, 1862-05-15
Special Message OF Gov PIerp ont
Are SLAYER Men or PROPERTY

=
Gov. Frank Il. Pierpont transmitted to the |
Virginia Legislature ut Wheeling, last 6atu1- |
day, g special message in which he calls atteu-
ton to one remarkable feature Of the Rich |
mond slaye-code, inherited by the Provisional
Government when it assumed the name sud
laws Of the old State. 1t seems that two
slaves have been Cunv1cted uf ulu1ler, oue Of
them I'm Kanawha county, being sentenced
to be hung, and the other lin AccomAc county
to be transported out Of the State Execu-
tive pardon is not allowed, but It is possible
to commute the death penalty to Transports
tion. The State, however, must reimburse
thcowner TO the full value in either case--a
dead loss to the treasury If the slave is hung,
and rearly SO if sold for transportation The
Governor says the old State has in this way
paid out 5000, coo in the last twenty years; and
he asks:
"Why should the owner Of slave, who commits
acrine deemed Of sufficient gravity By the law to
subject the elase to death be paid
the sta1.: .:,,,--
Roman laTson the subject OF capital crimes CON-
notted by elaves also the laws OF all the Staten OF
the United states IN which slavery exists, and I
find DO similar provisions made for their payment,
Cd into the common law and ind where vicious
animal which j. rseoY1zsd = pEoReE and doss
be DESTROYED without compensation to the
owner. but the is also i2ble for damages for
ssrnepd p tbs 70
who owned slaves, to assign ne 8 good reason ac-
cording TO the principles Of the common law,
mastezs o. ii. il representative. owing alsves W
who were adtudged guilty Of crimes BY the law
worthy Of death Of transportation should be paid
1eIthem~ NO satisfactory answer has ever been
81 think 1t is high time the whole thing was
stopped, and would recommend that you not only
do not make any appropriation to pay for those
that are already condemned, hut that you repeal
the law which allows compensation for condemned
slaEes; Large Numbers Of Shareholders have en-
gagged In the rebellion now in progress They are
passing resolutions to burr tn .ir crops. They are
taking their horses and mules to be used in the
subsistence for their slaves during The coming
| year, bE Planting crops the present Season. n
eubordlnation may arise among the slaves IN dif-
ferent parre Of the State They may commit "a
rious crimes for which thousands OF them, during
The coming year; may be condemned to be hung o q
! maY lie forced On the State.
| This message WAS well received in both
Houses except BY a few Of the more ultra pro,
slavery members. One thousand copies were
ordered to be printed, and one Of the mem.
bers called it ss the best document emanatins
from any Governor In Virgln1a since the day.
| of the patriarchs." Another member answered
the Governors interrogatory why such Law
existed, BY saying that it s'was made to &C
commodate the nigger interest Of the East"
The repeal Of this law By the Wheeling gov
ernmcnt will apply to the whole State of Vir
ginia, and will cut off number1ess claims thai
would otherwise be likely to be made by The
wealthy shareholders Of the tide-water ant
valley counties.
E St. Marks Hospital, Liheris, cIigihl,
located at Cape Palmas, is sufficiently com
pleted to be occupied. It is substantial
built Of stone, has sixteen beds for patients i
e well ventilated rooms, with reaident phys
= clan and 1natron. It il intended to be fre
4 from secta1isn bias. while 1t will afford
i Christian home to searneu, to the citizens
:, Liberia, and to the natives Of Africa III
= Legislature Of Liberia has eviuccd much nbe
L a1ity toward it in grant Of $500 per apnp1
L for ti1 ycars,