The record-union., 1891-03-13
A DANGEROUS POSITION.

A DANGEROUS POSITION.
New York journals assure us that Gov
ernor Hill has at last discovered, that in
refusing the requisition issued by Gov
ernor Bulkeley of Connecticut he made
not only a gross blunder, but actually
violated the compact between the sover-
eign States that cements the Union. The
amazing thing about il all is that Gov
ernor Hill has but just discovered what
everybody else in the United States saw
In the beginning OF the trouble.
Were New York and Connecticut dis
tinct countries, with n treaty of extradi-
ton, Governor Hill could not have more
fagrantly violated it than he did the
comfy between the two as States of an
inseparable Union.
The subject is one of very much inn
portance, because il involves essentials of
the compact between the States. 1t is
therefore Of educational value in teaching
the people precisely what the relations of
the States are. Unfortunately there is, in
this day of in-drift of foreign clements,
need that these relations be occasionally
restated.
Each State is bound to give full faith
and credit TO the public acts, records and
judicial proceedings of every other State.
The citizens of each State are entitled to
all privileges and immunities of citizens
III the several States. A person charged
with crime in any State, who fees from
justice and is found in another State,
shall on demand of tho Executive author
ity of the State from which he fed, be
delivered up to be removed to the State
having jurisdiction ofthe crime.
These are constitutional declarations.
They include recognition of the seals of
the State aud of dc facto officials; recog-
milton of the authenticity of the certified
laws and ordinances of each State: the in
tegrity in each State of judgments of the
courts of other States when duly estab-
lished of record in tho State; the right OF
citizens to free entry to any State, subject
only 10 local police and health regula-
tions, and so on through long catalogue
of obligations binding upon each State
and essential TO a perfect union.
Now in the case in hand Connecticut
has Governor in office; whether he is
rightfully in authority is matter purely
local, and with which no other State can.
without serious oflense, in any way med
die. When Governor thus in place adj
dresses the chief magistrate of sister
State. and the Secretary of State attests
that authority with the great seal of the
State, the Governor addressed has no
more right TO refuse recognition to the
address, if il is on its face regular. than
he has to go into the sister State and con-
stitute himself tribunal to try the
rights of contestants to the Gubernatorial
seat.
When Governor Hill refused, for the
reasons he gave, recognition TO the Gov
ernor and seal Of the sovereign State of
Connecticut in request for the return of
fugitive from justice, he actually put
New York into state of revolt against
the Union; as much so indeed as if he had
fused citizens of Connecticut the right TO
cross over.
In the interest OF good government,
therefore, Governor Hills action deserves
universal condemnation. 1t is revolu-
ionary and dangerous action, il is usur-
patton of.power, il is species of rebel
lion against the laws of the Federal
Union. The defense OF Governor Hill
has been that Governor Balkeley is g
usurper. But the mere recitation of the
facts eNplodes this groundless claim.
Samuel L. Merwin and Lpzon p.
Morris are contending for the Office OF
Governor of Connecticut. For neither
has there issued judgment affirming his
claim. Mr.. Bulkeley was Governor prior
TO the late election, out of which the
Merwin-Morris contest arises. The laws
and Constitution of Connecticut provide
that the acting Governor shall hold his
office until his successor is duly quail
fed. Neither Morris nor Merwin has
been declared Governor; neither has
been inducted into office; neither has
dispossessed Governor Balkeley. lie is
Governor under as broad warrant as
Governor Hill can show for his own
guhernatorial authority. Government
must 60 on, it never ceases. tho State