Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-02-01

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magnanmity and to his hopes of future political promo
ton presenting motives for his Intervention in behalf
OF the convicted feons Another class land among these
were letters from Of national repuaton) besought
him to pardon them the ground Of public policy The
writer's professed to be thoroughly informed Us TO the
condition of public sentiment in the North, and repre-
sened it favorable the pardon or cOmmuation
of punishment OF the prisoners render it highly
pedient if not necessary to nerpose the executive pre-
rogative of mercy, TO cOnciate this morbid popular
opinion in the North.
The testimony before the committee amply vndicates
the conduct of the executive in assembling strong
military force at the OF excitement and the
promptness and energy with which he discharged his
duty merit and doubtless will receive the commentator
OF the legislature and the people Of the State.
Your committee do not deem 1t necessary TO prose-
cute their Investigations the facts OF this inquitous
outrage on the peace aud sovereignty OF our State
further at this time They have full confidence in the
zeal and ability of the committee OF the Senate OF the
United States and doubt not that they will employ their
/ more ample powers for the elimination of every fact
connected with the transaction. Should their nvestga
ton lead to disclosures, it will be competent for the
legislature hereafter adopt such measures as may be
deemed advisable. In the judgment Of the committee
enough is exhibited by the testimony before them to
Justify the legislative action which they propose.
This invasion of Sovereign State by citizens OF other
States confederated with subjects OF foreign govern
meut presents matter for grave consideration 1t Is an
event without a parallel in the history OF our county,
And when we remember that the incurson marked
by distinct geographical features; that 1t was made 10y
citizens of Northern States Southern State; that all
the cOunenauce and encouragement which II received
and all the material aid which extended 10 1t, were
bv citizens OF Northern States aud that Its ayowed oo
ic,t was TO make war upon and overthrow an Institution
Intimately interviewer with all the Interests OF the South
ern States aud constituting an essential element oil
their social an political systems,-an institution which
has existed in Virginia for than two centuries and
which recognized and guaranteed by the mutual cove
.NflI
Constitution ofthe United Sates-every thoughtful mud
must be filed with deep concern aud anxiety Tor the ~
ture peace and security Of the country
The subject of slavery has, from time to time, conSti-
trted disturbing element in our political system from
the foundation of our conederated republic AT the date
ofthe declaration OF national independence, slavery
existed in every colony Of the confederation IL mad been
introduced by the mother country against the wishes and
remoustrauces of the colonies Ii Is true that IN the more
northern members of the confederation the number OF
slaves was small but the institution was recognized ana
protected by the laws Of all the colonies II then there
be any thing in the institution OF slavery at war with the
laws OF God or the rights OF humanity which We denNJ
the sin attaches to Great Britain its founder and to
all the original thirteen States OF the coniederacy Us nav
ng given TO il their sanction and support.
Shortly after the declaration OF independence the
Northern States adopted prospective measures TO relieve
themselves of the African population but 1t Is great
mistake to suppose that their policy IN this particular
was promped hv any spirit of philanthropy or tender
rarv il was dictated by enlightened seii-nterest
Welding obedience to overriding laws Of social economy
Experience had shown that the African race were not
ADAPTED 10 high northern attitudes and that slave labor
could not compete successfully with Tree "hte I'ooF III
those pursuits TO which the industry Of the North was
directed Thi, discovery having been made the people
of the North al early day began TO dispose OF their
slaves by sale TO citizens Of the Southern States whose
soil climate and productions were better adapted 10
their habits and capacities and the legislation OF the
fbo pf fulI lie
was directed not to emancipation but to the removal OF
the slave population byoud their limits. To effect this
object they adopted a system OF laws which provided
prospectiyely that all children born OF female slaves
within their jurisdiction, after certain specified dates,
sloud he held free when they attained given age
No law can be found on the statute book OF any
Northern State which conferred the boon OF freedom
on single slave in being. All who were slaves
remained slaves. Freedom was secured only TO the
H ren Of slaves born after the DAYS designated IN the
laws and IL was secured 20 them Only in the contingent
CIV that the owner OF the female slave should retain her
whi- the Jurisdiction OF the state until after the child
was born To secure freedom to the aiterborn child,
therefore It necessary that the consent OF the mas
ter Indicated bv his permitting the mother 20 remain IA
the State should bee supeTlddcd 10 the provisions OF the
law Without such consent the law would have benin
operative because the mother before the birth OF the
child might 40 the Will of the master, he removed De
yoDd the Jurisdiction of the law There no legal
prohibition OF such renovation such prohibition
would have been with the policy OF the law which
W 1 9y9i 5S & a Si n5S cS oddn S
seem 10 induce the owners OF female slaves TO sell them
TO the planter, of the South before the time arrived when
the forfeiture of the offspring would accrue. by these
laws wholesale slave trade was inaugurated, under
which large proportion of the slaves Of the Northern
States were sold TO persons residing South of Pcuu-yvl
MIA and It is uuqHe-Jouablc fact that large num-
beer of the slaves OF the Southern States are the de-ceu-
dauts o. those sold 10y Northern men 10 citizens OF the
South adj title them
and their increase.
