Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-12-30


The fehowiag 4 she Govesncr's commnnicssion
70 he Isgislatufs) salive e he discharge s.
Jaase q New York, II The slaves Of Jonaihan
L.smasa q vifginiA
Exeerftrs DFrAsTNESrs nse. Il. 1859
Tktlc GstacFst dSseiRttg II Frgisie
GEStIssfzx s-in 4 tale canlm IL icalian had
tie honor 70 address ycur body, 4 aslnded to re-
cent decision q Judge ia the Stale Of New York
hy whEh jonathan ErmuDn, cilizen o. yifginf ii
bal eeen depFssed a hsS slaves stated thai steps
Dad been e ken g proeure al oEigial coh1 &c the
record. aHdsAst when feceired would eonnInnhl S
cafe i ior such 2etlgn IS yenr wisdom may die
late
h1ve recently received lhat record, ana here
win sabloit i for yout consideration.
twill te seen that Isesnrnon ii 4 his vile. with
eight slaves bslenging ID her. were eigysing from
Rlsginia 10 Texas. On their passage ihey passed
through the port Of New York. aud we're thsre
compelled hy necessisy d land With their slaves
wilhont rtmaiaing or Intending 10 remain lor ssr
than accessory, aad with no iateHtion al any time
81 bringing their slaves into thai State 10 remain
q reside, FOR inr any purpose Whatever, exeepl ia
passing rpm Yirgiaiaso Ferns. Being s. ID iran.
sit Or on their passage. wlitof ka5eas e6rpns was
applied Tor third person. and ssHed by enc Of The
Judges Of New 4 ogE, bY WHICH they were compel.
ed 10 bfia< ihkfr slaves before him. and he N The
facts ADORE stated declared the slaves free aad sci
thsm al liberty.
The reeprd contains The judges opinion at length
ioiore expressed upon This subject. Ii viii not be
ex pecea thar should enter iatn legal inyeSlisa-
tien 81 bis reasoning and conclusion nor is III ne
.sssarY il order 10 secare for II IRON your body
that slsis nd siaeTaslcn which lis importance
demands. II IS ii cenaict with the opinions and
decisions DC otkeF dissiagaiSsSa lurists, without,
believe single precedent 70 susssin Il Ii .'noT.
lance, scf the first magnitude and ii spiri IS
without It's parallel. Ii sustained, it will not onlg
destroy that e nisy which should ever subsiSt be-
tween The several States COMPOSING this CoHisde-
racy but must seriously affect the value of slave
property wherever found in the same
have also received and herewith submit CON-
mHuicaioH from Henry D. Lapaugh Esq. OF the
city ol New York from which You Will perceiYe
that the proceedings which took place before Judge
Paine, have been removed BY eertierlri into The
Supreme C9uFt Of The State, 10 he By The court re-
viewed.
But am Informed that By the voluntary contri-
buttons 81 portion oft good people Of that city
Lennon and his wife have been fully reimbursed
the value on their slaves, and have stipulated that
ia case Judge Paine's decision is reversed the
slaves shall have their freedom. This wilhdraws
from those Immediately concerned all personal in
terest in The further prosecution Of The appeal
Bat il hi no means ditninishes the extent 10 which
the decision affects The rights and Interests Of cur
citizens at large. deem the subject Of sufficient
public Importance 10 TgQare and receive The aticn-
lion oftae government OF this Common wealth and
recommend thar for the present provision shallbe
made ny Tue GeneFal Assembly for The efficient
prosecution oflhe APPEAL already taken and Of snch
Other iaiieial proceedings as may be found neces
sary aud proper for satisfactory adjudication Of
The important questions involved in this case.
caanol believe, that even rs the Supreme Court
of1he Stale Of New York, decision will be sus-
taed that Is contrary The Spifit Of all law 50
opposed 10 the established principles which regG-
late iuteTcQRIse even. belwe n f1eigI nations so
much at wsr,-wila the relations. which should sub
'sist between the sister States oflhis Union and as
think, with Tie spirit II not the letter Of the
sitillion itself
Batifiathfs an mistaken, il tha statute Of New
York IA, becn-righjtulIy ezponn,ed BY the learned
iadge and is not in conflict with the constitution
Of The Uaited STATES, ii Is proper thai Virginia
should knew il. The same sovereign power hy
which New York euatis Agr laws and gives them
force within her hmi S! peTains TO Virginia within
hers; and 10 them she Viii then have 10 look for
ssdfcss. Very respcc fully.
JOSEPH JOHNSON.