Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-12-19


ling iaioms:yn concerning manufacturing facilities
III Southern States Tue manufacture Of cotton yarn
Cumberland Gap Railroad in Virginia ond Kentucky
encouragement of snip building IL The South; In:
holding Of agricultural and mechanical fairs in tn,
several Southern States; the establishment of cannon
| fnundres and manufactures Of arms in the South
the settlement: OF the territories Of the United States
the obtaining fiom the General Government tie fui
quota of arms All ammunition TO which the South
ern States are entitled; the ratification of Southern
porte; and the expression of sympathy with the et
forts being made to establish slavery i'll Contra
America, which will be given IN full hereafter.
The resolutions were adopted.
RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. OSBORNE, of Georgia, introduced resolution
in relation to taxing manufacturing machinery.
Referred TO the committee OIL business.
MIR. AapERsoS, of Georgia, introduced resolu
ton in relation TO the interference of European
Powers with the domestic institutions Of the Islanc
of Cuba.
Referred to the Committee on Business.
Mr. SWAN, of Tsnnesses, introduced Il resolu ION
authorizing the President of the Convention to mp
point committee 10 prepare call for the next Con
vention and an address 10 the people of the South
which was adopted.
The President announced Messrs DsBow OF LOui.
sinna, Swan OF Tennessee. Cochran of Alabama,
Bouiware OF Virginia, and King O: South Carolina,
as the members of that committee.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Alabama, introduced resolution
in relation to the exemption OF certain amount of
slave property from levy and sale by legal process
Referred 10 Committee on Business.
Mr.. CABELL, of Virginia, introduced resolution in
relation to Southern Banks refusing to discount pa
per IN Northern Banks more than thirty days from
date, tor Sterling Bills.
On motion of Mr.. HOLMES, Of South Carolina, the
resolution was laid on the table.
On motion OF MIR. GORDON, Of Georgia, the Con-
vrntion, ii o'clock, took recess until i, H., 10
meet a: that time in ST. Andrews Hall.
LETTER FROM HON. ROBERT ToOMBS,
I'd THE soUTHERs COMMERCIAL coSvEsTInS.
WASHINGTON, Ca, Dec. e. 1856.
GENTLEMEN IL duly received your polite invita-
ton 10 attend the Southern Convention which " III
meet in Savannah on the S:h inst, and il WIS my
earnes, wish aud purpose To be present but now find
shall be disappointed. The thought which gave
birth IN these Conventions, was TO devise plan
BY VIII ch the South could secure her just share of
nrulgn commerce, which is mainly supported by her
industry This end must BE- accomPshcd,-it is lie
ces.ary 10 the wealth, the prosperity tie strength.
aud therefore, the safety Of tho Slavch"lng State.
u can be easily, speedily, aud c"1stifu'iohally &C.
c0npiisied. II cannot be- done oy voluntary com.
nrrcsl associations; il will not be d"Es through the
general governments but il can be dnue and must b.
done by idT. Federal legislation has been OF the
important agencies which hitherto has driven foreign
commerce away from porte, Stsc legislation can
hiring il back. und nothing else can q. long as this
Union exists. Tie power of The S'ate Government
IL tax without limit. all items of msterial we,th
within her Jurisdiction. is clear, urqussiionad and
unques ona5e. The Fedora. Courts have express
" and repeatedly rifrined il. 4 S!nte cannon, I'LL
der the Federal CONSTITUTIONS lay duties on Imports
bu. she can tex oil imported commodities offered
e.. snie within her Limits. Not only every
State in tho Union but evea every GaunicipGi
corporation, authorized In 10 by State gislation
exercised this power from the foundation ut this
Government to this day II il al tins moment eIsr
cised BY Of the States greatly to disa!ven
tsge Take, for example, bale Of woocn Cloth,
imported from England into New York, :iere pur-
chased by Georgia merchant. and gold here tn
Ut our citizens. This bnle o goods pays ths Federal
Treasury thirty per cent. al rc!orrn; then II pays
Stat. TAX t" me treasury ot New fo:k :@cn u pays
this year, anil three-eiehhs per cent 10 the :nu
uicpal treasury of the city oil New York then /; comes
10 Georgia and pays 70 our State treasury one tenth
OF per cent thus, besides the hurfi'ens imposed
Oh il by the Federal government and the State cav
rrnrnrut Of New York, even the city government
evies nearly fourteen times rs much gu, of il
DO in Georgia These taxes are, Of course, iucorpo
rated into the price, and become part Of the price
aud nre paid by the Georgia consumer. II is the
du'y OF our legislature to see TO IT, that our people
shall pay no taxes except those levied by the authority
Of the General Government, or that ofour own State
II is not duty to pay the expenses OF the munich
pal governments Of New York, or Boston, and will
he our fault and our folly, if continue to do IT,
Direct importatons will cure this evil as to foreign
commodities; like remedy will cure it TO dones
nc products. Let us first secure direct trade. This
can be done by imposing State tax of - per cent
nd palOrem upon Nil goods wares and merchandise
offered for sale within the State other than those
which shall BIZ imported from foreign Countries
Two objects should govern in filling the blank: LIST.
