The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-04
MESSAGE OF THx oovsRSoR or rExxsrL.

sSS"f A'CSity law Oh FeHus1lFaDta, MAKES
the following suggestions
white majority of the judges of the Su-
preme Court of the United States, in the Pr gg
case, held that State had no constitutional
right 10 provide by legislation for delivering
up fugitives from labor, minority were then
OF The optnion that State laws. consistent with
and In aid Of the constitutional injunction,
were valid and proper. Aud this minority
opinion is now the judgment Of the present t
Court, as recently indicaIed in case which
arose In the State of Illinois. There Ii, there
fore, nothing TO prevent the revival OF the act
of 1926 ard its restoration TO the place In our
code to which by it's merits 1t is so Justly en-
titled This would leave TO the option OF the
claimant whether he would seek his remedy
under State or National laws. He had this
right before The repeal OF odr act Of 1926,
and, in my opinion, no good reason can be as
signed Cor refusing to place him again in the
same position.
would also recommend that the consent of
the State be given that ths master, while So
journing In our State, for limited period or
passing through it, may be accompanied by
has slave. without losing his right to his SER
vices. While such legislation is due TO the COM
i,y which should ever exist between the diff
fsrent States OF this Union, il would uDdoubt-
eddy tend greatly to restore that peace and
harmony which are now 80 nnwisely perilled.
BY il Pennsylvania would coneede no princi-
ple-we would be simply falling back upon
our ancient policy, adopted At a time when
our people were themselves struggling for
by a miscehception of its meaning, one of our
most I'm portant statutes was declared uncon-
etiutional.
From 1880 to 1s47, period OF sixiy-seven
years, Pennsylvania, herself a free SLale, per-
nit.ed the citizens of other 9 ates TO soj jurp
within her limits, with their slaves, for auy
period not exceeding SIX months, and TO pass
through the State, in travelling from one
State to another. free from all moleS ation.-
Was she injured, or was The cause OF human
freedom retarded ty the friendly grant OF this
privilege This question cannot be truthful
Iy answered In the affirmative; but IL may De
safely averred. that by changing our policy IN
this respect. we have, In some degree, at least,
aiisnated from US the feelings OF traternal
kindness which bound together so closely the
sisterhood of States. Lst US, then, renew this
pleds &c OF amlty and friendship, and once more
exteud a kindly welcome to the ciuzens OF our
common country, whether wishing us on busi-
ness or pleasure notwiths landing they may
be accom- panied by those who, under the O IN
sritutlon and the laws, are held TO service and
labor.
In relation to n settlement of the National
troubles, the Governor says:
May we not wisely follow the example Of
our fathers, oy re-enacting the old Compro-
mise line OF 1920, and extending il 10 the
boundary OF California Not by the means
Of legislation of doubtful constitutionality,
but by an amen dment TO the Cols titu ton It.
self, and thus permanently fix the condition OF
the Territories, SO that those who desire TO
occupy them may ind a home, at their cis-
crefion, either where slavery Is tolerated or
where IL Is prohibited. If the adoption OF
such AN amendment would peacefully settle
the d tic ulues around us, l am satisfied that
ii would be sanctioned by the people of Penn
sylvania. at all events they should have an
opportunity to accept or reject il, II made as a
peace. Offering. / would therefore, recon-
mend the General Assembly TO instruc and re-
quest our Senators and Represen Ia tivfsin Con-
gr.ss 10 support proposition for SUCH an
amendment OF the Cons I'll tu tion, TO be submit
ted for ratification or rejection 10 Con-
vention Of delegates. elected directly by the
people OF the State.
In the event Of the failure Of Congress
speedily TO propose this, or a similar amend
ment TO the Constitution. the cili2ens Of PENN.
sylvania should have an opportunity, by the
application OF some peacaabIe remedy, TO pre-
vent the dismemberment OF this Union. This
can only be done 10y calling a Com ntion OF
d. legales 10 be elected by the people, with u
view solely to the consider lion of what meas
ures should be taken to meet the present feAr-
ful exigencIss. If Congress should propose
NO remedy, let 1t emahaie from the source OF
all authority, the people themselves.
