Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-11-13
OHIO AND VIRGINIA.


OHIO AND VIRGINIA.
We have received copy Of Mr.. Pauon's open
ing argument in the case Of the Commonwealth
rs. Gardner, &C., on the Boundary between Ohio
and Virginia, delivered at The December term OF
The General Court in 1915. II is a neat pamph-
let, from The press Of Mcssrs. Shepherd & Colin,
Of this city.
MIR. Patton argues the question Of The bounda-
ry al great length and with great ability. We
advise our lesalriends 10 seeka copy ofhis pub
lcaton The first general question which he
makes, is The lille oil Virginia originally 10 The
Northwestern territory, disputed by Mr.. Vinon,
on The part OF Ohio. Alter arguing il upon The
legal merits, he concludes with the following APP
peal in beha Iiof the Old Dominion:
After all this evidence Of chartered riehi-of
continued claim Tor two hundred years-ol ac
tual occupalon-and enforcement Of right BY
arms-ot recognition OF thai RICH, b. the Crown
by The Government Of the United States, and by
their judicial authorities, submit il is rather too
late in the day 10 make succrssiu! assault upon
The lille II vireiaia-or even 10 impair The
credit which has generally been conceded 10 her
Tor the generosity ot her cession oil his vast Ter
r,ory.
nave said nohirg Of the magnidcence of the
grant; II is perhap' not in siricI accordance
with good taste To vaun! the munihcence OF ones
own Stale Virginia made this sacrifice, iurlhe
purpose o appeasing the jealouses OF the small
Ter States Of he then feeble and distracted Conede
racy-who feared The dsrropor;oned wealth and
power which the dom;aion OF lnis territory would
confer on Virginia. These ealousicS were So
openy, grossly and ndccenty exhibited, as 10 ex-
tort from Mr. Madison an expression OF more
acerbity Than was apt TO be used by that states
man, 80 remarkable for that rare virtue OF po-
lu,cian moderation. IAN Agrarian law" said
he. in one OF his letters, sis as much coveted b.
The little members ot the Union, as ever il was
by the INDECENT ciliZ.ns OF RomcW Il was 10 ap.
paase hose jealon.i's--'o preserve harmony IN
he Unicn-and y build up aew and independent
States, that Virginia made this :5efal sacrifice Of
wealth and power She now does no: contemplate
!: in any graigiag spirit, but with he conscious
hcnefcence ii creative power, she looks upon
her work, ard sccs that ii Is good. And we may,
| trust. without AM censu.ab!e vaia-2orinus-
ness, call 10 mind The ns! and eloquent uibu,c,
watch in VIZ" o. this gan, an! the high and
elevated motives which prompted il, was paid 10
Virginia by one 81 the most e!nquca, and dis.
,incIi>hed sons ci the Wes,. when he said u h..
nat she was The mother of STATES, making them
equal WIKI herself, preirring liberty 10 power
Ar. al.er he lapse Of more than sixty years
since this grant was made-aci the title OF Viz
.inia has been recognized by Tic Federal Govern
ment in all its departments nov that Inc terri
tory TN. coded constitutes more than tour tiihs o
hIec of the largest and most powerful States oi
the Union, erected out ui il in pursuance ot con-
dions imposed b. Virginia, il does seem liule
unsracious, and my honorable and Distinguished
friend who represents Ohio here. mas! pardon
me- he reflection, that ofihosc States should hc
seeking 10 rennrnce The parentfrom whose bosom
she sprung and 10 disparage the title under,
through and by which she derived the rich inhc-
rilance she enjoys.
We cannot but be reminded somewhat pain
folly of the condi,ion OF poor Oh Lear in lie
PLAY, who Invested himself OF power and domi-
Mon. and endowed his children
"Of all these bounds even from this line To this
With shadowy forests. and with ciampains richd,
With pIentenus rivers and wido-ssiitrd mrad-."
"Whose frank heart gave ALL" keeping no other
reservation bit TO be followed by trivial re-
linue, az the mere symbol and token of former
power and authority, and was stripped by his
nneraeiu daughters of even this remnant and
shadow Of sovereignty, turned forth
$40 hide the pelling II the pcss Storm"
and in The bitterness Of his indignant woe, made
10 eel
"fInw sharper than Serpents tooth II is
To have 4 thaHkl-ss cIild.''
And ifthis Cunrr should happen 10 be rash and
imprudenl enough 10 maintain The jurisdiction Of
Virginia in this behalf and ihus provoke he
threatened vengeance OF Oho-if this good Old
Commonwealth the blessed mother Of Us all
is destined 10 sink under blows inflicted by the
s'awart arms 81 this Young Giant of The
%c.,'--shc will only ictl an added pang like
that ol The roval bird, which when Stricken from
her "pfide d; place." saw that The dea,h-sha
which quivcred in her bIcas, YEAS
"Fratletd from her own wing"
Mr. Patton mex proceeds to inquire how much
Of the territory Virginia gave up; and thirdly,
Il. discusses the question connected with The J1-
risdicion over tie waters of The Ohio river.
The following is The conclusion Of his argu-
men;:
have may i Please tie Courl, said all that
have 10 say in he argumen; oil this great case, Tor
great il is in The interests il involves, and in The
principles il presents Tor adjudication. As TO those
unhappy men, whose punishment or discharge
depends on its decision, feel bul lilc interest in
their fate As they have attempted and pefpetra-
ted giicvous wrong on their peaceable and IN
Offending neighbor Of Virginia, can have no
sympathy Tor any suffering they may have eS
posed themselves To. As believe them to be
misguided Fanatics, pity their delusion.
cannot but fear thai these Aboiitionis;s may
have been in some measure misled to think they
we're engaged in ia labor OF love, and doing
Gods service" by those among ourselves-oi
whom | fear there are loo many, especially
among our public men-Mho seek occasions 10
proclaim that they think that slavery is great
moral, social and political evil and that they,
IL aIerr NJ
AS 4 Southern man, il thought (Which do
nol) The institution Of slavery as il exists here,
moral, social and political evil, would mol say
so norr. when Il systematic warfare is wasins
against that institution "a warfare which IS dis
nihing The security OF our property destroying
the ha rmony Of or people, and endangering the
stability OF our Union.
As 10 slavery in the abstract" have no
quarrel with any sody about that, except that do
not understand II any more Than d. pain n ne
oJstroci, or hunger IN the abstr0ci. OF ell posi-
bic abs,lactioas, IL is the most harmless. Aud II
these good oiiizcns Of Ohio will exercise their
benevolent prorcnsiiics in making war upon
slavery in he abstract, and only abstain rom G5-
sirac,ins our Slaves ! hope they may be INDUCED
10 their hearts coneni--ce: lain.y they VIII not
run any risk Of getting inio our PeniIenary.
And now if this Court after all We have said,
or can say, shall still decide that these men were
no, in the jurisdiction OF Virginia, and must 60
"unwhipped of justice" be il So. Virginia will
acquicsce in the judsmen, OF this high Court
with most respectful submission.
II on the other misunderstanding all that
may be said by the able and eloquent counsel for
Ohio--,h, Court shall adintge thsm guilty, and
The Governor OF Ohio shall still pronounce, with
al! The alarming and porsnions emphasis OF
italics that they axe Hesaayimpf's"ned, ard must
be discharged, our answer is rea!y-'iet him
come and rake lhcm."
When he appeals to our justice, his appeal will
be patiently and respectfully heard. When he
relies on the dignity and impartiality Of our iri-
hunals, 10 give lair hearing, and render can
did and dispassionale judgment, ne will assured
" moi be disappointed. But when he blows the
hiasl Of war into our ears, we will tell him with