Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1860-01-16

. Gsaasrsen ef he rats
md House 81 Delegates /:

II c~oFnpkence my term aslChief Maglj-
.trate Of The Common wealth. Of Virginia,
at an importaut and eyeHtfnl period In the
bis,ory4 Of tile Ssste and lhe JaionNo
one OF my predecessors has taken upon
himself ths duties and fesFonsibAities Of
lie efice under the same circumstances
The Legislature and the people expwt
from me, therefore. an expression Of my
views upon the absorbing question q the
day, aud some suggestions bekiag 10 The
future.
The Con~stHuti5nsof tbe United States,
as ordained and established by our faith.
ers, was designed "to form = more per-
feet union, establish justice, insnrs do
nestle tranquility, promote .the general
welfare, aud secure the blessings OF libefs
|ty ID ourselves and our prosterity
They construed ii with reference toabsss
disirabIe objects, and, as might have bgen
expected, union. hafmony and brother
hood existed between the different secs
ktious-Iaw and order prevaSied--justice.
Eand right were respected-thc rights OF
persons and property were fully recog
~HIAeu--huu 9GdCu bldtC Mas p0TuifleQ 10
regulate its domestic Institutions WITHOUT
inlsrferencs from citiz us OF ahs other
States. Confidencs and fraternaf ale;
ton existed between the paopls Of all lie
states ia those earlier aud better day i
the Republic.
The happy coaditien Of tliu.ss. eattihn
ued for many years, and was interrupted
only. BY the Interference OF euizsns of
tie Northern States, willlhe rights an,f
institutions oil the Southern Bdf for.the.
war which, has been SO prasspm9ly
waged sgainst the Institution Of dpmesiea
slavery Jas il exists among US, Al ii.siitu,
lion with Whiehsrhey have no right u in
teaTneddfe, welwould have continued u
live tremendously together, and theties
of frsternal feeling and affection would ~
10 strong Dow as ever before. IN the his,oS
ry Of the confederacy This waaton I'M
reference thus commenced. and SO often
sively PERSISTED in. has produced the pres
ent slafmihg crisis and has brought she
tho Union oil States 10 tho verge Of des,
traction.
The Northern people now insist tina.
there must Be no morefsase territory. no
moie slave States, and that the Fugitive
tSlaTe Law must be repealed. Or so essen
TALLY modified as TO render 1t yalueless
Ifor The recovery Of slave property. In
Massachusetts,, Wisconsin, Vermont sud
perhaps sitter ipn-sfaseiloHdia5 States
thsFagiLiye Slave Acthas beeppractical.
fly and effsctaally nali6ed and rendered
imperative.
The Massachusetts act declares thai
1.-THE writ Of ha5eas corpus mayb Do issued
BY either of their courts. aul even by
any justice OF the peace" IN term tfM.
Tor vacation, and upon the return OF such
writ Tie fugitive slave may demand ]
trial hy jury, and il the jury shall diss.
tgfee, the issue maybe submitted. % an
otheE jury. Or continued to the next term
bat the discretion Of the court that NJ
cenfessians. admfssions, 81 declarations VI
the alleged fugitive against himself sbsli
be giyen in evidence upon the Eial; tia
the Governor by and with the adgicsand
consent of the Council, shall appoint com
missioHers in each county to defen1 fagi
tiyes, who are 10 ply all witnesses ex.
peiises. clerks fees. officers fees and
other expenses, and they are TO have tfasf
audal reasonable charges for their seryi
ces as attorney and COUNSEL in the ease
paid By the S,ats Treasures and the acI
also prohibiesSthsir jails. prisons. or othe,
places of confinement, from being used fol
The Imprisonment Of persons claimed Al
fngitiye slaves. See Session Ace 1855
page ga Theact Of Wisconsin is eysr
more stringent iiIits projection OF fugitiy,
l~slayes than the act4of Massachusetts
See revised Statutes 1853. page 9f2.s
The act az Vermont declares that5ho per
son within sle. State shall be consider
as property 81 subject to sale, purchas;
of delivery that the fugitive slave NAV
have The benefit OF a trial by iufy--tha
every person who may have been hali a,
4 slave. who shaHscome. OF be brapght
or be in the State, with or without IL.
consent Of his or her master Of mistress
Or who .shallcome, or be fbroh sht. or b
inyoluptarily or in any was in the State
shall be free /; and denounees against eve
Efy person who shall hold the fugitive i,
4 slave, the penalty of imprisonment 70.
not less than one no moro thaa & fteel
years. and i fine not e~xceeiing mo llioii
sand dollars. See Session Acts 1858
page az Id other Of the noa-slasshoH
ing Slatess ff / am NOT mistaken, SINH
lar Legislation has bean employed 10 de
EEaaf Az avanaS oftkn Ta,vS u4stt,in fha,t