Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-04-23
Letter from the U. s. Marshal for
the Western District of Virginia on
tho Subject OF Fugitive slaves.
WHEELING, Va, April 10, 1862.

the western District of Virginia ON
the SubjeCtOf Fugitive slaves.
WHEELING, Va, April 10, 1862.
George Buckley, Esq, Beverly, Va.
DEAR,SIR: Your note dated Beverly, Va,
l4lh inst, in which you request me to di.
rect one of my deputies to arrest slave of
yours, who, you state, is now at Allegheny
Summit, and within the State of Vir.
ginin, came duly to hand.
In answer, ! have to say that if had
the disposition (Which / have not) rs n
United States Marshal have no right, no
power TO comply with your request. The
Government Of the United States knows
nothing of slavery in Virginia, except MS
domestic institution, created, regulated
and governed by State law. State officers
therefore are alone qualified, legally, TO
arrest your negro. II an officer of the
General Government, ns such, should obey
your request lie won!d, ia my opinion,
exceed his power, and ought to be dismiss
| ed.
The platform adopted nj Chicago, upon
which this administration was elected, and
npon which it acts, declared non-inter-
ference with slavery, by the General Gov
| eminent, in the States: and that slavery
is local and not national. believe in that
platform generally and particularly.
believe its declaration of principles to he in
exact harmony and conformity with the
Constitution Of the United States. If the
government should arrest your slave on the
soil wnere he belongs it would be an inter-
ference, or an act acknowledging and cm-
bracing slavery rs national, and not q
local and State institution. And it could,
with as much propriety, manumit rs ar
rest him. In my opinion it has neither the
power nor the will to do the one or the
other.
Ifa citizen of Kentucky, claiming slave
who had escaped from that State into this,
should place in my hands warrant issued
bv Judge or Commissioner of United
States Court, with orders to arrest, would
perform that duty in this district at what
ever sacrifice of personal feeling or public
odium. should, in that case, act in con-
formity with, and be justified under, law
OF tue United States, made in pursuance OF
that clause of the Constitution which de-
clares, "That no person hired to service or
labor in one State under the laws thereof,
escaping into another, shall, in consequence
of any law or regulation therein, be dis
charged from such service or labor, but
shall be delivered up on claim of the party
to whom such service or labor may be due u
Under the same law and by the same pro-
cess should arrest, inditTerently, IL negro
slave from Kentucky or Caucasian in
dentnred apprentice from Ohio; not be-
cause one might be black and the other
white, but because cash owed service and
labor in another State, and because the law
makes it my duty TO arrest both under tho
same provision.
So much, no more have or any other
United States officer to do with q slave
As to myself as n man and citizen, assure
you, should do no more in n business SC
repugnant to my feelings than is made my
duty by imperious law. You state tina,
you have no Sheriff, no Constable, no State
officer to make this arrest Tint is not til {
fanlt of the Federal Government. You art
thus disorGanized by slaVeholding couspira.
tors against its authority. The Government
byits power has crushed inWestern Virgins
the organized armies of these rebels, anL
efficiently protects the loyal reorganized
Government of the State which invites, en-.
treats you, to organize your counties; anG
1t must be from some fault OF yourself OF
neighbors, that you remain in the
condition You represent. BE ensured how.
ever, that let your condition be us it NAV
the Government will not violate the Con
stitution and laws, to preserve You. Bt
nssui ed also, that yOnr difficulties insecu
rites and danger rs to property and life
will multiply and increase from day to day
,
land marks, until they revere the Constitu
ton of their country, and obey the jus
laws made in pursuance of it, enacted b,
majority of the peoples representative
; in Congress assembled, and suffer, withou
, resistance, their execution by the honest
+ patriotic and humane Chief Magistrate O
the nation. For Coils sake, for humanit,
sake, believe this and pursuade your neigh.
bOrs of It'll Cease resistance and organic,
) loyalty, and quickly, before society shall b,
plunged into anarchy or resolved into it.
original elements Before our sun goes
down in sea of blood. and We and GU
children be left to grope in darkness amid
horrors for years TO come. Let each fol
himself whether as citizen or officer adj
here firmly to the Constitution and ODE,
the laws and civil strife ceases. aud VIC n,
once become united, powerful and happy
J people.
Very Respectfully Yours,
f. NJ. NORTON, Marshal.
P. S. Jesse F. Farris has my thanks nnt
approval for refusing to net in this case
and making the arrest at Your command.
Very Respectfully,
E. NJ NnRToN