The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-23
THE SOUTHERN PRESS.
From the Richmond Enquirer.
Central Southern Rights Association

Central Southern Rights Association.
The Association met Friday, January 18th
1851, in the Union Temperance Hall: the resi-
dent Daniel III. London, in the Chair. The pro-
ceedngs of The last meeting were read, and a con-
siderable number Of signatures announced as hay-
ing been added 10 the constitution since the lar,
meeting.
Mr.. ID. p. Gooch, from the committee on me-
moralizlng the legislature. read the following as
their report:
TO the General .assessdty Of Virginia:
The Central Southern Rights Association of Vir-
ginia, most respectfully represent to your honor
able body that, at the time of the adoption of the
Constitution Of the United States, the State OF
Virginia was first among the " old thirteen in
numbers, first in wealth, first in political inau-
ence, equal in patriotism, furnishing her full share
of men and means to achieve our independence,
cheerfuIly making more sacrifices than any of the
other States to allay sectional STRIFE to harmonixe
and equnlixe the interest of the thirteen indie
pendent nations who had leagued together to pro-
vide for their mutual defence and general welfare.
What was the situation of the Southern States
at that important period Of our historyl They
were wealthy, contented, prosperous and happy.
They could sit under their own vine and fg-tree,
and none could make them afraid. Their voice
was heard in the councils Of the nation, and, al
though It was frequently disregarded, it IVES
always treated with respect We occupy the
we have the same domestic relations, we have all
the energy Of our fathers, yet how sad and de-
grading Is our situation when coltrasted with
theirs We are a divided depressed, and dis
contented people, our property is wantonly pur-
Joined, our feelings outraged and our interests dis
regarded. With agricultural productions which
should command the commerce Of the world, we
are dependent on the free States for the very ne
cessaries Of life. We have become second Ire
land. What has produced this deplorable change
in situaton: II is the perncious hand Of
government No temporary cause, no trivial
event. no accidental circumstance, could produce
results so deleterious.
From the organization Of our Government to
the present time, our laws have been no framed as
TO appropriate the hard earnings Of our toll TO the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of the free States of the North
until they have become alike Indifferent to our
feelings and our INTEREST," our warnings are disre
garded, our sutferings scoffed at-we have
ceased TO be respected, and only the subject Of
ridicuIc
The Central Southern Rights Association OF
Virginia appeal to the legislature of their State
for II redress Of grievances--an appeal which they
trust will not be in vain. We trust that you are
not degenerate sons of noble sres, but that the
spirit which animated your fathers, still burns
within the bosom Of their descendants. Conf
dent that 1t is in your power, legislators to re-
dress our grievances, we pray your honorable
body to enact such excise laws as you in your
wisdom may deem fit and proper, discriminating
in favor of such articles as are of the growth,
manufacture, or direct Importation of the State of
Virginia. This measure we consider perfectly
constitutional and proper, as our views are sus-
tained by the decisions of our courts Of law,
(Which we deem unnecessary to cite, as they are
no doubt familiar TO you.) They were also ad
vanced by one Of Virginia's most distinguished
sons, (the late VIM. b. Giles.) in answer to the
question, what remedy the South constitutonally
possessed for counteracting the partial and op-
pressive legislation Of the Northi His remedy
was an excise tax on Northern goods
We do not wish to be understood as relying up
on the realiatory operation Of an excise tax alone
We consider it fully justified by every principl,
which should induce State to prefer the prosper
iy of its own citizens, to that of all others. A,
u measure of protection to our own people, M
State can take exception or have cause for com
plant.
Under the operation Of the laws of the Unite,
States, the once Aourishing foreign commerce O
Virginia has dwnded down 10 mere trifle-
Millions are annually drawn from her to enrcl
people, whose feelings ard actions are of a mos
deleierious character. We ask no boon from an,
other State, we call upon our legislature to SO ar
range the burdens Of taxation, which must neces
sarily be imposed, TO advance the prosperity
of the State. The property Of the State is alread
heavily burdened, and we informed that nd
ditonal supplies are wanted 10 enable the treasury
10 comply with its liabilities. Under this state OF
things, we pray your honorable body to take in.
to consideration the proprlety ofrelieving the pres
sent subjects Of taxation Of some of their burdens
and to substitute an excise tax, SO arranged as to
produce the necessary amount; and, at the sam.
time, protect the interest of the agricultural man
ufacturing, mechanical and commercial commu
nifty. We do not propose any additional taxa
ton, but simply a new arrangement Of the 6nan
cial policy of the State, more compatible with th
altered circumstances in which we find ourselves
Your memorialsts, prompted by sense of dut,
to themselves and the beloved old Common wealth
and the great interest they feel in her advance il
wealth and prosperity, which her climate, agricul
tural, mineral, and mercantile advantages afford
hope your honorable body will accede to their re
quest, and grant such relief as the nature Of Tho
case may require
Col. Morgan supported the report, and said
that it met with his warmest appropriations but he
doubted the propriety of leaving the word "excise
tax" as it stood-that word he deemed unneces-
gary, and it had odious associations connected
with it in the popular mind. He moved to strike
out the word +" ercise;" which, after some little
discussion was lost
Col. Morgan said that he was in daily expecta-
ton of receiving from Washington certain door
ments which he had hoped would be appended to
the memorial, and which would present statistical
and historical facts of great importance, which
ought TO accompany this document A motion
was then made to recommt the paper to the COM
n,ttee ti the next meeting, IN order to give time
for these documents to be added. The motion
was lost, and the report unanimously adopted,
and the committee instructed to present it to the
legislature soon as the papers above referred to
were received and appended.
The resignation of VIM F. Richie, esq.,, as
secretary to the association, was presented and
received. Mr.. Richie begged to be excused from
serving, as it conAicted with other duties neces-
sarily demanding his time and attention. Mr.
John Lynch was unanimously elected secretary.
The association then proceeded to the election
OF a first vice president-that Office having never
been Elled. Mr.. Jeter nominated Mr.. George r
Peakc, now the second vice president. Mr..
Robert r. Duval nominated Hon. James A. Sed-
don. Mr. Gooch nominated Col. John F. Wiley
" Amelia, and accompanied bis nomination with
me remarks.
Col Wiley rose and said that nothing could
have surprised him more than the nomination
lust made. He had not been here before and was
not vet a recorded member, but that the objects of
the association were praseworthy and patriotic,
and the cause a holy one He much preferred to
be left to evince his zeal in a branch society in
Amelia. and he promised his warmest exeriions
in behalf Of this glorious cause. Col. w. made