Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-12-19
=S;,::,,Sss rI,MargClAi. tps1EsridS

FRIDAY, Dec i"ili, 1885,
.,rha tonvention was called To order W wv
dent at half past nine O'Clock; ill., .,,,ouinp resoltl.
Mr. Hale, of Ala, offered Tue ioi''"h
"G Pa.oved That the President of TINS , sava
heso,'euc Co.., ,nittee of five in each OF Inc Siave
Kidding Suites, 10 report 10 Tue HeA statistical
nontion of said States all the vauao s.,mr;nu is
I;,;su and mineral resources, especially !ne u.s
cltes eI coal IRON, slate marble copper aud lime
''T The resolution was adopted.
rprrTRADE lSD DIRECrTAHATio"'
~, tI,'..yn of Ceo,. on behalf of the majority
r. H.. COMMITTEES on business, made the following
report: :,ont IF mi. Convention. the
Great obstacle to The direct trade of the SCUM WIN
foreign nations is to be found ID the RESTRICTIVE no
v ,f raising revenue by imports and in the ui;;! III
6scal action of the Federal Government, oy "h,cn
revenue raised from the South has been disoursed
rho Nor:u. thus draining the South Of lie capltai ana
40, mulating it in the Northern, Eastern ana Mld-
de States, o,a
trade is demanded by every consideration OF JUSTICE
equality and sound policy. ..
Resolved That the system of imnosts ia incompat,,
ibs with perfect freedom Of industry and trade ana
operates uneaually, first as between different sections
of tbe Union; second as between different ciasses OF
producers and third, between individual Citizens
and therefore ought to be abolished.
Resolved, That being tax upon consumption las
we'll as upon production,l the system OF lmposts
throws an unjust proportion Of the taxes upon The
great middle and producing classes and, overlooking
entirely the ability of tax payers, permits the wealthy
capitalists either to use as means OF increasing
their wealth. or at least Of escaping with tax bear
ing no just proportion to their resources or "o'g"
tons.
Resolved, That being tax upon foreign products
obtained in exchange for home products, 1t dscour-
ages and limits the amount of foreign aud therefore,
OF internal commerce. and operates Us bounty to
those at home engaged in the production OF articles
similar to those subjected to import duties.
Resolved. That, escaping popular observation and
enquiry, II facilitates the rnising OF large and une'
cessary revenue increases the patronage OF the Coy
erunrnt and engenders proiusion and corruption IN
lis administrations
Resolved, That a we'll digesed system Of odraio
rem taxation is the proper remedy for all the evils IN
hereni in aud inseparahe from system OF imports:
Resolved, That the abandonment OF the sy'iem OF
mposs and the establishment OF absolute ire trade
and moderate direct taxation will revive Southern
commerce. lead to direct importalion and thus no.
complish the great Objects AT which We alul, 20 6e
followed, as a necessary consequence. by the estab'
lshment Of lines Of steamers, railroads, n?d al! the
accessorie. of active extended aud lucrative COM
merce.
Resolved, That a copy Of these resolutions be
transmitted to each Of Senators and Representa-
,ives In Congress- and that this Convention earnestly
recommend them TO use their best efforts Tor The es-
tabshment of the principles enunciated III lie lore
going resolutions; and also to the Governors OF tho
several States, with request that they lay them be
!y-e the Legislatures of said States
Resolved That this Convention recommend the
establishment of free trade associations IN he several
States represented Ia this Convention, upon the Dass
uf these resolutions.
Mr. FLrNlsa, Of Tenn, presented the following
! minority report:
The undersigned, members of the General Com.
in;rtee Business, of this Convention respectfully
beg leave 10 dissent from The recommendations OF me
majority Of lhe Committee the sub -ct OF free trede
and direct taxation. We deem il unnecessary at this
time and in this form 10 enter into detailed arsu
ment in support Of the position We hsve thu, assumed,
but will briefly submit that We regard the resolutions
recommended by the majority as unwlse and imprac
,icahe, and tue questions there raised rs not being
!egtimstely within the Jurisdiction of this body.
We believe that the radical policy suggested by
the majority which would go rsvouon:ze system
| to which our people have been concerned from The
organization Of our Government would at this time
be most serious in its consequences to the people OF
the South
We believe the system of direct taxation proposed
would of necessity, tend to ALLEVIATE the people OF
the South from the Federal Government, and there.
fore we would regard its Inauguration as an entering
wedge to the dissolution Of our national Union.
