Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-01-07

attempt IT, Mono dare back; even II they would the
uho!oniss will not permit Now, we believe II the taxes
lands negroes and other property were eaueeu ono
fourth half, and the deficiency necessary lot
the wants of the Government made up by discriminating
tax upon Northern productions that this TACT ~oua ovoe
the Northern people upon the faithful execution OF the fu
gve Slave Law; and that who In favor OF sustaining
the Unon-of securing rghseturning our fugiWes-
and who are opposed 10 qualification and 'disunion
would take sides against the abolonsts and In few
years rights would be maintained nj expense which
would justify man of small 10 seek his properly
In The time the of the treasury would be sup
piled and those who chose consume the lu1es OF ihe
North would bear their jus, proportion OF The burdens and
all would not be thrown upon lands negroes, &C.
We appeal 10 tho landholders who have direct In
terest in relieving their lands from burdens which
must accumulate enormously If proper ryssem be
not adopted. We also appeal to the saSe-holoer'
TO strike for The protection of his peculiar property II
he yields to the unjust system OF taxing down the
value of his slaves for The purpose OF encouraging Inc pu
chase OF Northern productions without tax, and under the
monaco that have right TO taS hen the security Tor
slave property will not be worth rush in very short tme
Whit have we 10 coerce obedience the laws of Con-
gress If mob chose rescue negro or Judge dischargo
him upon fraudulent habeas eorpus commissioner be.
eyes suborned Witnesses who peue themselves because
there public opinion to sustain uscei And now can
there be any public opinion If we decline 10 use the only
weapon now left by which We can operate upon the
people of the Norhl Docs not every STAKEHOLDER know
that he can operate public opinion al the North
In this way2 And that there other way now left hint
IT, therefore, he will be true TO himself and come for
ward this measure 10 demand AT the hands OF
the LEGISLATURE how is he expect the aid Of any man,
North or South volunteer to be his slave catcher NO
man will do Il unless public opinion will sustain him. And
tl,stt he
,absh that opinion In the North The true friends Of the
Union would be oided by such II would give them
practical argument in favor of sustaining tho law where
as now they They oil called slave catchers
Gland pirates "bloodhounds and such like names, to ex-
cite contempt and public Indignation against them We
have heard suggested that email tax OF five or six cents
should be levied slaves 10 raise special fund TO be appo
pa,ed By procamaons of the Governor for tho apnrehen'
sion of fugitive slaves In rewards large enough to make
'slave catching the North respectable business as
formerly was to "catch" in Africa We think the idea
good one reward of $500 10 be paid those who would
uppehend and aid In carrying through fugtir would be
powerful weapon. Indeed 81 900 paid in each such
case II would be money we'll laid out.
We appeal our Western fellowctzena 10 como forward
and aid In ,his great measure OF taxation While they
have but little interest the peculiar property 10 he pro-
tccted there would be large saving In taxes on lands and
other property and ample supply OF revenue TO carry
all the Objects oil appropriation lms TAX
would full exclus ely the of northern pro-
ducons and not those who foreign comcs-
tic Now II our Western fellow citizens unite with
us In 80 JUST n system protect Eastern interests how can
they expect the Eastern shareholders their slaves In
,ermnablv to make improvements Here Is ques
ton Of practical justice and equity II the fear o little
tax northern goods 10 induce Western felowci
zens 10 unite with The Yankees in resisting for
protection and for the common good; then in
Decd system of dsunion will exist, moro alarming
than any have yet imagined We cannot believe that
the gallant and patriotic people Of Western Virginia can be
led into the ranks Of the abolonsts by any OF the false
positions Of the "valey Whg," my other "Whg."
We appeal the mechanics and laborors throughout
tho State unite with upon this question. There Is
hope giving stability and permanent success 10 all species
of industry public opinion be fixed and sustained by
law In favor of productions and our own people In
preference those Of the North II mechanics and labor
ers will not now unite In measures for their protection why
should they again ask for protection from Congress
II now known that the tariff of % and 80 cen: enures
almost entirely TO tho benefit Of the Northern Statesi and
mechanics need protection really al this limo, more
against the Northern States than against Europe. Well
we con give It by diminuon OF other subjects,
and levy Northern goods will do upon correct
principles of political economy well as just retaliation.
An appeal Ia also made to the importing merchants and
ship. owners f have any Lefty aid In this Our
direct trade and shipping interests are almost entirely de-
sroyed and broken down by the North The use OF foreign
goods is still great and must continue But they come
through Northern ports and the profits and advantages
lost TO u.s. Our exports omplc If proper be
taken TO enable regain long lost foreign trade
In the North find that the large Importing cities are
the points for the sale domestic manufactures These TWO
great interests when properly regulated go hand and hand
together Boston, New York and Philadelphia import large
ly and there domestic manufactures prosper Vr
gnia manufactures have mostly to be sent to those cities
for ne because merchants there TO purchase foreign
articles. Import the foreign goods into citles and our
domestics be sold at home without the expense OF
paying Northern merchants to sell them back rrgnans
Now lastly we say TO the merchants that they would In
the end be benefited by tho proposed tax Some inconve
nence would bo incurred by them at tho beginning but all
would work well In n short time. The diffusion of en-
terprise the increase Of general wealth and prosperity In
few years would increase the internal and foreign trade TO an
amount which would more than compensate their frs, In
conveniences.
VIRGINIA CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM CoNvEN-
TION.
This body will re-asssmble in the Capitol to-day II N.
We nd hear that the returns OF the State and
other important information called for will be forthcoming
The auditor hue shown great energy and system In comply
Ing with the wishes of the Convention The census Of
Western Virginia s in the hands of the printer and on FIJI
day the Of oil bua few Eastern counties had been
received from the United States Marshal and was hoped
that The missing returns would be hand by Saturday
night Having sll these important elements of calculation
and action doubt that tho Convention will go to
work promptly and In earnest and that thoy will despatch
their important business thoroughly and speedily
the gravity of tho task will allow We hear many au-
sIons expected excitement the basis question
dirk spots the horizon indicnte which may
burst the Old Commonwealth Wo fervently trust that
all sinister foebodnes may be siheld, and that, while
hea, may naturally be aced by the collision Of die
minds, representing different principles md feelings,
each and every delegate may remember that he 4 citizen
Of Virginia, lone and ind!vsbie and that fair and
equitable arrangement may be adopted 10 do justice 10 all
sections and give life and unity Virginia iberaized
in her Institutions and regeneated from the anomalous pro-
visions of her present organic law The members OF no
Convention engaged In work They have no
childs play before thembut soemny invested with the
whole sovereignty Of the peops-wh the unqualified, un-
checked power do undo-nnd by the effect of .helr