Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1852-05-25
GOVERNOR IonNsoN. AEssAeE.

49, EEs@.. - - ne EGs=F9 sHssEl4GE Ez&
The following message from Governor joss
SON was received bt thu House d Delegates ON
Friday. We are gtatifed TO know (Says The
Richmond Enquiror1 that il has been received
with general favor as removing the objections
which were urged against bis preceding mes
sage, communicating his reasons for committing.
the punishment Of Inrdan Hatcher. Tie views
OF Governor Johnson in that message, it will
be observed, were entirely misappfehenasd,
and we shall now see, if The Wing prees, who'll
has heaped The viles& epilhets uPpn Cos. j., viii
now have The magn3uimity and 1ense Of justice
10 make the amenae Sonorabie, alter perpsing the
present documents
ExgsUTIvE DEPAnTMErT,
May 10, 1852,
To The General Assembly Of .Yirgnia:
In the discharges my Constitutional duty. ]
had the honor 10 communicate ts your, body On
the llth inst, thefreasoDs for tie contmutation
of the sentence oflta. slave, Jordan Hatcher. ]
learn that the terruS in whichIhose reasons were
expressed have been misconstrued, and my yies9s
upon the delicate relations existing betweenInas-
Ter and slayei misa p3rehended. Upon this grave
subject l cannot Ee5InIt a ooupt 10 ne Ielt OF tne
views OF the Executive.
never ehterta fnEd the opinion, nor did ] in
tend TO intimate, Shat the slave would, under any
circumstances, be excused or justified IN resist
ing the Iega authority OF his master. The right
OF the master or his agent to punish the slave,
whenever in his opiaion he deserves ii, 10 aJegal
right-resuits from the nature ofthe property
itself. and is necessary for wholesome discipline
and restraint. J. IL founded on the soundest
principles Of public policy, and our Courts have
held that the Owner;Ofa slave cannot be indicted
for the cruel or excessive whipping of his o"n
slave, If the master abuses thIa high power, SO
far as to commit crime, he is responsible to the
laws OF the land alone-the slave has no rights
adverse to those of the master OF agent 10 whom
he has delegated his authority.
With these views long entertained, it is al
most unnecessary - say that ia my late mes
sage, l did not intrnl 10 convey the idea that the
relative ~positions OF the white citizen and The
slave, to the laws of3the country. were the same,
or that the exercise by the master, or his agent,
OF the ample power of chastisemfn given by The
law, furnishes any CXCusable or justliiable rea-
son for resistance or an exhibition oil resentment
upon the part OF the, slave.
Our laws wisely discriminate between The
punishment of white men and slaves for similar
offences, and, in my interpcsitiot'in behalf ofthe
slave. Jordan Hutciier, | did not intend 10 ex.
press the convictions of my mind that a slave
should not suffer death for Offences below the
Grade of murder. In most instances il is proper,
in the execution Of the laws. Upon an exarni-
nation of the record 81 Jordan H&tcher's trial and
conviction, l came 20 the conclusion that il pre-.
scented a case for The interference of the ExeCu.
tive and committed the punishment 10 the oUly
substitute for the death penalty provided by the
law. In stating my reasons, if | have failed to
do so, in clear and distinct terms, it has resulted
rather from n want of familiarity with the techni
~ca1ities of the law, than from any disposition tG
misinterpret them. I have the honor 10 be, very
respectfully, JOS. JOt1NSON.