Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-04-21

power 20 the Soutn. IT,.
|, hoyinp been demonstrated, beyond all controversy, that
the construction of railroads, through The public lands OF the
United States, so increases the value oil The land. llat IN ca
SEES y herc alternate sections have been granted, as a condl'
lion for the construction of such roads, the remaining lands
of the Government have been readily brought into HarHel,
at prices which have realised 10 the treasury q sum larger
rhan was asked for the whole land without the construction
of such roads thus fulfilling the trust committed TO Con
gfess, by the realization Of the common fund in the puoiic
lInds for the benefit Of all the States at the same Time taal
il, relieves The States, in which The lands are located, from
the serious evil of a Government prOpIietorship, which ls
held wilhou, limit Of time beyond their control for taxatIon'
or other aid. for the support oil The Stale GoYeTnmenI.-
Therefore, be il
/. Resolved, That the Senators and Representatives In
Compress from the States which has cent delegates 10 this
Convention. be respectfully, but, Of the s1me linie, earnest.
" requested 20 use their best and most diligent efforts, 10
procure The passage of all bills now pending, or that may be
hereafter int, oduced, granting alternate sections oil puollc
linds within the limits heretofore presented in similar caees,
in aid of The construction Of railroads, Tor which charters
have been obtained from the proper authorities, INTENDED 10
connect the nayicable waters ofany State or States win the
Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, or the Gull OF Mexico, or 10 form
links 10 great chains of roads, designed 10 connect such wa
tiers, Or the Gulf with either Ocean, and especially such as
are best calculated 10 afford The most direct, cheapest ana
sneedy connection between the Atlantic Ocean and Can OF
Mr,ico with such noint or points West of the Mississippi
river, " hence a railroad will be most likely extended hefeal'
ter TO the Pacific shore.
2 Resolved, That in case Congress cannot be induced 10
make such grants Of alternate sections of iano' Tor faiifoaa
purposes, as are recommended By these resolutions lhrn Inc
Convention approves Of and recommends Inc enactment oi'
general law, giving 10 the different States IN ~hich TIVE pun
TIC !Iuds lie, The right OF resumption and purchase OF all, or
any Of The lands on the line Of any railroad sanc'|ohed oy
the Legislature of such States, 10 the breadth ct six miles,
On each side of every road, al reduced prices, graduated III
proportion TO the time during which such lands may have
been in market. and upon credit.
8 Resolved, Thul Railroads connecting Southern, Atlantic
and Gull pvr,s, and radiaring from them To- any part OF
the South and Southwestern interior, should be promoted hy
any means IN our power, whether by Individuals, by cry
corporations. or by STATE credits properly grounded; being
in our opinion, the most safe, economical and speedy means
of developing the agricultural and mineral resources oil me
States, and supplying the certain basis OF profitable export
and impnr, Irttc.
4. Resolved, That this Convention views with unqualified
expectation the great railroad works in progress, and pene-
iraIing HE Valley CT the Mississippi, connecting iripor'ahf
puia;s in the Valley OF the Mississippi and It's tributaries
with The sraports OF the South Atlantic and Gull ola'cs'
AMI nlso connecting the Atlantic with the Cult OF Mexico.
8. Resolved, Thut the speedy completion OF TINS system
o: railroads - esEcuiia! 10 The full development oil Inc asti'
cultural, mineral and manufacturing reeuurccs ot the South'
aud tu the control and direction 10 her own seapofi5 D ire
great commerce liz her productions that Is now carried on
through other chaGnels, while. III The same time, II ID emf
neatly caculitri 10 draw clIser the bonds of union amongst
us and 10 perpctua.c our social and ether institutions
G. Resolved, That this Convention recommend, IN inc
most emphatic manner, 10 the several States in which such
works are in progress, 10 affIrd all the primary aid essential
to the speedy completion oil The same, uud the accomplish
meat OF The great and patriotic ends Tor which lhe7 were
designed.
I Resolved, That copies Of these resolutions be transmit.
ted BY the President OF this Convention to the Governors oil
all The States here represented, 10 be laid before me several
Legislatures thereof, and also 10 the members ot congress
from the States here represented.
Resolved, That a Select Committee OF five be appointed
20 report, II; their earliest convenience, upon The Importance
Of an uniform system fer the coinsge OF commercial nations
10 facilitate mutual interchange.
Resolved. That a uniformity in the values OF the CONS OF
ditieren; commercial nations is deemed by'!his Convention
10 be an object Ct much importance and highly desirable.
Z. That The Report OF DR.. Gi5boD, OF the Mint IN NORM
Carolina, on that subject, herewith reported, be printed Tor
circulation and more general informalion; and ,hat he be
appointed a Committee. on the part Of this Convention, to
communicate the said report, with these resolutions, TO the
proper authorities al Washington, and 10 request them 10
take Huch measures dc they E,cy deem best 10 elect their %
ject.
