Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-12-20
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 10.
NoN-1NrERcoURsE LAWS AT THE SOUTH.

NON-INTERCOURSE LAWS AT THE SOUTH.
The New York Evening Post apprehends as fancies
very clearly the absurdiy of Governor Foyds recommen
dation prosecute diligently the great works OF ntenam
provement in Virginia. in the same message IN whch nc
also recommends the imposition of Northern pro-
ducts-a of calculated to diminish lnPor'a
tons from the North The Wing papers of this and other
| cities including the National Inclgencer, from which
clearer perceptions might been expected chucke great
IL over the supposed inconsistency of Democratic oVen
or recommending what they conceive 10 be Ia
riff measures-and they pretend to be hghy oehgneo WIN
what they try regard an Abandonment OF Ireeaoe
doctrines or denial Of their validity We arc sorry 70 u.s.
tub this compaccnt deuso but the is spreading too
widely 10 be permitted to wing its way onward
without a passing arrow. Ii s indeed difficult TO
conceive the sincerity Of such gross msapprehension
-and would be much more inclined 10 oc'
cuse our ingenious Whg brethren Of shewd msepreaen-
sion than OF utter ignorance and soity If their curious
course of reasoning would permit to do 80 But 1t i'm
possible The able arguments which never touch the issue
the elaborate proof points not in questionable Keen de-
lection Of absurdes which exist only In the modes In wnch
they view the subecand the comfortable discovery OF IN
constituencies which spring only from their own want ot
charging their errors 10 any
thing but obuseness and intellectual strabisimus Without
wishing 10 provoke controversy upon measure In
which all should agree, we must help them out Oh
the scrape Into which they have got; or they VIII
continue TO founder on In the bog of Despond knee
deep In mire and diligently chasing mere wl-o-ho wisps
all the time We will sndsavor prevent their losng their
way so hapsssy and their ,me by opening their eyes-or
at any rate performing operation their visual organs
the effect Of which they may feel II still unable TO
comprehend It,.
In the 6rs place. the intercourse laws proposed BY
Governor Floyd contemplated In many Of the Southern
States designed increase the trade OF virginia. but
they proposed prohbtory measures to cut on ente
w. If Il be practicable serious cost TO ourselves all
trade with the offending States, and all benefits which
they have been deriving, and might expect henceioF-
ward derive from continuance OF their trade win he
South 1t is not measure of political economy but an act
of retaliation upon North for hypocrca trcacherous
and ana,ca expressions upon Southern rights and South
ern institutions II does all into the calculation
whether Virginia the South lose gain In an economical
point of view but intended apply the lash TO the only
sensitive point between the head and heel of anatica
Yankee-his purse 1t Is intended TO block up the chan
ne which bear the precious tides Of wealth TO that arecev
ing and lencircng The only mistake which the TO-
vernon Of Virginia has committed in our estimation Is IN
proposing too small tax. Many Of people would have
preferred mpos of hundred per cent which would
have been absolutely prohboy and would have stopped
every mill in the North and would have enabled the
lord, speculate the slavery question In Idle
meditation, ana 10 ENJOY LOT SOHlc years W Sohe o
uries of the dolce far ente. But the extent of immed
ate retaliation subject which addresses itself alike TO our
humanity and interest," and must be dealt with In the most
practical form for our good and their chastsemcnt
One consequence of such tax followed up by kindred
which our Whig and Northern friends could mel
ther msapprehend deny would certainly be to create
and encourage direct trade with Europe This wond build
up our Southern ports and cities: would give new Inn
pulse Southern commerce, manufactures and agriculture
and would afford Yankee brethren conclusive evidence
that we could get along better without them than with
them Il would increase the profits OF capital induce It's
profitable investment and augment the resources OF the
South But nelghbor of the Republican thinks that
Englands products ought be taxed and excluded also
That would Indeed be good Whg practices but we are not
altogether young and green be caught with such
cbaH There are many and strong of dissatisfaction
with English policy but the interests of England are den-
tca with those of the South the moment our productions
no longer make deour 10 the Nortn IN order 10 DC
transported across the Atlantic. She cannot do without
our cotton hardly without grain or tobacco and she VIII
gladly embrace the favorable opportunity to throw her
the Southern States This secures ner
full and cordial cooperation the moment the North
s choked off and she will lend her aid to expedite the
.,ranclinp OPERATION The direct trade with England and
the rest of Europe will than compensate for this loss OF
Northern traffic in giving profitable employment to our
opo of inern. If have reason however
he offended with Engands pas, action In regard to slave
~ must be remembered that an independent nation
we hive no control heand that for the same cause
she has no jurisdiction right OF interference VII"
our institutions Her action therefore, exercises no snch
deeterious influence upon our domestic servtude as mas
been brought bear upon by our purtanca oroheS VI
the North who have turned or endeaTored 10 'un a e
mowers of the General Government which they CONTROL 70
it's destruction We WILL therefore, not yed 70 the smoon
hhoro of hQ
solicitations and suggestions OF our neienoor oi ie nc
publican which are designed to efea the very object in view
and leave tho competition between England ana MasSachu
s for the Southern market unchanged because hampeeo
;,h .ouo additional burthsus We understand as well as
rr neiphbor that if equals be added unequus the sums
will no UNEQUAL We are anxious the contrary TO put an
additional weight on the lighter horse, so as TO oreuK MN
dwn or distance him In the Our hends me WINGS
should comprehend this
And the consideration which removes the SUPPOSED '
dy of the proposed measures is ths Inc tax ana e
intercourse laws are designed NOT as permanent pocy "
nly as temporary expedents to quicken returning
of iu.cs at the North As soon rs they enec tue ue"e
result and VIC trust their success will &c speeoy' ''eS y
be rspened unless good policy should otnerwise oi.a
they and o,her cxpcdents fall the Union VIII DC
.nd virginia in company with her sister States OF the sou
can reorganizc her policy on principles winch nay '
,,ope,her absurd to her Wing citizens.
W. sh, uotIce very concaely the alleged INCONSISTENCY
of rho nroposed measures with Democratic prncPes
will be observed however, that the doctrines OF
ECONOMY may be dsregarded for the attainment oi s'
nuposes Of State without in the least degree questioning
or uyada,iug their truth within the limited range OF ne
proper application The safety Of the people, the
,ion of our social organization will excuse any temporary
dana,,ure from the rules Of political economy for the deoe
rate aainmen, of those higher aims This might be sui
6eent answer the cavis of tho National in'egence
hotx Inter
still moro fatal justice They may have heard OF 'he
figure termed dlemma propose TO furnish an example
at their expense and to assist In their realizing III s
force :, an instrument of augmentation we viii leave tnem
hanging on i,s horns until they may be able 10 hep eac
other down.
The proposed non-inercourse law WIN oe is.se a"' ,a
cous either because they inconsistent with ne De"
oco,ic docrnes-n which the Wings recognize the
Trade system-or they false because they are eonss
tent with Whip docrines-in which case the wings tecoe
ni.e the falacy Of protection
W. aha, leave our Wing adversaries dangling In the air
on these sharp horns and many queer antics and
cop,or,ions they must exhibit before they can ~gse
.h~F nf tho