Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-12-21


The following liz the Governors appropriate comnunl
cation ITO the Lcgislaurc relative the discharge, by
Judge Of New York Of the slave, Of jonathan Lennon OF
Virginia.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Dec. IL, 1852.
TO the General Assembly Of Iirginn.
CryrLeaEs aIc communication had the honor 10
address yuur body alluded recent decision OF ndse
in The State of New York. by which Jonathan LENNON
citizen Virginia. had been deprived OF his slaves s's
The record and that when received would communicate II
for such action your wisdom may dictate .
have recently received that record, ana here"ih sup
it Tor your consideration.
1t viii be seen that Lennon and his wife with eight
slaves 5conning her, emgrang from virginia 10
Texas On their passage they passed through the port OF
New York and there compelled by necessity 10
land with their slaves, without remaining or intending 10
necessary and with no Intention al any
time Of bringing their slaves into that State 10 remain VI
reside for any purpose whatever! except IN passing rom
Virginia Texas Being in transit .! on lheir passage
OF habea. corpus applied for by ihiri person
and issued b. o: the judges OF New ork, oy when
they compelled II sng their slaves before hn ana nc
the facts above stated declared the saves Tree an" SCI
them al liberty .
The record contains the judges opinion al length in
which nothing change the opinion heretofore eS,
pres sea Upon this SUBJECT II will be expected that
ahuud into legal Investigation OF MS reasoning ana
conc isiGn necessary n Order 10 secure Tor II io
yunr body that enlightened CONSIDERATION "hch Us mp9r
lance in conflict with The opinions and de-
csons distinguished Juris;s, without believe,
single precedent sustain H. In Importance, II Is OF me
frs, magnitude and in spirit, il IL without liz parallel II
sustained will only destroy that comfy which should
ever sub-i, between the several States composing his Con-
eerncy bu mus, seriously Affect value OF slave proper
" wherever found in the same
have received and herewith siblnita communication
from Henry D. Lafaugh Esq, OF me CITY 81 New ors
from which you will perceive that the proceedings which
place before Judge Paine have been removed BY ccrio
rar into the Supreme Court Of the State 10 be BY the court
reviewed
But am informed that BY the voluntary contributions OF
uonn good people OF that city, Lennon ana ms
wife have fully reimbursed the value oil thef slaves,
and have stipulated lha. case Judge PanGs decision Is
reversed tho slaves shall have their freedom This with
daws from those Immediately concerned all personal inte-
rest in the hcr prosecution Of the appeal But by no
the rights and of citizens at large deem the
sulev; u sufficient public Importance To require and receive
tho attention government OF this Commonwealth and
rcconn.n thar for present, provision shall be made BY
the General Assembly for efficient prosecution OF the ap-
peal already taken Of such other Judicial proceedings as
may oand necessary and proper for satisfactory atud
cation Of the important NJ. sl0ns Involved in This case.
cannot believe by the Supreme Court OF the
State %. New York dec will be sustained that II so
contrary to The spirit of all law opposed TO the establish.
I'd principle. which regulate Intercourse even between TO-
reign tons, much al war with the relations "hlcn
should subssl the sister States oil this union ana
think with the spirit not The letter OF the constitution
itself.
But If in this mistaken If the statute Of New York
has been ruhtiuy expounncd by the learned Judge and is
not in conflict with Tie constitution Of The United States II
is proper that Virginia should know H. The same sovereign
power by which New York her laws and gives EN-
force her limits pertains 10 Virginia within hers
and 10 them she wiIl then have look Tor redress,
yery respectfully JOSEPH JOHNSON.