14

right to be rash. Fortunately Virginia's character for chivalry is not
so doubtful that she must be rash in order to seem to be firm.
Your committee cannot close this report without expressing in high
terms its cordial approbation of the conduct of the executive of Vir-
ginia in relation to this controversy with New York.
Your committee recommend the adoption of the following resolu-
tions:
1. Resolved, That the reasons assigned by the governor of N. York
for his refusal to surrender Peter Johnson, Edward Smith and Issac
Gansey, as fugitives from justice, upon the demand of the executive
of this state, are wholly unsatisfactory ; and that that refusal is a
palpable and dangerous violation of the constitution and laws of the
United States.
2. Resolved, That the course pursued by the executive of N. York
cannot be acquiesced in, and if sanctioned by that state and persisted
in it will become the solemn duty of Virginia to adopt the most deci-
sive and efficient measures for the protection of the propery of her
citizens and the maintenance of rights which she cannot and will not,
under any circumstances, surrender or abandon.
3. Resolved, That the governer of this state be authorized and re-
quested to renew his correspondence with the executive of New York,
requesting that that functionary will review the grounds taken by
him; and that he will urge the consideration of the subject upon the
legislature of his state.
4. Resolved, That the governor of Virginia be requested to open a
correspondence with the executive of each of the slaveholding states,
requesting their co-operation in any necessary and proper measure of
redress which Virginia may be forced to adopt.
5. Resolved, That the governor of Virginia be requested to forward
copies of these proceedings to the executive of each state of this
Union, with the request that they be laid before their respective le-
gislatures.

Agreed to by the house of delegates, February 28th, 1840.
GEORGE W. MUNFORD, C.H.D.
Agreed to by the senate, March 17th, 1840
A. HANSFORD, C.S.