Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-12-23
! Memorial Of the Central southern i.isn
..,o.;,,,on or rirrinIa: being 81 state
80, or Grievance. and suggestion %
Remedies therefor.

n,.,, Of Grievances and suggestion %
Remedies therefor.
T, N, Ge.sya! .iS,tmJiy ! tF3'"!d'
Your memo, iail,,s. the Central southET,, E'sn', n. =.
u t ~ many years aud at the present time rhi-'!n'" on
,%e nart Of certain non'slavrholding states oil the N9r.'io
- Virginia AMI her sister southern s;ais., require w
sarnrr, and solemn consideration OF your Honorable ho'!'
and the adoption 10y the South Of II well concerted 'H''e"'
of prompt and eEtcual measures Of seh-ds;rhc-.
Bound together a, are thc United s,h'ts by a common,
bond Of Federal and ;rattTna! un!on-a confederation aht
fraternity OF q" rglal snyer,irutirs, with cgur! right, hMi
equal guarantees for their pr"iection-ihe non ~l"f"h''u-
I'M. State. while exercising those rights AMI guarantees Tor
themselves even beyond the Jasi limits AID true ,'t,.'" g
the compact, have practically denied Them !" TIE S"u'nt'n
states; and, willie enjoying 10 the fli all the advantages" i
the Union, and grown great and r!chthIousa "rf resource,
they have used tina, Onion as u buiwark irom hriind which
to plot schemes and ferre;ratc outrage. at'!H't oiT pc.'r'
our property, and our tNcs.
A, the time NJ the adoption Of BE- Federal Constitution,
African slavery existed in, and was protected hy the law
of every State IN The Union except Massachusetts,, AMI III
Massachusetts. il hai been only recently abolished.
The Constitution Was ordained, not to create OF destroy,
but 20 preserve and peTpe;uaie the sovereign powers Of TIC
several States III respect To their own Institutions ana gov
crnment.. and 10 spread tn" shield q: aconIHon nationality
over the rights "i each and all. HE controlling cause OIL
It's origin and adoption, WA the Eel, necessity O! 80 Tcsv!a-
ting intercourse with each other, and win foreign nations.
that the sovereignty ol each might be preserved, III harIu0-
uY with the supremacy and protection OF im" who'll IN
rvspec, to the great subject III slavery and all It's political
relations, K is well known that the Constitution was i COIN
promise, based upon mutual cUncessiuilS-nui, indeed. III
regard 10 the existence OF the institution IN rhc several
Stl;es-fur of that each State was iei; free 10 act Tor ITSELF
but in regard 10 the power II was 10 WELD, and the burdens
Il was 20 bear under the Fedora! Government. and 'hr pro-
lection ,hp; Government was To insure to its rights and pre-.
scrvaton in the inioli. Chief among the rights T.'crEci
to the several statcs, was the right q; governing Itself ia
respect TO that ia-t!'a'!un. as 81 al! other doin"st!c concerns,
and ctjef among the express guarantees of the Con
stirurion wa, the clause providing Tor the rendition u H.
,iiiy. slaves IL the several states. And in accordance"
with these truths, the Northern states, "Ec ~ on, a. liz.
,xir-ncir. OF their condition and the natural Influences "'
climate md soil seemed n dictate, have gotten ~! OF Their
slaves by sale o. emancipation. certainly :" soon a. ihey
ceased TO he profitable, while III" southern States, !" one
diencr to the sane Natural laws. the necessities Of ;hcir 80.
C;al and political position. aud the gr.a' wants "i III" ""fIi
--]i,,iuIinr lie. Northern ~SIatr>-havc preserved the tISti.
