Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-11-06
Fran the Tuscaloosa IA. SiuteS Rights Etposiior-xurr
THE COMMERCIAL LEAGUE.


Fran the Tuscaloosa a. Sintes' Rights EtposfOr-NnlfrrJ
THE COMMERCIAL LEAGUE
Il has been proposed and favored by Of the pa.
pe7s Of South Carolina and Virginia, TO establish
nercal eague in the South with the view Of importing
goods directly from the foreign market, stop as
far possible all commercial communication between
the South and the North We have given this PROPOSE
lion consideration, but have been able to
come the conclusion, that it would be proper 10 form
such I League.
/, would be unnecessary, because the cct in view
could not be effected by such means, unrss the whole
Southern States were separate themselves entirely
from the others. that it would be for war ur
the othc. States ampcr with slaves interfere
with our domestic relations in any manner; but do
not conceive that such step necessary to secure The
safety of property and lives. This commercial
lcanne would not without 4 virtual separation from
the Union, establish non-inlcrcourse with the free
States, sufficiently exclusive. To prevent the citizens
who might be thus disposed from expressing their views
upon the subject Of slavery and using such means as their
flnaticism would dictate. They would still have the
Post Office to circulate their incendIary papers. unless
their respective States would make it penal to pint and
publish any thing which vas designed or which would
have tendency. to destroy the quiet that prevails
in domestic relations, and liIS could not expect
them 10 do, if thus virtually to separate
selves from thc" They would still have the right Of
free ingrcss and rrrrSs IN and from States and
siderable trade would necessarily continue to he
rcd on between Of the Southern States and the
Norh-Wcst States, where the dirrul principles OF
the ahoitions!S have also received some countrancc-
lations which exist, there will necessarily b. such
communication with eac! other TO put it in their
power cnhangcr our safety and peace by modelling
with this subject. if their madness ami lnaticSm should
spgrad sufficiently and this non-iIcrcoErse measure
would have tendency TO arrest tcn in their mad
rrrr rs il would affect but few Of those who have favored
this fo, purpose. Those who have engaged in this
crusade upon our rights, are, with few exceptions,
OF that class Of people who cannot be reached BY any
COMMERCIAL regulation, which the Southern people
might establish; and il would be uniriendly and un-
Just Tor 10 adopt ilicasurc which would destroy
the interest Of many good citizens of the Northern
States. who look upon this crusade with as much alb
horrrncr and Indignation rs do; which is shown
b. tie character and number of meetings which have
been held in these States. If 1t be necessary and
proper let resolve many citizens OF Charleston
have DONE that will not trade with those houses,
which favourable {" these enemies Of God and man.
but let not ior the sake OF operating upon few inu
vdlals adopt measure which cannot have any other
eicc, than HAT OF increasing difficulties and multi
plying the number OF those, who already warning
against our riohS and interests. Does any believe
that the adoption ii this intercourse measure, would
gain us any friends among the Northern people,
whose intrr would be greatly affected by IT, does any
believe that :uc: course would drive them
people, States, IL unite more heartily with US than
they have done and likely to TO, to stay the hand OF
dissolution, which these blind and dcludrd phautropists
are cndca voriug TO send upon onr country:
Certainly not; for the tendency of sach 4 measure
would be ALLEVIATE them from us, TO cmbtry their feel
nus against for thus distressing the honesty OF their
resolves and pledges and thus adopting such course
would make il no longer their interest, and diminish
their obligations OF duty TO Interfere in this matter 10
rcprcss the destructive OF the dcudcd abolition
lists. In opinion, such non.inercourse measure
would tend so far it would have any tendency, to in
the number OF aDolitionists instead of diminish
ing them, whilst at the same time it could not take from
them the which they already have to urge this
neious warfare i'll which few blind zeaots engag
ed against us
II the proposed commercial league would bc ncrcu.
al TO accomplish the object for which it would be ntc:d
rf inct ilpp t,,rtSo
Northern and Western fanatics and to diminish the
Der Of them, say that the idea shou lie aband med
because il cannot fail 10 have very serious and danger
tendency to cndanger the stability of cur Federal
Union. which ought not to BE- the desire of any one who
loves good government founded upon free and liberal
principles. Does not every that such non
intercourse regulation would increase the sectional pre-
JUDGE which already exists between the North and
South, that it would destroy all community of feeling
which ought 10 exist among US to promote the c0lnnlon
good Of country, and that if such
unanimously supported by the South, that would be
no longer united but III name! ii such measure were
adopted and unanimously supported, does any one tc
cve that on country could feel that interest which ought
to lie tes III protecting commerce tie high seas,
aud against all The aggrcssions which might be made
H. b. foreign powers: l. is true that the South might
be able to protect their commerce and their
country; bnl lkan say that such measure, if forced
by unnatural means and organized societies, would de-
sroy The community Of interest which all ought feel
in maintaining unimparrd Federal Urlon, and il
would BIZ virtually its disSouon; event which nothing
but the preservation Of CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTY could
warrant.
We would rejoice TO the capital Of the South So in
creased as to produce the establishment Of importing
houses in Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, New Orleans
and in all The seaport towns cr the South upon the prin.
CT es Of fair competition in trade but We do believe that
it would Ii unwSe and dangerous BY the adoption Of
natural cans TO change the Of trade and par
ticulaIly by those which must have the inc yatc
tendency TO fan the flames Of sectional prejudice and
place i'll hostile array part Of country against
another. Let enterze. capital and fair and honorable
competition, produce this desired change in the course of
trade, and would reocc 10 il but let it not be
done by those measures which accomplish nothing
hut cndangrr the stability Of that government which
every true American ought 10 feel Strong desire and
noble pride in transmitting it unimpared to posrrity
We may haze looked upon this matter in a Sc
nous light than it deserves, those proposcrs Of the
course intended; but only object is express our
views on the proprety OF avoiding the adoption of any
course under excitement Of feeling which would seem
to bring us into hostile collision with our Northern
friends We would say, that SIC believe it would be our
interest, simply as measure Of political economy for
The Southern States, which have grown be so wealthy
H'I Suci offensive co:Sucrs, to encourage tile estab
hshisrht OF importing HOUSES in port towns to
carry Oh. our own trade with foreign markets and with
all other markets. instead of mourning the additional ex-
l,upS Il, 81, :