The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-03-07
More Violations Of the Constitution
and of State Comfy.

In speech at Capon Springs, Va, June,
1851, Mr. Webster enunciated this doc
trine:
If the Northern States refuse, wilfully and
deliberately, to carry into effect that part OF
the Constitution which respects the restora-
| ton of fugitive slaves, the South aoould no
| LONGER be bound to observe the compact A
BARGAIN BROKEN ON ONE SIDE Is
BROKEN ON ALL SIDES.
In connection with the foregoing distinct
enunciation of great principle, by Daniel
Webster,we beg the reader to give his attention
to the following recital Of indisputable facts,
from the Boston Post, showing how the
Northern States have broken the bargain "
upon which the confederacy was formed:
"Msny of the Northern States have put
acts on their statute books to resist and nulify
the provision of the Constitution for the de-
liyering up of fugitive slaves to their masters.
| The Legislature of Massachusetts is listening
to disunionists and fanatics preparatory to
passing law on their petition " to prevent
slave-hunting in Massachusetts" Wisconsin,
by its lawless judges, has extricated criminals
from punishment and fines under the sentence
Of the United States Courts, and resisted the
Supreme Court of the Union in its lawful re-
QUESTION for copies of records required in a
writ of error. The Governor Of Iowa, Mr..
Kirkwood, has taken a stride beyond them
all, and refused to deliver up fugitive from
l'justice on the requisition of the Governor of
Virginia so that, under Republican rule, the
States of the North, under oath to obey the
Constitution and laws Of the Union, are now
stained with the stigma of the double-bad faith
of multiplying the Constitution, both in refusing
deliver up sgitive slaves and fugitive crirni-
nails.
The Iowa Governor stands in very false
position, and in open violation of law, consti-
tuition and good faith. Gov. Letcher of Vir-
ginia, made q requisition upon Gov. kirkwood,
of Iowa, for Barclay Coppie, fugitive from
justice, who had Joined in the murders at
Harper's Ferry. The Iowa Governor has
refused the requisition, and shelters murderer
and gives his reasons for it. They are very
shallow. First, he says that the affidavit at
tached to the requisition has not notorial seal
But he knew it had a scroll, and he did know,
or ought to have known, that by the laws Of
Virginia scroll is a seal, and, moreover, he
had the great seal of the State of Virginia to
show that the notary was proper officer and
the papers authentic.
His second reason is, that the affidavit
should be made before magistrate, and no.
tary is not magistrate His ignorance, if it
be SUCH on this point, is very gross; for al
though the act Of 1913, which provides for
the delivery of fugitive criminals, says the
affidavit should be made before a magistrate a
subsequent law of Congress of 1850, makes a
notary q magistrate, the same as Justice OIL
Peace, to administer oaths
Governor Kirkwood has resorted to a
pitiful and groundless substitute to evade the
performance of a duty he owes by his OATH tc
the Constitution of the United States and
Governor Letcher, in manly and temperate
message to the Virginia Legislature, has ex,
posed the duplicity, ignorance and lawless
evasion of the Abolition Governor
"When shall We have a return in the North
to honesty and fair dealing in her relations to
the States of the South in this Union 2"