,uliou IA i, stood ia THE times of their fcrriaiiIcIs. and n'lst
stand 20 long as the industrial Interests Of lniuEinu ana TIE
.Jv,rr.,n,ut OF ciy Utilization depend upon tine products of
COMPULSORY African Labor ia the fertile fields of the S"uih.
| EU', Notwithstanding the most solemn and sacred "Di-a-
lions, several. II not AL "f the I've N"ittrwestrrh states;
sprung from thar rich einiirr, The r4uEihcrnt 1n""r! -;
virginia 10 the Union, have passed laws Ia plan ,ot'ia't"
ton o; her constitutional rights, willie AL OF the northern
States proper. in open violation Of clear compact Az"
piishiei filth, almost in solid pha!anN have either ,Nl'te,..'
il nr!iird the laws Il Congress. enacted under the Consii-
tuition tor the read lion Of fugitive live, or nav" "inhif"i,
cd it, execution with penalties, ann"yan'r' a''i 'i'''"''
ties which practically deprive l; oil force.
Undrr tbs system OF uIiricnhly aud fraudulent Icsish,
lion he Northern people have piilagcd our properly anu
cIo',.I IL. crime. vim tile .amctty OF the law. Adding in
sui: to 'lc't And conG-cati"n. they have 'Iaiitrea ~ ~ w
r-s 9. :Ec property they ltE" stolen or de'tF"y'' ia" -
,r:h.r and inyrc,irr, Is r.Iiculc and vituperh'ion' by can
cs,rrc AMI fal.e!iood. ami all the artillery "i caiuh"H "mt
nLn,. i,,y Eay. sought to iriducc and drgrhic !, W INC
"y.. -; in. world. pcrvrrt!?g the pure siifi; Of Chri''ltHi:a
from is benign mission oi Peace on eas ~ anu .upI VI.
- - ~ nlyr own ,,Scori aEl strife throughout
IA, L,uE-:l.ry have severed The bonds "i h'ii2''n IVA,
hound u. tor"ihr!-il.y iutHc preached against US HaltI
nna malice, Az! all uncita'i;at!eness; even sedlt,"h ana
"I,IsL,rr. rnriGc and anarchy, ana have isS"cFaird TIE
aItlr, Of God viii. iroiIGe prayers !of curses upon our
heads. Proceeding now to extremes o! rage anu Irr%ciA;
iin,"I,. friis'r,,iuc and ,rryilr war. and midnight treason,
| ,purIrr and robbery have marked 'h"ii footsteps IN "'n"h
md crime. And while. until q lt;c hour. the conservative
few have kept douttfUl silence instead o. Hi'ins h"iie>t o"''
lust 20 fearless ind. nntinn-hy public Snd ~ private Ht'
mon.trarioEs. large masses OF! 'he N"fhsrh pe'pI, nav
promptly sympIhiseh with ana sanctioned. nave "pI''I.c'
| and couiurmora;cd, these t.ndis' at'' IL i'air!oi:t :ii h''
~ ir,l..i !. II, tn say tia; tie more Intelligent and IL.
snr,,nhIc ci:izca, Of the Nu;th d%!-approyt and iefi"re iih-
| .icrr az things. W IL honor :" the earnest Statesmen VII"
,ry. denounced, with manly r.oquCIcr. TIE ac'ors IN the
bloody drama %! IItrrcr'- Ferry. their alder and aAei;"r.;
ami characterization Is due ." al! who echoed i'a.t drrHnc.a'
non amI the nph!r scn'imer', proclaimed OF 'ea'tS To me
Constitution aud Union "a. framed Icy UE.HilIc!s. liui
et;l.- such men - ihesc are la hopr!ess inihof'E -. or III III"
exercise or criminal neglect "i the elective iHtncHi'"' 10y
.iyia. COGutcn"ucc aGd control 10 wicked iGi;lic!sin,
N.y Irye iscoAis g,,yoRsiiiE mr IL srC,S,,-. And while
rnllic!inyur pE: IN power who shamelt,-ly ais"rnic, Ia
open day. the awi".. and bloody doctrines which their
r.iaior,, In midnight ~ddrsu"s', have but too iA''"!"'N cN,
cm,inrd by treason aud murder, robbery aud . %:rin!tet
iu-urrcJti"n, il !. impossible 10 'hit'!y 'i inquired le"i'c ~
mere assurances, IN pu"!:c assembly. .! cn'ui"ln;hi."n ..
tic act. - which ,nrir uG:ir"Is have been thus iUsiis.trd,
and Tor which Hey nave been canonizci In public regard.
