The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-03-16


did not, as am advised, consider this r..
fusal an evidence that the people or author
itise Of Iowa were nuwilline 30 perform
thoir cOnssitutional obligations, or 8 mat
terror sulicient importance 30 be the subject
Of AHpe0ial message TO the General AsssIA-l
bly, OF that State.
did not CAuse Coppoc to be arrested and
held until another requisition in proper form
GOULD have been sent TO me. The law of the
State provides the manner In which such
provisional arrest shall be made, (Oods, SEQ.
1884, and the remaining sections OF that
chapter). / called the attention of the agent
Of Virginia specially to this law, read it to
him and placed ii in his hands, and request
ed him TO advise with counsel in relation
thereto, and act upon that advice. For some
reason, doutless satisfactory TO himself, but
wholly unknown TO me, he did not, SO Tar as
have learned, act under the provisions OF
that law. III the Governor Of Virginia has
cause for complaint against any person on
this point, it is against his own agent, and
not me.
The Governor OF Virginia also complains
that the first Of my letters to him was pub
iished in the papers of this State before it
reached him. This 10 probably true. During
the afternoon Of the day Oh which the requi-
sition was presented to me, and after that
fact had become public, many inquiries ware
made OF me touching the matter, and great
desire expressed TO know my reasons for re-
fusing the warrant. 1t would have been USE
less and absurd in me to have affected score
cy in regard to the matter, when the agent
Of Virginia had himself made it public; and
answered inquiries by stating the facts, and
for my ,easons referred to my letter, copy
of which had kept. Some Of the gentle
men who read the letter, suggested that, as
the matter would probably excite some pub
lilo interest, it would be well to publish the
letter; and not being able to see how under
the circumstances, any possible injury could
result from its publication, allowed copies
to be taken for that purpose. It's to me
matter Of profound regret that The Govern
or of Virginia did not, in bis special message,
content himself with an examination of the
legality OF the documents sent by him to me
and of my official action thereon, without at
tempting 20 convert u question OF Official
power and duty into question OF personal
motives. Not satisfying himself, apparent
ly, that he had q good cause OF complaint
against me upon the law or facts OF the case,
be repeats some hearsay, some suspicions of
from nv inaugural address, and from all
these attempts to justify his insinuations of
my sympathy with the crimes committed in
Virginia, and Of my desire, perhaps efforts,
for the escape of this alleged fugitive.
repel all suggestions coming from him or
from others, with the scoxn they deserve
and would not diguify them by any notice,
were it not for this consideration Right
minded men in other States may we'll sup
pose that the chief magistrate OF Virginia
could not make charges so grossly viola,ive
of the courtesy due by him 10 the chief mag
istrate of q sister State, unless he knew
the charges to be sustained by the facts, and
might construe my silence into admission OF
their truth.
The fact that the agent of Virginia was
here, with q requisitisn for Coppoc, became
publicly known in this place, solely through
the acts of that agent himself. denied
myself what greatly desired, the privilege
OF consultation with gentlemen in whose
opinions had confidence, touching the le-
gality of the papers submitted to me, les,
The matter might thereby, through inadver-
lance, become known. After had commu-
nicated to him my determination not to grans
the warrant demanded, be sat in my Office
conversing freely with me on the subject
During our conversation, other persons came
in on business with me, and to my surprise
be continued the conversation in their pres J.
ence. | said to him, that had supposed BIZ
did not wish his business made public: tc
| which be repIed that as the warrant had
been refused, he did not care who knew biz
business, and continued the conversation
La this manner the fact that arequisition had
been made for Coppoc became known in
this place and am credibly informed thai
IL was we'll known in Iowa City to many per.
sons there, that the agent OF Virginia wal
On his way TO this place with such requisi
ton, before be reached here.
The insinuaton that had anything to do
directly or indirectly, with sending informa
ton to Coppoc, that reqnisiton had beer
made for him, is simply and unqualifedly I'M
true; nor have | any means of knowing
whether such information was sent by others
or if 80, by whom sent, other than that com
mon to all persons then at tho Capital-com
mon rumor.
Were disposed to follow the course pur
sued by the Governor of Virginia, nigh
perhaps find in this matter sufficient to JUST
fy the conclusion, that he has been through
out more anxious to lay foundation 10
complaint against Iowa, for the purpose o
inaaming sectional prejudice, than to pro
cure the return Of Ooppoc to Virginia. TIL
facts that the papers transmitted ars 8,
grossly defective; that the agent sent wit
them was 80 careless to keep secret his mis-
sion that when his demand for q warran
was refused on the ground that his paper
were insufficient, bio failed to make uso
! the law pointed ont 20 him for the provision
!, al arrest Of the alleged fugitive until nev
papers could be procured; and that tn
Governor OF Virginia, without answerin,
my letter, or asking any explanations, ha
seen fit TO promulgate his extraordinar
special message, might justify that conclu
sion to those who are astute to discover
ane deem it consistent with fair dealing /
. impute bad motives for all acts done b
others, and the same process Of reasonin
might lead me to conclude that his declara