con-
spirators against the public peace. and disaected
persons whose presence may be dangerous to her
safety, 10 essential to every government. 1t is
ry where exercised by Independent States, and
there is nothing in the Constitution of the United
States which forbds to South Carolina the right.
relieves this legislature Of the duty Of providing
for the public safety.
Massachusetts, has seen fit to contest this right,
and has sent an agent to reside in the midst Of u.s.
whose avowed object is to defeat polite regula-
ton essential to our peace This agent comes
here, not as citizen Of the United States, but az
the emissary Of foreign government, hostile to
our domestic institutions, and with the sole pur
pose of subverting our internal policy. Weshould
be insensible to every dictate Of prudence, if we
shut our eyes to the consequences Of this interfer
ence with our domestic concerns.
The union Of these States was formed for the
purpose, among other things, Of ensuring domestic
tranquility and providing for the common defence
and in consideration thereof this State yielded the
right to keep troops or ships Of war in time Of
peace, without the consent of Congress, but while
thus consenting to be disaImed, she has in part
of the constitutional compact surrendered her right
Of internal government and police, and the con-
Al -
delegated to the United States, nor prohibited by it
| to the States.
The State of Massachusetts, denOminates as citi.
zens those PERSONS for whose protection, her tender
solicitude has devised this extraordinary missions
Yet i i were admitted that they are citizens Of
she will challenge for them greater rights, immu-
mites and privileges within our territories than
are enjoyed BY persons Of the same class in South
Carolina.
Bat your Committee deny that they are citizens
within the meaning of the constitution, nor did
Massachusetts, herself treat citizens persons Of
this class residing within her limits either at the
adoption of the Constitution or since; but on the
contrary they were subjected to various disabilities
from which her other inhabitants were exempt
Your Committee cannot but regard this extraor
binary movement as part of deliberate and con-
certed scheme to subvert the domestic institutions
Of the Southern States, plain violation Of the terms
of the national compact. and Of the good faith
which ought to subsist between the parties thereto
and to which they stand solemnly pledged.
Your Committee recommend the adoption Of the
following resolutions.
ResolUed, That the right to exclude from their
territories sedtious persons or others, whose pres.
ence may be dangerous to their peace is essential
to every independent State
Iesoived, That free Negroes and persons Of color
are not citizens Of the United States within she
meaning of the constitution, which confers upon
the citizens of one State the privileges and imMu-
mites of citizens in the several States.
Res0ioed, That the emissary sent by the State OF
Massachusetts, to the State of South Carolina, with
the avowed purpose Of interfering with her insitu
tons and disturbing her peace. 10 to be regarded in
the character he has assumed and to be treated
cordingly. a .1ag-.4.{ ..-
Resoised, That his Excellency the Governor. be
requested to expel from our Territory the said
Agent after due notice to depart, and that the Leg
! islatuse will sustain the Executive Authority in
any measures it may adopt for the purpose aforesaid
Dec 4th, 1884. Chairman.
The foregoing report and resolutions were this
day agreed to BY the Hoise Of Representatives and
were concurred in BY the Senate; ,..n-r,, -sl
Dec. Sth, 1874. Clerk Of the Senate
The Charleston Patriot in commenting ON the
above says:-"
"The Legislature have, we think, acted wisely
by promptly directing the forcible removal, il me-
cessary, Of the Envoy Of Massachusetts,, Mr.. Hoar.
Promptitude in such case Is wisdom. rt,
tude of foreign and hostile Power, is entitled not
even to the observances Of National comfy, much
less to the courtesy due from one Confederate State
IA SnoAher in THAR nolfical intercourse The ar.