The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-21

Of the law" however. proceeded to Columbus.
and recommended T. M. Key, Ess. TO the swing
tin-paa," not a better, or as good lawyer as
Mr.. Walker, but a more jealous and ardent
whig. The tln'pan caucus decided on his cleo
ton, and on the same day confirmed II by vote
IN the Legislature. And as an evidence OF their
haste TO carry out the edict OF their midnight
caucus, tits said that they elected the Judge be-
fore the bill lad become law, by the signatures
Such partisa action is, however, making
Taylor friends by scores. The people see daily
evidences of some action necessary,on their part,
10 break down the partisan spirit of the day
The " repeal of the black laws" is phrase
one he airs much about In Ohio. 1t refers to GER
tam provisions In regard to negroes and mulat-
foes, rendering them liable to give security for
their maintenance !; prohibiting intermarrage
with whites; and debarring them from giving
testimony when either party to the case is a
white person In many Of the counties, the cleo
these laws. The wings in the Western Reserve
districts have only been able to remain IN the
ascepdancy by espousing this as a part of whlg
policy; policy But. although by this profession made
being elected, and thus secure a whig majority
In the Legislature, for all other purposes, they
never could succeed In getting the votes OF the
wings OF southern Ohio to repeal these laws. 1t
was thought, however, that lnasmuch as Gov.
Bebb declared himself in favor of the repeal, be-
fore his election, and has SO recommended IN
his message, that now, the present wing malo-
rty would act together on this subject. The
test was made few days since. 1t was lost,
many of the wings voting against the repeal
This result will cause considerable excitement
throughout the State, and will have bearing
on the election campaign just opening. The
democrats are tanning the embers thus spread in
the whig ranks, no doubt with design to draw
out an expression from Gen. Ford, the wing can
dldate Tor governor.
The Columbus correspondent of the Cleveland
Herald, (whigl speaking of the dereliction OF
duty of some OF the wings, says
There Is one vote wish to call your attention to par
tculsry and that the vote Of Joseph s. Hawkins the
Speaker OF tho House. He here several days before
the commencement of the session, and very anxious
candidate for the ONCE he holds Our Reserve and
Eastern Ohio folks matter Of COURSE al other things
being equal preferred who in favor Of the
tain the position Of the candidates that sub
ject. Mr. Hawkins assured them, unequivocslly, that
understanding he received the votes Of the mon Of
Ro, ;. and Eastern Ohio But he
lation of his word A. gentlemsnn
The feeling exhibited here will tend to show
the reader how greatly the whig party may be
affected on this question IN Ohio.
Ohio Is likely to have boundary war; with
Virginia, as she had with Michigan a few years
elnce, when she had actually large military
force en- route to the scene of action, and blood
sshed was only prevented by a timely accession to
her claims: The controversy with Virginia arises
from a difference of construction Gas did that
with Michigan) of the language OF the deed OF
cesslon Of the N. w. Territory. and the ordi-
nance and acts connected Herewith. This ques-
tlon first rose about two years since, when some
Virginia officers arrested two citizens of Ohio on
the beach of the river, on the OHIO side, or west
bank, and held them for trial under the laws of
Virginia, for enticing and harboring negro slaves
In the trial of these men, in whose behalf the
State of Ohio had employed the Hon. S. F. Vim.
ton, Virginia claimed jurisdiction, not only over
the ground wherethese men had been arrested,
but to "high water mark on the Ohio, or west,
shore of the river. The defence Con the part Of
Ohlo) contended for mid channel jurisdiction"
How the point was decided by that court, l have
since been brought to the notice of the legisla-
lures OF the two States, and by correspondence
between the Governors joint commission was
agreed on.
Accordingly. the Hon. Thomas Ewing, John
Brough, Esq. (of the Cincinnati Enquirer) and
the Hon Jasmes Collier, as commissioners on the
part OF Ohio; met the Hon. VIM. G. Rives, VIM.
Green, Esq, and G. w. Thompson, Esq, as COM
mlssioners on the part of Virginia, on the 10th
Ian. last, at Washington, and continued in con-
ference until the 18th, without having effected
The report of the Ohio Board made to the Lee
gislature has, to-day, been published in the city
paper, and has been the chief topic of remark in
every circle There exists an excitement on the
subject bordering on indignation Every Ohioan
seems to regard the pretenslons of Virginia as
so absurd that if it were not for the previous
good character of the "Old Dominion they
would be disposed TO treat them with as much
contempt as we Americans did the Mexicans as
nation, before we tried to traverse their do
main and conquer their phGnlx-like army, and
treat with their indla-rubber government
The Vlrginlans, however, had better have a
care how they crowd themselves upon the Buck
eye freemen. This attempt to extend slave-juris-
dlctlon over the narrow strip of soil between low
and high water mark, on the west side of the
Ohio river, may waken up controversy, COM
pared to which the s'Wilmot provso'' and the
annexation of Mexico" are not to be named.
The Ohio commissioners say "The Virginia
board OF commissioners insisted on such a con-
structlon being put upon the ordinance of Con-
gress, of July 18th, l7s7, and the act OF Virginia.
of Dec. Is, 17S9,-and so to be incorporated in
the present compact--as would afford absolute
protection to the right OF persons and property
of citizens of Virginia, they exist in Virginia,
while floating upon the river any where within
its banks, and while moored by or attached to
either shore"
This, III FIVE admit that the ''bank'' and ''shore'
Of river always is at the waters edge, would
have extended slave jurisdiction into alarge por-
ton OF the tenements of this city, In December
last, during the high water. We have heard
much In the West, about an expanding and con-
tracing currency" but have now, for the first
Time, been threatened with an expanding" and
" contracting" State territory
This is a subject, too, which political aspirants
may regard with interest for 1t may assume
such an Importance, and become so far involved
immense influence, one way or another, upon
the election OF AS, and 10 decide the throw OF
the electoral vote of Ohio, and, perhaps, also, OF
virginia! WESTERN SCRIBE.
FRANKFORT, Feb. 10, 1913.
Dotngs IN the Observation-Disclosures National
and SiGfen POlifics-Clou and TnuJo, S.r Gr