Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-05-28
THE SNOWDEN CASE.

LETTER FROM GOVERNOR HuST.-Gov Hunt having heen
very justly censurcd by presses persons North and
South, for his action in pardonng Jas. p Snowden,
fugitive slave, just AZ the iinc his master had taken
measures 10 secure him. has addressed the following letter
10 Senator Morgan OF New York city, upon the subject
ALBANY, IAY 22 1852.
Dear Sir IL reply with pleasure to your inquiry in rea.
ton the pardon of Jas. P. Snowdcn co0r,d convict
The newspaper sutencne TO which you refer
in several impurtan: particulars
An application made few days before his tern
expired 10 pardon him upon the erounh OF his innocerce
was clearly established by the proofs presented me,
that he had been convicted of crime which he
mted de was sent 10 the Stale Prison for larceny
which never occurred Under these Circumstances,
sdrred his Imprisonment clear violation of law.
granted the pardou therefore, favor. hu, rs
right 1t was an exercise Of justice anj o.. mercy. In
my action upon this as upon all similar applications, in
tend be governed by the intrinsic merits OF the case II
was not known 10 me that he fugitive slave
AT the time of granting the pardcn had knowledge
or suspicion that SnoTdsn was the same efrrr to
in The letter 10 BY DR.. Allen ThOnTs Of Maryland In
deed il did not occur TO mind that had received such
letter until nv attention subsequently called the
This inadverance will not surprise you who KNOX
thing Of The immense pressure upon the Executive fur par
dons and of the hundreds Of applications constantly pend
ing before nc.
On referring to the letter Of Dr. Thomas, find ha, ii
contains expression nmaion Of design pursue
and recam Snowden as fugitive slave II was not for ne
ion i, is the rsi Instance that my know
Lodge where distant owner has attempted to gain possess
sion OF q slave who has been convicted nf felony.
When il has been satisfactorily shown that ar innocent
man Is confined in State prison have stopped
whether lie was black white baad free. To de-
tain him longer would be ugrant subresi1n Of law anG
Justice.
To you who know NC an certain that TO assurance is
needed satisfy you that incapable Of exercising my
office with view to deteat the execution OF Tho Fugitive
Slave Law any other law My explicit avowals in favor
of the Constitutional compromises and against further sec.
ionai collisions before the public Of my liability 20
in The exercise o the padonng power none Can be 80
fully conscious as myself.
When consider the labor and embarrassment which are
ins frninI
large State like ours il dooe surprise that
nierences should adopted in cases. by persons hav
ing imperfect knowledge of the facts governing action
Blu have learned 10 regard unjust censures and nJnnrs
with that calm composp!e and unconcern which
spring from conscious rectiluae Of purpose.
1'' WASHINGTON HUNT.
To The Hon EDwlS D. MORGAN, Senator.
THIS letter show: the hollow earcdncss Of the Abolition
sts who knowing that the negro innocent, allowed
him go Stale Prison, and rean there nearly two
years rather his MASTER when the evil
procured his pardon two days before The eElra
ton ohs sentence would have procured at any previous
date OF his imprisonment.
Bu this letter is fur from satisfying us that Gov. Hun
has done his duty and that there is net ckery be-
meath the surface After receiving Dr. Tho.nas letter no
tIyng him of his claim the slave, Gov Hunt should no
have liberated him, until the lawful claimant had rcccvct
notice of the intended paTon that he might have aker
loyal steps lis property The Petersburg lnteli
senccr Wing, says Of Gov. Hunt:
Believing this man to he an and A5o!,iDn;st wf
de2cc.tc his election The Executive chair al New York
and subsequent have confirmed the opinion which VI
originally entertained. The OF this slave, Snowden, i
full reply 10 the assertion Atey made by lr john 81
Bolts In his letter that tic Fugitive Slave Law will iu
few wears have fulfilled its work ard sanws the absolute
necessity Of obtaining from h= W!ig National Convention
distinct recognition OF il Statute which is not Ia be re
| rcacd or modified This Hunt is anti.Fi'u,on
Whig and Of course seercd 10 The lips in the rreacher
of SewadJstr Il is from like him that told L
take nomination for the Presidency and is for the sa
of men hike him that the of the Soutaye, the gene
rous and magnanmous Southis usked 10 sacrifice Mla;
Fillmore Will the South do II /, may, bu if il does
will commit The fcules, Of irgraIudc and treaccr
which sned the annals OF politics. blurred and bottc
| as they arc with records Of unprinciped conduct.