Until the great poi uar masses "i the North, united. shs! fisc
In righteous wrath and iuri fr"n. theiF high place the pan
drrrr, TO rubic GENERALIZATION and crime, unili Their stale
I.ri.,,,ur.. hall re>ciud nl cuarInen;s H. contray,u:!vn %
the Constitution ami Laws Of Concrrs. providing for Nh" reni-
tI"u 90 fugitive slaves; un'i. further, they snail by 'irinseni
and effective statute. punish al installations or c1;nb!na'
ION u iF ~ -tl.t'1 HUN - VIZ l'tANs' W 7sf'ff ~ ''N
manner our observation-disclosures t"'I'Ht'hHa'''" o. WHICH
urrseu; prucnG.iics furnish Few cheering ausircc>-wr car
las. no hope OF quiet and s,ir'y, and 1t u ic part
alike OF wisdom and -yi:-r".i"c' TO h.>:rErr; THE sot words
by Which W, are sou"i' 10 lee soothri into inh"'ion "nd re-
pos
THIS condition % Things cannot longer exist When 'he
Constitution o! he Uaiirt States J. thus broken do"H ana
,rotIdcu under foot. when al the ties of social unryn aud
Christian brotherhood ~" 'hus torn a.uri"r; when We ar"
IN, in daily peril ~! our live, .Gi IN constant jeopardy q!
our property, aad the PIKE q! 'hc assassin "ai loren o. The
iuc.uu,,i,ry ,,..-t II. Ia uir fields and al our irc>isrs. i he
I..r.. 81 80 fss4l. of NlT.aIII, and liz" people 'l Az
the southern! states, 10 TAX" it"p;taEd thorough measure,
Tor Tr.ardy aiI redrc-'-under iLc '"h>t'"'''i' " We '"'
beyond II, II We must.
IL. dignity and honor OF .n ancient aGA ioyIIhear,rd
Coramouv eulth-wi'h too much Al .iak" IN the pat 10 tri''.
with III. iu'ure-rroUt alike Of the r!or!ss u! a. ancestral
r,%?u mali Win ,:i::re iGlg%lii;yy Ill IT, ""6nii:g:i!SSimIs lhhII%,dnslsa
upon her uy the Constitution OF he Union, - long - II
con,il,u,, to T.. he common compact and fundamental Law
oftl- land. TIE forfeiture "f p.igh'rd faith by 'he North
c=u stat, =, Canu", release Virginia iron respect FOR her
uwa. ~; within the bounds "f tie mutual bond, >l-. must
ami viii pro'cc; aad defend herself. Standing upon her
reserved rights, and looking to the loyalty "i her son, with
the confidence Of Il mother IN the hour OF i's'I' ~"
will exercise those rights 10 thc utmost, and IN.
woke that Ioyai'y in TIE prompt and complete exc,
cu,ion OF her policy Hrd measures %! protection ana
defence. iiOuad les God and Nature &" 'trong and dear
alies-,hrougi whose noble veins every pulS"tion Of her
bear; ;hrobs and throw, ahinIF-! hlv"'i->h" VIII summon
10 her .ide and gather around her al Of her lister Southern
states, and by the ties d: a common honor. -! common In
trr..;s and institutions, 81 common rights and common
wrongs, and 10. certainty OF q common destiny, she will
invoke tie unn;r,i and determined cooperation of them all.
