The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-06
THE SOUTHERN PRESS.
VIRGINIA

me A$'S5 '''S'N~
1850.
! received sundry resolutions, some ust before
and some since your adjournment, from differ
ant States. touching the subject of State rights
and the agitation Of slavery. They are herewith
communicated. 20 !.
Virginia demand ut your hands some mild, con-
ciIiatory measures, calculated to show the non
slayehodng States that we are resolved to CO.
cree respect at their hands for our rights and
our property The slavery agitation is Il direct
attack upon both; and the Connecticut resolu-
lions are fair indication of the Northern sentl-
ment We may be allowed to indulge the hope
that more mature reflection will work beneli-
cial change in their minds. But, in the mean
time, we should show to them by our acts that
we have the peaceful and lawful means at cur
command to retaliate upon them for their gra-
tutous intermeddling with our slaves. ne
cesstv now exists for increased amounts OF rev.
enue and | earnestly recommend to your cons-
der,4tion the propriety of laying tax upon all
the products of the non-slavchodlng States Of
fercd for sale within our territory. IL can be
easily accomplished, and will, in my opinion, con-
stute the most persuasive of all arguments TO
ensure proper recognition Of our rights.
Let inspectors be appointed for each county
and town in the State, whose duty it shall be to
examine all manufactures brought into their dis-
tricts; and let tax of ten per cent. be imposed
upon such as are found to be manufactured or
produced in the non-slavehodng States. IL
should be provided, moreover, that all mercha'-
die be taken and regarded us the production OF
non-slaveholding States, unless sufficient PROOF
10 the contrary is afforded by the vcuder. ]
would also recommend that such tax be i'm
posed upon foreign goods imported through
ahnl1 fntn offer
encouragement to direct Importation into our
own ports.
And this brings me to the consideration Of our
federal relations
Since your adjournment, Congress has closed
the most protracted and important session ever
held under the present Constitution of1hc United
States. Its deliberations were marked BY Il feel
ing at once acrimonious and sectional, and espe-
cially characterized on the part of the Northern
representatives by a spirit ofstarling aggressons
upon the rights Of the South, and the Institution
Of slavery. The result Of their action has been
to place the Union in the most momcntous and
difficult crisis through which it has ever passed
Some of its cnactmcnts have produced feeling
of deep and bitter dissatisfaction at the South
whilst the law Tor recovery offugitivc slaves has
been met with reception at the North, little i
at all, short of open rebellion and utter defiance
This state of things has grown out Of an unwar
rAntable interference, on the part Of Congress
with the subject of slavery and is another proc
of the great danger which must ever follow an,
attempt, on the part of that body, to transcen
the clear and we'll defined limits set hv the Co,
stltution to govern and control their action.
That restless spirit Of fanaticsm which, f,
the last twenty years, has been fostered in til
free States, and directed against Southern sla,
cry has, ut last, grown to such Il fearful marn
tude that il now threatens seriously disruptio
of the Union. 1t will require our calmcst deli
beration, and our coolest but most determine,
resolution, to Withstand the shock it has produc
ed, to save our honor and our rights which i
involves, and the Union which is itself now per
lied IN the strife 10 act with r;sshncss or pre-
clWtatlon, is to sever ut once the bonds wllic
now unite us; to tatcr in the occupation of
ground we have assumed, or in the maintenance
of the principles so often avowed and so sire,
uously maintained, is to forfeit our own sclf.rc.
pcct, the respect Of the nation, and to brin
about Il state of things which will ultiniateI
lead to the inevitable overthrow Of slavery itse
The resolutions passed by the last legislator
avowing distinctly the grounds Virginia intende
to maintain, have not been explicitly violated /
any action of Congress and yet the legislato
intended to remove the causes of disturbanc
it is much to be apprehended has filled Of it
effect. We cannot fail TO be sensible Of til
great sacrifices incurred by the South for of al
the priceless domain, won from Mexico, chief
by the valor Of Southern men, there is not lief
open of that worth having, one square foot 70
the occupation of the STAKEHOLDER. 1t would b
an idle attempt to disguise the fact, that this il
justice ranklcs in the bosom of the South an
nothing but the earnest hope, that this action
Congress has settled forever all agitation of tt
slavery question, could or ought to reconcile [
to its course. But if peace and quiet can be r,
stored, if the Constitution shall be respected
and the Union preserved, we may even regar
the sacrifices, great as they are light in compar
son with the objects we attain. Should this rca
sonable expectation prove fallacious and the abe
lition agitation be still continued in the halls o
Congress, it will furnish proof, convincing an,
conclusive, of that fixed and settled hostility t,
slavery on the part Of the North, which Shout,
and will satisfy every reasonable man, that peac,
between us is impossible; and then a necessit,
stronger than all law, the necessity of self:pre
servation, will demand at our hands IA separation
from those who use the relationship Of brother
hood, only for the purpose of inhicting upon u
the worst acts of malignant hostility.
There has been reprehensbe supineness n
the South upon this slavery agitation, and tc
this, in great measure is owing the present
alarming posture Of affairs. We find all excuse
for this alone in one point of view; we have
been unable to realize the fact, that an Injustice
so monstrous, and folly so great, could find
advocates in majority of the Northern people
We know the value of the Union to them, and
We have always believed it to be too apparent
to themselves, to warrant the thought for n mo
ment that they would espouse the cause of fl,
naticism, leading them, rs it does, to the viola
ton of every principle dear to the hearts of pa
triots and men. We have been unable to IN
derstand how the sound, discriminating Jude
ment of the Northern people could be so warpc
by the pursuit of delusve phantom, rs to pre-
cipitate themselves into gulf Of irreparabl
ruin, in the vain hope of attaining, by the law
of Congress, an object, which mountains ,
treasure and oceans of blood would be made
quate to accomplish. A few amongst US, to b
sure, have for years been persuaded, and hav
endeavorcd to persuade others, of the danger
which beset our paths but until recently the
were not much needed. The proceedings @
the slavery agitation attracted but little genera
notice during its progress, and yet the history O
it presents one OF the most remarkable chapter
in the chronicles Of any nation
To those familiar with h., ,o,,,l,. ro.,, -