Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-03-29

speak autho!itauve from any examination oil the res0
utions myself 10 their passage through both houses
of Congress but conclude from the annotstiors that
they have passed both branches of the General Govern
ment The gentleman who cent me these resolutions a
member Of Congress from our own State, has marked
those which we're passed" and those which we're mot
voted ou." say with certainty that these resou-
tons passed the House Of Representatives. which serves
the OILY purpose have in referring them and they de-
that IL is the present tendency Of the public
mi,d to remove all causes Of irritation and to observe
constitutional duties and obligations and as furnishing
encouragement look forward TO fair and Just settle
ment of all these perpeIng questions. / will read
portion of the resolutions which are marked rased ~
Resolved By The Senate and House of Representatiyes
Of the United States Of america in Congress assembled
That all attempts the part of the Legislatures of any
OF the States to obsruct hinder the recovery and
surrender of fugves from service or labor are ia dero
atom of the Constitution of the United States nconsis-
tent with the comfy and good neghborhood that should
prevail among the several States and dangerous TO the
| pc ,ce of the Union.
"Resolued That the several States be respectfully re-
queed their statutes to be revised with view
20 ascertain any Of them in conflict with or tend to
embrass hinder the execution Of the laws OF the Uni
led States made in pursuance Of the second section Of
tie fourth article OF the Constitution of the United States
for persons held to labor by the laws of auy State and
escaping thererom and the Senate aud House of Repre-
sentaves earnestly request that all enaclmens having
such tendency be forthwith repealed as required by
ust of constitutional obligations and by u due re-
the United States is requested TO communicate these
buttons to the several States with request that they
will lay the before the Legislatures thereof respect
lively.
"Resolved That we recognize slavery as now existing
in fifteen of the United States by the usages and laws OF
those States and we recognize authority, legal
otherwise, outside of State where it exists to inter.
e'e with slaves slavery in such States in disregard OF
the rights of their owners or the peace Of society
"ResOlved That recognize the justice and propri-
ETY. OF faithful execution OF the Constitution and laws
made in pursuance thereof the subject of fugitive
slaves fugives from service labor and discount
enance all mobs hindrances to the execution Of such
laws aud that citizens Of each State shall be entitled
Ill the privileges and immuniies Of citizens in the several
| States
"Resolped, That recognize such conflicting ee-
meats in Its compostion sufficient cause from any
source, for dissolution Of this government that
were not sent here TO destroy but to sustain and har
wonze the institutions of the country and to that
eqia justice done to all parts of the same; and finally,
70 p?rpeuate its existence terms Of equality and jGs-
| tice TO all the States
"RssolVsd That each State also respectfully request
CT TO enact such laws will prevent aud punish any at
tempt, whatever, in such State, to organize set
foot the lawess invasion Of any other State Terrific
ry."
You aware Mr.. President that we now have con.
stutional provision that ugtves from jstie. shall be
demanded by the Executive Of the State from which the
III nder shall flee aud SHALL be rendered up, &c. That
constitutional provision while it requires that the claim
Tor surrender shall be made by the Executive Of the State
from which the party es does provide upon what
State authority the demand shall be made. The custom
and usage from the Foundation of the Government be-
eye has been 10 of tina. character for the Execu
tive OF State TO make the demand upon the Erecu
tive Of the other that many instances have
occurred in which difficulties have arisen upon demands
OF this sort being made-some ffom our own State
where th, Executive Of the State upon whom tue de-
mand has been made, undertook to decide for himself
whether the offence charged ofsnce recognized
by the law OF the State in which the party had sought
refuge One OF the concerned in the Earpers Fer
~ instruction was demanded believe Of the Cover
Of Ohio, aud not surrendered AID there is the
cent case Ia which demand made by Kentucky upon
the State OF Ohio for party charged with criminal Of
fence fleeing ino that Safe; and believe an very well
warranted in saying that the act, to which about TO