Every attempt upon The part OF individ uals,
or OF organized societies, 10 lead the people
away from their allegiance 10 the Govera-
ment, to induce them 10 violate any Of the
provisions of the Cons titutiOn, or TO iactte in
surrsctions Ia any OF the States of this MON,
ought to be prohibited BY law, as crimes OF d
reasonable nature. 1t Is Of the first i'm port.
ance TO the perpetuity OF this great Union
that the bearts IF the people, and the action OF
their constituted authorities, should be in
unison in giving faithful support to the
Constitution OF the United States. The people
of Pennsylvania are devoted to the Union
They will follow its stars and its stripes
through every peril. But before assuming
the high responsibilities now dimly tore
shadoWed, 1t Is their solemn duty to remove
every just cause Of complaint against them
selves, 30 that they may stano before high
heaven, and the civilized world, without fear
aud without reproach, ready to devote theil
lives and their fortunes TO the support of the
best form Of government that has ever been
devised by the wisdom of man.
MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR OF NEw YORK.
After referring to State affairs, Gov. Nor
gan's message to the New York Legislature
touches on Federal relations. 1t opposes the
right Of secession. The repeal of the Missouri
Compromise is held up as the root from which
sprung all our present evils. The message
concludes thus:
Not desiring the adoption of the Missouri
line, in 1920, and opposing, with almost solid
front, the weight OF her in fuence to the repeal
in 1854, this State does not ask nor does she
desire, the restoration OF that line. After full
and free discussion, her people have declared
against the extension of slavery into any OF
the Territories, and this they regard as dis
position OF that quest ton until revoked by the
same authority. Ever ready, nevertheless as
she has proved herself heretofore, New York
will, iu all honorable ways, endeavor TO re-
concile the arrangements now existing in the
country.
A magnanimou. and loyal State. in such an
exigency, may we'll forego the q uestion " hether
assumed grievances are real OF only imaginary;
but while her action should be marked by pa.
tience, calmness, conciliation and rtraternal
affection, there should be no surrender of im-
portant rights, nor sacrifice Of vital pripci-
Piles. 1t is equally clear she should not insist
on points OF pride, or on mere abstrac tion.
Tho -gh brought forward under misappre.
hension, one such grievance Is alleged against
this State. In 1910, conformably to the gene
raj opinion OF that day, the Legislature passed
statute granting trial by jury, in The
Courts OF this State, to persons charged as be-
ing fugiuves from service. Afterwards, the
Supreme COURT Of the United States, in the
case of Prigg against the Common wealth Of
Pennsylvania, decided that all State laws,
even though ~ bordinnte 10 the Federal enact
ments, and favorable 10 the extradition Of fu-
gitives, were inconsistent with the Constitu-
tion Of the United States, and therefore void;
aud SO this statute Of our State. W hich gran led
a trial by jury. became ineffective. II has been
universally held 10 be obsolete by all our COM
Ioentators, aud all our public an horities, al.
though now improperly ciassed among what
are technically called "Personal Liberty
laws" and made occasion for exciting ieal-
ousies and discontents. / therefore recon-
mend Its repeal.
In this connection, and while disavowine
any oispositlon 10 interfere with that which
exclusively pertains to the indlvid ual States,
and In spirit Of fraternal k,ndness, | would
respectfully invite all those States which have
upon their statute books any laws of This
character, conflicting with the Federal Con
stitution, TO repesl them at the earliest oppor.
tunity; not upon condition that a more
equitable fugitive slave law be passed nor
upon any other conditions, but relyine for ths
proper notifications OF this enactment upon
the justice tnd wisdom Of the Federal an
thorities. Lst the free States fuifil ali the oh.
.S
laws, then, with propriety, they may exact
like obedieEce from all the other States
That the President aud Vice President elect.
though coHstitutionaiiy chosen, were unac.