The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-10-14
THE LENNON SLAVE CASE IN NEW YORK.

THE LENNON SLAVE CASE IN NEW YORK
Some fve years since Mr.. Lennon, of Virginia,
started for Texas taking with him his wife and eight
slaves, going first to New York, proposing to
go thence by water He was compelled to wait a
few days in that city for steamer, during which
time habeas corpus sued out at the instance not
of the slaves but intermeddler, and they were
taken before Judge Payne of the supreme court and
by him discharged from the custody and control of
Mr.. Lennon, and then they were sent to Canada Be-
ing deprived of his property instead of proceeding
to Texas, he returned. The State of Virginia has
assumed the prosecution of his appeal from the de-
cision Of the judge, claiming that Mr.. Lennon had
right to take his slaves through that State in travel
ling from one part of the Union to another he not
stopping there to reside; and New York has taken
charge of the other side. The action of the two
States has given the unusual importance, and
an attempt is being made to give the question, al
though it is purely legal one, involving rights and
duties under the federal constitution, political as
pect. 1t certainly is question of very high i'm
portance, and ought TO be left to BIO decided upon
the points legtimatey involved without being in the
least influenced by those Of extraneous character
But the effort of the abotionsts to be to give
it a party aspect and direction, in which we trust
they will be effectually disappointed.
ANNUAL MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR OF TEN
NESSEE
We have before us the message Of Gov. johnson
which was transmitted to tho legislature Of Tonnes
see on the 9th inst. It'll long and ably-wrtten
document and contains many recommendations
which, at this particular crisis in the financial affairs
of the country, could be acted upon with signal adj
vantage to the public interests in nearly every State
of the Union In regard to the financial condition of
Tennessee the governor says:
at will be perceived from the tabular statement that
the actual Indebtedness and liabilities of the State for in
ternal improvement companies and the agricultural bu
reau will make the State liable for the sum of twelve
million eight hundred and sixtysix thousand eight hun
bred and ty-six dollars and sxtysix cents (S12 $780,,
$50 6G) up this time And ii all the internal improve
ent companies apply the aid of the State which have
been authorized to do by the various acts Of assembly
which have been passed to encourage works of internal
improvements it will swell the State debt up to not less
than twenty millions of dollars, (s20, O0O,000.")
The governor is no friend, as will be seen from
the following extract, of partial legislation
ing or overlooking the interests Of the industrial
classes and favoring and protecting corporations
The legislature with great berality has aided other
important interests of the State, such railroads and
agriculture. Will it not therefore extend similar aid to
manufacturers and mechanics and in doing place these
great interests equal footing with the other indus
trial pursuits of the country and thereby exonete the
legislature omthc charge Of invdios and partial lcgs
lationf Tyou tgisate for one lgiaIats for The 'ehoh
In these bank-note, bankrupt days. when the paper
currency makers have such suspicious control over
the action of too many of governors and legisa
lures it is indeed refreshing to observe the honest
fearless and democratic position which Governor
Johnson has taken. We make the following extracts
from that portion of his message which relates to
the banks:
sIf banks are to be continued for the purpose of ma
king and issuing paper circulation it would be but Just
and fair to give to each commercial division the control
of its banking accommodations, and all the circula
ton issued by banks in each of these commercial divs
ions should be ade recemablo at the counter of the
bank where issued and at the principal commercial point
in each division For instance, to suppose East Tennes
see constitute division let all the circulating
dunn issued by tho banks in that division be made
deemabe the counter of the bank where issued and
at whatever point may be deemed the most commercial
point in that division. And so with the middle and
western divisions Of the State requiring each of
those principal commercial points to make arrangements
with the other two for the redemption of their paper cir
culation whenever II passed beyond the commercial
boundary in which it issued. An arrangement by
the banks upon principal OF this kind, would exert
powerful and salutary influence in making the bank pa
per uniform In value and quantity when thrown into cir
cuaton by each Of the commercial divisions and at the
time leave each to determine the wants and
sites in regard to banking accommodations In each
mercial division.
al have stated that the circulation of banks in this
State the LIST Of January, 1857, eight million dol
lars. will add that the entire amount of specie
in all the banks, great and small with which this eight
millions Of bank paper TO be redeemed, in round
numbers, was two million dollars. The bare statement
OF this fact must be conclusive TO all minds which ia
pl with the operations of banks that eight millions Of