A early as l77S, Virginia forese Ing tie influx OF
slaves from the North, under the operation OF natural
causes and OF anticipated legislation sought To guard
herself against its effects by stringent prohbitory enact
meuts With Til, view, in that year, She passed Law
iorbding the importation of slaves into Virginia BY
land or sea under penalty Of $1,000 for each slave 50
imported and the forfeiture OF the right % the slave
The only Fijou made boy the law, were In favor OF
b.l.r a,k immigrants bringing their slaves with them
and persons acquiring title TO slaves in other States by
descent devise or marriage. See Hen. Stat. 4Il-2-
This law remained in force until the revi,al Of 1919
when it was dropped from the Code as unnecessary.
In the more Northern States slavery ceased TO exi,
shortly after the revolution. As carly as l77i U was
provided by tw in Rhode Island that all the offspring Of
female slaves, bora after 1S4, should be free. Under
tn. influence of natural causes il also became practically
extinct about the date OF the revolution, in Vermont
New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. A few slaves how
ever fingered u these States until after the adoption OF
o. their declaration, of rights those who thought proper
20 assert claim 10 freedom oLtuedit Ihejudicll dec
sion of the supreme court OF Massachusetts,, by which
slavery In ht, Stale became extinct, prOumccd IN
the case Of Lcton futile, in 1896 Chief Justice
Parsons I'm delivering the opinion OF the court In Win
chelou ". HATFIELD Mass K. Ia says, Slavery was
introduced into this country after its first settle
mcut and tolerated until the ratification Of the pre-
sent constitution "a March 1850 The slave was the
property OF his master TO his orders 10 reasona-
% I.I. frstr- f.r#l
chitte by gift sale and assets IN the hands OF m
executor or administrator. If the master guilty of
a cruel unreasonable casgauOn OF his slave he was
liable be punished for breach OF the peace, aud
believe the slave was allowed to demand suretes OF the
peace from violent aud barbarOus MASTER which gene
rally caused sale to another master And the issue of
tie female slave according to the maxim OF the civil
law the property OF her master. Under these regu
aons the treatment Of slaves in general mild and
humane and they suffered hardshps not greater than
hired servants
Notwithstanding the Massachusetts declaration Of
rights in $50 slavery seems to have continued for some
wears in that State The following brief report OF the
case of LittetOn v futile, is appended to Judge Par
sons opinion in the case of Wiuchedon, Hatfield:
This action of aSSumpsit for money expended
bv the plaintiffs for the support aud maintenance OF
Jacob alias Cato, negro aud pauper. Upon the
general issue pedaCd the following facts proved TO
the Jury: Cato'S father, named hcipo, was reputed
negro slave when Cato born, and according 10 the
then general usage and opinion was the property OF
Nathan Chase an uhabitan of Littleon. Caos mother
named Violet was a negro in the same reputed cond-
too and the property of Joseph Harwood. Scipo and
Violet were lawfully married aud had issue, Cato, who
born in Litteton January 18Th, l1S and was there
in the general opinion, slave, the property oil the SAID
HarwoOa as the owner Of his mother. Earwood, Oh
the l7th February, 1879 sold him to the defendant
Tutte who retained him IL bis service until he was q
wears old He being then cripple and unable 10 labor
the defendant delivered him TO the overseeFs OF the