3. That the Chamber of Commerce OF Charleston, and
other cities Of the United States. be invited To aid the Meas
urc by their support.
Whereas, The General Government; Is about to become
the owner of the Louisville and Portland Canal, at the falls
of Ohio, by purchase OF the private stock in said Company
with her dividends arising from the tolls thereof.
And whe'eas, The said Canal is now wholly insufficient 10
conduct the commerce seeking ils passage, and the present
tolls are about TO cease, II ia importlnt that the present Con
sress adopt measures TO take charge Of said WORK, and Tx 0
rate Of tolls sufficient only for lis being kept IN order and
repa!rs.
Resolved, Therefore. by this Convention, that the repre-.
senla,ion in boln branches Ct The Congress Of the United
States, from States here represented, be requested 10 use
their influence in procuring an appropriation ey the General
Government sufficient TO enlarge The Louisville ana Fortiano
Canal 70 a size adequate 10 pAos the largest class steam
buats, and thereby remove the obstruction al that point oil
the Ohiu river now 80 embarrassing TO trade.
Resolved, That this-ConveGtion recommend TO cacn o!
the Southern States having u sea port, 10 adopt the mos
efficient measures for The protection OF the slave property Of
s. F. LEAKE,
On behalf of the Virginia Delegation.
By Mr. Heart, OF South Carolina.
Resolved, That in view of the present deficient and I'M
perfect condition OF the nIaii seryIce in The Southern States.
boil! with regard 10 their COMMUNICATING with other por.
lions OF The Union, und with foreign countries, a Committee
Of one from each Stnte represented in this Convention be-
TO ascertain the extent Of the evil, and 20 suggest the
proper remedy.
pOrtaICe OF a complete I~no:Gledge OF the geological features
of The Southern country, and in consideration OF the very
imperfect character Of The surveys heretofore made, be II
Resolved, That in the opinion of this Convention, IL is
proper 10 urge upon the respective State Legislatures the nc.
ccssity OF Their Undertaking complete geological surveys Of
Of The southern States.
Resolved, That this Convention cordially recommend to
the consideration OF the people OF the States represented 10
this Coryculion, agricultural exhibitions, and institute fairs.
rs ono Of The prominent mcaus OF developing the industrial
resources of those STATES.
Alr. NsIsoa Tilt, Of Georgia, presented, the following as
4 report from a sub. CommitIe Of the Committee on Reso-
luuons, and by the latter ordered 10 be presented TO The Con
vcn;iun.
In the opinion OF your Committee, the several States OF
the Union have practical, simple and constitutional meane.
by virtue OF powers not delegated in the Constitution OF the
United States, OF protecting themselves against serious vic.
latipns of their constitutional or natural rights, either by
or BY o.her States Of the Union and we believe
that these means will nverI, in all time, the dreaded carastro
phe -tisunion and teach The enemies of the Constitution
aud the usurpers Of the rights Of States, by the potent argu-
menl of interest, as well as justice, that their schemes oil
wrong cannot be prosecuted with impunily.
Without entering into an argument of principles or pow.
es which are well settled, we viii proceed !, illustrate by a
supposed case.
Virginia passes q law, the leading provisions of which are
% follows:
lst. That II Congress shall pass any law aboliShlng slave.
ry in the District o! Columbia, or in;nny territory Of the Uni
ted States, the Senators voting for the act on lie final pas
81 gr. shall! he held to- represent the sovereign will Of their
respective States, (hr acIs OF aggression committed by Stale
authority within tie limits ofa State, the same remedy may
be applied) that such States shall be considered as having
Intentionally violated their faith pledged 10 Virginia in the
2nd. That if any State shali violate its faith pledged to
Virginia in The Constitution of the United States, BY any
such act or acts as specified in the first section. The Cover.
nor Of the State shall issue a proclamation OF the fact, with
Il notice that all articles Of merchandise brought from such
State after The date, and either purchased, sold or
in the State Of Virginia, will be subject To a tax
Of one hundred per cent. upon their value.
81. That nj the usual lime Of receiving returns Of taxable
the Tax Receiver, in addition to the usual oath,
shall administer 10 tax payers an additional oath, that
they will render n true account TO the best of their
knowledge snd belief Of all articles OF merchandise brought
from such fairh!ess STATE, since The date OF the Governors
proclamation, which they have either purchased, sold or con.
sumcd in the State OF Virginia.
18th. Tina, such articles so returned, shall pay a tax OF one
hundred per cent.
9Th. That if any person shall refuse TO take the oath and
the tax. they shall be guilty Of a misdemeanor, and shall
be fined in the sum of - dollars, which may be rcmitted
by subscribing the oath, and paying the tax.
OH. That when the cause for enforcing the act shall be re-
moved, or The injustice rcmeded, the Governor shall issue a
PROCLAMATION Of The fact, and the law shall thus be suspend.
ed, TO be enforced again, should any Of the specified wrongs
a. ~ DIffo