IL should be high enough 10 prevent all indirect I'M
portston of foreign merchandise. I'd. Ii should be
high enough to rase sufficient revenue for al the
wants of the State without IMPOSING upon the people
Adv capiiation or other direct tax whatever. II per
cent. lax imposed upon all such II, rchandize, II
il not probable that the importers Of foreign EerchaD
die intended for our consumption would land them
ar other ports than our own, at the cost OF fifty
thousand dollars IN every million imported, and if
they did snme other wiser people would import slIni
lar commodities directly, aud undersell them. and
thus drive them ont of our markets But If we should
be mistaken in the proper amount OF taxation to effect
this object wc should raise the tax until il did
plish IT, The power IL unlinted-tEe object Ia lIra.
uable. The second objec, is scarcely less important
than the first. The most striking difference between
tie legislation of tie State and Federal COVE. nn-n
il to be seen in the parsnony Of the and the pro
useness of the other. The Treasury of the Federal
government, is usually Overlooking, and nobody com
plains oft Congress employs three tours oi lie tune
in ,lvsing means get rid OF lis redundant revenue
Salaries ara high and OF late almost annually in.
creased, and an utter disregard of economy marks
our entire Federal legislation. On the other hand,
the State ireasnrsa "ro generally empty ihs State.
burthened with oppressive d.bta, which some Of
them have even repudated rather than i'm,
nose the necessary burdens by direct taxation,
to pny them. State officers are poorly, even
msanly paid, and consequently the federal gov
rn,nent is fact drawing into its services the
ablrst and bes. men of the country, TO the great
detrnrn OF the interests of the States. The people
are constantly crying out for lavish expenditure, and
even for taxation by the general government and rs
constantly and more vociferousy crying out against
both by the State governments. Yet they pay all The
taxes to both governments! The State expenditure
il generally equal and just, and tor the benefit OF all
the tax PAYERS the expenditure ut the general gov
er,ment, on the contrary. IS generally unequal, un.
lust and for the benefit of few only OF the tax pay
er.l The people OF Georgia pay ess thHn four hun.
bred thousand dollars 10 their State treasury, and
that il plid reluctantly and grudging1y. Assuming
that their payment to the Federal treasury is only IN
equal proportion 10 their numbers they pay into IT
the sum OF above three millions OF dollars annually:
We. they are content The secret Of this singular in
consistency ia be found in tho mode uf lsvyng the
ta1ss-and in that alone. The Federal government
!evies It's taxes indrectly-the Slate evles hers di
rrcy. This is just what propose TODD. Levy our
taxes on consumption it can be more easily paid; We
shall then Oil our treasury to The extent Of wants,
protect ourselves against the Vii Just Legislation Of
our sister States, bring direct trade TO our ports gve
profitable employment TO our capital and labor edu.
cate our people, develope all our resources, and
build up great, powerful and prosperous common
wealtha, able to protect the people from ali dan
gers from within aud without. l do not pro.
pnse to go into the details Of the proposed sgis
! lation-ths wisdom Of our State legislature will
resdIy perfect them. We already levy por
ton Of OBS revenue in this manner; propose TO levy
i. all 7, needs no cgstGi: houses. Lay the tax al
commodities except those imported from c5-and, the
State can easily provide for stamping and certifying
the exempted goods this evidence must be shown b.
the SELLER or the whole stock lie taxed. ! would *
emDt the merchandise brought TO our ports for con
euihprion IN Other Srates The drawback system o
! tn. General goYetnpcnl igrr-hes we'll tried plan +"
eifec;lng that object Whatever other exemptions
policy or the interests some Of sister States
demand, submit to the convention, and the wisdom
of the Representatives Of tire People.
| ain very respectfully your obt serv't,
K TooHBs.
MsSvs. Edward C. Anderson, Mayor aud others, Sa
| vannab, Ga
UNITED sTATE- SUPREME COURT-TRlAl