Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-03-02

charge of the supposed fugitives we're not
made ir!onious hot criminal either by the laws
of this State Or BY the common law, or by the
laws Of al civilized countries; and for these
and other reasons fully set forth, it was the
opinion OF tic Executive Of this State that nc
had no lawful right or authority to deliver the
said Peter johnson, Edward Smith, and Isaac
tiansey to the Executive Of Virginia, in com-
piance with the said rcQuisitlon. The Gov.
t:nor nf Virginia is further respectfully in
irrnc,i that the subject has been rcconsidered
upon is lner!ss, and also in connection with the
position assumed hy the Executive Of Virginia
in regard to the requisition for the delivery Of
the fugitive demanded by the Executive Of
this State and no sufficient reason is found for
reversing tic decision before made.
By the Governor
SAMUEL BLATcnFoRr.
Private Secretary.
,'i'lrcssc'i to his ExceIlency THOMAS ". f:n-
HGH, Richmond. Virginia"
slr. DE .IARNETTE-I ask the Clerk, now,
10 read what have indicated, from another let
lcr.
The Clerk read as follows:
1T :aS G'rv;ntlS that the former would as
>'iinc, in conformity with opinions known TO
prevail IN Virginia. that men Of 4 certain race
and condition may be and arc property and chat.
rcls, thc subjects Of purchase, sale, devise, and
thc:t. Tie Executive Of this State, on the con-
trarr, wur,ld he laithcSS to the spirit OF lis
constitution and laws If he did not maintain
tiia; all men, Of whatever race or condition, are
ever. ard oi' right ought 10 be, trccmen; that
r"2rv remedy for durcss Of L human being,
whether il be the writ de hom'n9 rspteGidndo,
huhtrs ..otp"s, action for en.icemcnt or false
mprisonncslt, or indictment for kidnapping,
regards hiIa aS a man, and not as property; and
that it is as absurd in this State to speak Of pro-
periv in immortal beings and consequently Of
stralin. Ilicli. as it would be 10 discourse ol Il
division Of property in the common atmosphere.
!; was rGralir 'mIiieSt that Virginia would IN
sist that iIrr .:-i,i states should recognize the
right OF property Of one class Of her people IN
another. as established hy her laws. it would.
on tn. contrary Lrcoine the duty Of the Execu-
tive u! this State to- hold that, except so far as
the principle is controlled by the article Of the
Con. ;itItiun, which declares that persons held
tu labor or service in one State by the laws
thereof, and escaping into another, shall, on dc.
mani and proof be delivered up to the persons
to whom such labor or service is due, the rcla-
linn of master and slave is L peculiar local rea-
ton of the State where il exists, and that this
State is not bound TO recognize or protect 1t in
any manner, much less to protect it by extend
in- for that purpose an article Of the Constlt'-
ton which had no such design, nor any rctrr-
cncc whatever to the relation.
You are pleased to remark that this State
is pursuing q course calculated to render her
territory an asylum for telons and runaway
slaves Waving all exceptions to the spirit OF
this remark trust may be permitted 10 re-
nly. first, that it is not inconsistent with the
most careful regard to the public morals to
grant impunity 10 those declared innocent by
The legal tribunals, or to those whose convlc'
ton would involve no offence against the laws
NECESSARY for the preservation Of L wcll.erdercd
socic,y, and no violation Of abstract rights, as
asccrtaincd from the system of jurisprudence
established in civilized nations; and, secondly,
that the experience Of the people Of this State
has proved at least to their own satisfaction.
that neither public virtue nor public prosperity
has received any injury from extending, SO far
rs has vet hccn done, equal justice to every
elias. and ever" rac& Of men within our limits.
"ic.rrt the assurance Of high respect with
which remain your oi,crlient servant,
". II. SEWARD.
The lion .Jons II. PATTON, Lieutenant and
Actin. Governor Of Virginia, or his successor
in Office
Mr. DE- JARNETfE There is another coln-
muni:ation between the same parties, to WHICH
wish to call the attention Of the House.
Tie Clerk read, as follows;
II, remains with Virginia to show, not only
that the obnoxious principles and opinions Of
the Executive Of New York arc erroneous, but
also that they are Il proper cause OF public
offence: and sill! further, that she has q right
to prescribe principles and dictate opinions to
the Executive Of hcr sister States. For my own
part, freely confess that the difficulty Of COM
nliancc with the requirements OF Virginia is
not diminished by the distinction taken be-
tween the decision to which Virginia objects,
and the reasons assigned for it. The renuncla-
ton Of the principles and opinions necessarily
involves the adoption of opposite principles and
opinions. ! could not, to save tic commerce
Of the State, nr even the peace Of the country,
subscribe TO the Erith prescribed to me- can
not believe that being Of human substance,
fnym and image, endowed with the faculties,
rroprnsi,cs and passions common 10 MS race
/ and hayiu. the same ultimate destiny can, by
the force of any human constitution or laws,
b. converted into chattel or thing IN which
another being like himself can have property,
deriving him uf his free will and OF the power
Of cnl,iyating his own mind and pursuing his
own happiness; property beginning with hlS
birth and reaching over and enslarlng his pos
t.ritv. cannot believe that that can bc stolen
which is not and cannot be property; and al,
though such principles may be adopted ami
hccofnc the basis Of institutions and laws in
other countries, | cannot believe that any such
community has the right to extend the opera
ton Of sch institution and laws 50 as to effect
persons within the jurisdiction and unher the
protection of other nations. The provision IN
! il.. Constitution Of the United States. direct
nr that fugitiveS from labor OF service, eScaP'
,r.. from one State into another. shall he gwen
u;i Oil ,lcmar,l To the person - whom Suc''
,rr or service is ,iic whatever nc lts cliects'
,e , Limitation of the sovereign 'l2a!> H' tne
States cannot believe that the provision can
! +. .yi,ndet, bcvond its letter and precise aP'
{ ,,i;..,,np and 50 rs to make the Constitution
+ -. definition Of crime at variance with 1he
,,,,nmon law adopted by all the States. and
witt, the jurisdiction Of the clv!ilzea world
n,nc:ed to such Gith, find TIE guarded Ian
.,ra,, o, the Constitution. the principles OF M
+ iioull Justice the impulses oi philanthropy
; the instructions o! religion, the sentiments o
/ an enlightened age. the Constitution Of thi