Whence, we dissent from the report Of tho mnjorl.
ty, aud pray for Its rejection by this Convention.
All Of which is respectfully submitted.
(Sgued) john NJ. FLEAiss OF Tenn,
f. Is. DgAS, OF Va,
JoHS j. BARR Of Ala, and
WIN. G. McApoo, of Tenn.
Mr. FLraIHo stated the minority report had bsen
hastily drawn up this morning without an opportu'
nifty to consult all the members OF the committee
who might have agreed TO it. He had understood
that the Florida and North Carolina members were
in favor Of the minority report.
Mr.. GIBBONS of North Carolina. moved to lay the
majority report on the table, which question being
taken by States, was agreed to rs follows:
In the all Neutrality-suspicious. votes, Maryland D.
North Carolina 10. Virginia is, Tennessee ~, and
Florida 3-Tutnl 81.
In the nega,ivc-Georgia 10 votes, South Carolina
8, Louisiana 6-tota "a.
Texas not present
Subsequently, tho vote laying the majority report
on the table, was, after considerable discussion, re-
considered, and,
On motion Of Mr.. CALHOUN OF South Carolina,
both the majority and minority reports were referred
to select committee Of one from each State TO be ap
pointed by the President, aud to report at the next
| meeting Of the Convention.
| RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
Mr. SPADE Of Alabama, introduced the following
resolution which read aud adopted
| Resolved, That this Convention recognises the I'M
porance of the speedy connecticut by railway, ut the
Southern Atlantic and Gulf State, and as a means Of
| accomplishing this object, this Convention recon-
nends to the favorable consideration OF the rsspeo
tive Legislatures of Georg ia, Alabama, Mississippi
completion Of the road from Wes; Point. Reorgia, &c
the Mississippi River, by way OF Montgomery, anc
Selma in Alabama TO the Mississippi line, to connect
with the Jackson and Brandon road in Mississippi
and the Vicksburg and Shreveport in Louisiana ans
| thence TO connect with the Southern Pacinc rohd
| chartered by the State of Texas.
| Mr. HIgaARD, Of Alabama, offered tho following
resolution, which was considered and adopted:
| Resolved, That select committee Of three be up
pointed to consider and report to the next meeting
| this Convention, for its consideration system
detective police in the southern States, supported BY
planters and shareholders; also, syttem of finance
and the propriety of Incorporating Planters Cuon
| The President announced Messre. Hubbard, Q
Alabama, De Bow. Of Louisiana. and Ashe, Of Nortl
| Carolina, as the Committee.
| AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.
Mr.. scoTT, of Virginia, called for the special order
being the following resolution offered by hin OF
yesterday:
Resolved. That the President of this Convention
appoint committee consisting Cf - member
to investigate the facts connected with the presen
condition and future aapsct CT slavery III the United
States and other parts Of the world and the chsrac
ter and extent Of the international laws upon tn,
subject Of the African slave trade. aud the pr"Pristy
Of reopsnng that trade by the United States witt
the coast of Africa, and report the same at the ne1
meeting of the Convention.
Mr. ScorI supported the resolution upon the ground
that some new ield Of supply of labor must be
sought for in order to prevent the draining Of slave
holding States, to result from the policy OF extend
Ing the area Of Southern institutions, contemplated
| in the building Of the Pacific railroad.
Mr.. ALBERT J. PIKE, OF Louisiana, spoke at some
length in opposition TO the resolution He said he
approached the subject with considerable erabsrrsss
msnt. He was perhaps the only man OF northern
birth in that Convention. But no had come 10 the
South Immediately after his majority, aud to hrr be
owed all he was or expected to be. The bones OF
four of bic children rested under the sod of the Soul
and he was faithful to her Interests. He had written
aud published various letters to the people OF tie
North in TAG defence Of the institutions Df the South
no; defence in the q: the term when used IN
regard to one :he bar Of justice accused of crime
but as one defending right cause by sound and jus
argument. He believed in the right OF the South TO
hold slaves and that under the circumstances it
ths best condition for the African race 10 occupy
Ba, he would not consent that any Que should lay
down the law to govern him, any one ese that it
| they defended the institution u slavery IN the South,