REFER grew out OF this very Ohio and Kentucky case
The Governor OF Kentucky perhaps by the direction Of
the Legsatrrc-';s to that am not posi.iveapponted
counsel to ask OF the Supreme Court Of the United Stes
at Washington, mdndamus tho Governor Of OHIO
for the surrender OF this fugitive from Justice. This case
served TO draw the public mind TO the question: and
the want OF proper law the subject That hiss
not yet been disposed of by the Supreme Court But the
opinion OF the profession, and which, have no doub,
will be proved correct By the decision Of the Court is
that the Cour; has power proceed against the Ex-
ccutye oil State by way OF mdHdrnns If the demand
we're made on the Judicial branch Of the Government
then tor refusal TO act or acting enormously the higher
Well TO meet su3n cases the act which en- about 10
read ives passed by the House Of Representatives, its
late session. am not prepared 10 say certainly whether
it passed the Senate
BE it enacted by the Sena.e and House of Rapresen-
tayes Of the United States Of America in Congress
sCmbei Thst every persoa charged, by in iictmeat
Other satisfactory evidence, in any State with
felony, or other crime committed wihn the iurisd ction
Q! such State, who shall Il e. shall have fed from
ju'tce aud De found in another State, SHALL demand
| fha L.aaF IL
a-d upon the district judge OF the United States of the
district in which h. may be found, be arrested and
brought before such judge, Who being satisfied that
he is the person charged, and that he was within the
jurisdiction of such State the time such crime wss
committed of which such charge shall be prisa freis
esilence shall deliver him up to be removed to the
State having Jurisdiction Of the crime; and if any
estion OF law shall arise dprng such examination, il
mag be taken on exceptions Gy wit oil to the Cir
puit Court"
Now. Mr. President, you it here provided that
wren person charged with treason, felony or other
crpe, shall escape from any State, the demand shall
De made 10y the Governor OF the Safe upon The Dis.
trct Judge iustead OF the Executive. IL he fails DO
his duty, the adnamus lies also the writ OF error.
But again, the Judge is on! from erqurcg into the
nature o! the offence. The whole scope OF his enquiry
- whether the party arrested and brought before him.
Is the person charged; aud that lie within the grs
dttion OF the State demanding him, at the tine the Of
fence committed and of these facts the charge itself
tlbe pria fdcie evidence, thus throwing the burthen
| OF sproVing them on the of nder.
This law would have relieved of the difficulties that
occurred in the Harpers Ferry case the Kentucky
and large class OF cases of similar character. adduce
IS another practical proof to show the tendency Of tho
public mind. mention it TO show that there nothing
IN the public sentiment to discourage nothing TO make
US halt in our eTeron but thecthe, hand there
l. everything 10 animate and encourage vs. ~ the great
work OF repairing and perpetuatng the Union and tho
Constitution
Mr. President has been urged that neither the Peace
Conference ad lstmen the Crttenden project anything
sat we were likely TO obtain in the way of guarantees
will induce our sister States Of the South to
the Union, and that Virginia ought to be conlent with
nothing short OF what will satisfy aud restore them
Mr.. President, we have duties to perform to aud for
selves. In the performance Of those duties am not
unmlndiul OF the desire of the country, Of my
dent personal DESIRE for the restoration Of those States
to their former place in the Uuion But sir am here
for one to declare my opinion that wh,tever settle
uent OF these vexed questions shall be found sasfacto
ry to the save States still remaining in the Uaon-wha
ever sbs ,e ousd acceptable to than and sufficient 10
secur; their iight' oug' torOr 70 be acce ptabie
TO the seeded sister States Of III South. Sir have
Infinitely more interest 10 all the perpeIng questions
which have arisen connected with slavery, than they
have or ever possibly have In regard to the ugi
| tive slave law i: is certain much deeply IT,
ested than they arethey lose exceedingly few slaves
0g escape none in comparison with the number lost by
/ tue border States. They hedged and surrounded
By slave States lnterfosed between the and the ree
States so that their slaves cannot escape except ia
Instances by vessels.
Again: What interest, compared with ours, have the
Cotton States in the territorial question? Dc they fur.
ih any population for he settlement Of the Territories
l. there from South Carolina Georgia. Louisiana
Mississippi Alabama, who wonld leave the fertile fields