Nor rim tina, ,n:ocs;:0u prove In vain. Place. by geo.
graphical position ia the frost rank VI danger, She his, but
80 -; :lg bold and hTish; example, aud they WIFI i"'!"w her
auc!eu, ~! trusted lend. In every safe and en'ra"':c
measure Of remedy uai redress. the Ola Dominion might
count ur0a HE aid aud action or Them all Encouraged hy
Ibis rroud assurance. let her luok vel! 10 the measures ,he
may adopt, and cherish the Interests and honor Of aIiics as
Identified with her own. WITH on"n.s-o =! purpose and con
Ger; Of action. Virginia and ;he South are i''rincib.e, In the
UGion, or out Of IT,.
In !oosing abou, Cor the means Of remedy and redress,
commercial. independence oiihe North is the first great Oh.
jrc; which strikes the eye aud challenges achievement
Whether We are 20 remain ia 'm- Union, or are TO 20 out Of
Il ,ta' object Siuull lie the aim and aspiration q! every
sol, and every State Of the South. 1--we are 10 remain in
Ito Irinn cou,m.rcInl inte,,enL-nce would ensure tie de-
yr!opnrni 0. our agricultural, manufacturing, rGininG and
commercial resources, the accumulation ana I;hu'irn OF
wealth. tie dei-nc" and preservation OF our soc!a! and do
nestle institutions. the establishment al our own schools
and colleges, the cultivation OF our own literature, an" ihr
advancement and elevation Of our high form 81 civilization
In all It's peculiar aud noble CHARACTERISTICS while, by the
loss Of our trade and the consequent cruinh!in.o % her great
manufacturing and industrial Interests, II wonld teach the
North "a lesson % the hour, q: which she inicihi repent u;
bankruptcy and ruin. genera! l-soia'!on and dislnay. unii!
returI!n. reason, restoring a just sense OF constitutional
obligation and honor. should coDstrsin her 20 respect The
rights of ,lo-s WHO thus Lad tle courage to respect and pro.
teyt themselves. II we are TO 20 out % the Union, then By
the establishment Of Southern commercial independents" we
.hoplI no, oulv cf.c, such results a. have been named, bu;
would thereby have placed ourselves in better condition {"
stand The shock Of the dissolution, and TO take Cur rlHc.
among The sovereign nation, OF the world, iull.aTrncd will,
al. he elements OF naiirnnl strength and power, TO lun!sn
irsul; or aggression, enforce security !"r oar persons and
property, and sacred observance OF our laws. 20 that what
ever may I've the influence oftse idmuliuaFy rt.o'iou- which
now prrvaIe :te bo-oms 81 our people, III ure'nS. iI's sn'
beet. at this time, upon their w.!naSc;>,' hc attainment o!
80 crca, IN object should h"cGm" Il VIAL ahd .F.f-tf'iT'
part Of Tie pubic policy Of the state and Of the South. and
should he pursued with earnest, Enlightened ana =! s'ea.i'!c
~assidui;y.
II T. not 10 hc d-n!"J or concealed that the rnost prudent
manner o. accomplishing The end in view, Is a mater 81
difficulty and doubt, and demands careful am! deliberate
consideration. Established channels o! commerce chIDot
suddenly he changed wiilcG, large and varied detrHncn' Ia
III. community Tor the laws Of trade are hut secondary
laws Of guiurc, being '.c reciprocal forces Of demand AMI
.rprir. And, what with the distribution Of rich a:f!cu!,n'
raj resources aud slave labor on tn one hard, aad manu-
featuring facilities and white labor ON the other, AMI She
unequal action % paF'ia! legislation by the Federal Gov
.ruTn.ut. building M one section Of the country Mt ~" rT-
rcu.- of rlre other. the course OF trade among thr Northern
and Southern States lias been 80 long and hi- i''""ms -
firmly established, that grca, Interest and rhhniiiet business
and social relations have grown MP In and between the two
sections, 90 that a -gilcIt and violent disruption 9! the rH'
i.tiu. system woG!I entail manifold evils Oh all parties con.
cern.l.
Hu, no great nhj-r. can i- accomplished IN ia" lie, either
&c ir,Iiy;T,,Is al a; states. without wis. effort and some