The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1860-02-09


mine. Passing by the action Of the South
Carolina and other Southern Legislatures, let
us see what the people are doing. j have be
fore me two numbers Of the Richmond Enqa
rer, the Democratic organ of Virginia, and
NAV with truth add, the leading Democratic
paper of the South. take it regularly, and
for present purposes pick up the numbers for
December 2fst aud 18th. These contain the
of no less than twenty public meet
ings lately held in different parts of Virginia
Speaking in general terms of the resolutions
adopted and speeches made at these meetings,
it may be said that they recommend non-inter-
course, the withdrawal Of al patronage from
Northern merchants, manufactures, and news
papers, the establishment Of direct trade with
Europe, the levying Of onerous taxes on goods
traders, the organization of vigilance commit
tees to watch all strangers, the formation Of
military companies all over the State, the call
ing of Southern Congress, and conditional
disunion. To quote so many of these resolves
as would serve for specimens of all would swell
this letter 70 an unreasonable length. will
clip only few, and almost at random. The
following were adopted at meeting-said to
be large and enthnsiastic-of the citizens of
Northampton county:
Miers W. Fisher, ESQ., offered the follow
ing preamble and resolutions, which, amidst
great cheering, were unanimously adopted by
the meeting: ~"
I'm view of the threatening aspect of the
public affairs of the country, we, the citizens
of Northampton county, In public meeting as
sembIed, do
go Resotre, That our Delegate and Senator
in the Legislature Of Virginia are hereby re-
specifically requested to support, actively, some
plan for the reorganization of the militia Of
this State, and for thoroughly drilling and dis
ciplining them, and for furnishing them with
the most approved and efficient arms
The following resolution was offered by DIR.
William g. Smith, and unanimously adopted:
4" Resotced, las the sense of this meeting
That our State Legislature should pass laws
laying discriminating tax upon merchants in
this State dealing with the North, and offering,
if necessary, bounty to those dealing with
Southern manufacturers, and those importing
foreign goods directly into Southern ports.
And our Delegate and Senator in the Legisla-
ture are requested to sustain such measures
Isle of Wight county, under the lead, it would
seem, of the ladies, speaks as follows:
~. Resolved, That we heartily concur with
the ladies of our county IN the movement made
by them to form society pledged against the
purchase or use Of any article manufactured in
a non-slaveholding State; and that we will use
our best endeavors 10 induce our citizens to
purchase exclusively of merchants who sell
goods of foreign importation or Southern man
ufacture.
"3. Resolred, That we recommend to our
citizens the Importance of patronizing South.
ern teachers and institutions of learning, and
the propriety of abstaining from encouraging
all kinds of Northern newspapers and periodi-
Gals" arr a.
Essex county goes in for smelling commit
tee, as follows: 80
az. Resolved, That we entertain no fear for
the institutions of the South, so long as her
rights are regarded by the Federal Govern
ment, but from the insidieus strangers Who
under the guise of peddling their small wares,
or other pretences, intrude themselves into our
midst.
SO. Resolved, That whilst we would not in.
fringe upon private rights, or withhold the rites
of hospitality from those entitled to enjoy them,
be they from whatever portion of the globe, we
hold that selfpreservation, and the peace and
safety of our community, have higher claim
upon US.
"a. ResOlred, That committee of six in
each magisterial district be appointed by this
meeting, whose especial duty If shall be, aided
by all good citizens, to inquire into the charac-
ter of all strangers, or any person among us,
whose character is at all suspicious, and if they
do not give satisfactory account of themselves,
to order them Immediately to leave; and that
we pledge ourselves to aid in enforcing their
departure by every means in our power"
The people of Palmyra, though sound on the
question of Protection to Home Industry"
have a faeetious way of defining their position,
thus:
Z" 3. Resolred, That we condemn the encour-
agenent Of all periodicals and journals, North.
Though the publishers may be sound on the
goose their workmen may not; and if we give
them our support, we may give them stick
to break our heads number of us are guilty
of the practice. We do pledge our honors to
abandon the principle, and believe in the old
adage, togo the whole hog or none'
"a. Resoloed That we do not approve of
these table-cloth, window-curtain, fruittree,
quack-medicine, or any kind of nostrum pedlars
or vendors, that have been imposing upon the
good-natured and unsuspecting; and if they
persist In this practice, we do solemnly bind
and pledge ourselves to give them, gratis, the
inside of the pine and the outside of the goose
and honor them with free ride on a rail-
unless they give satisfactory evidence that they
are right side up.
8. ResolUed, That we do not countenance
anything from the North, and earnestly request
the good people of the South to be on their
guard, and not aid in building up their iRsti-
tltioRS.
"6. ResoIced, That we recommend to yari-
GUS companies forming at the South to equip
themselves entirely of home manufacture. and
not resort to the fancy ornaments of the North.
Remember the hunting shirt and buckskin suit
of our revolutionary sires and let not the high.
iy-polished blade of Massachusetts manufacture
enter your ranks, las formerly.) Look upon it
as a wolf entering your sleeps fold"
Louisa county appoints vigilance commit
tee, and pronounces for disunion whenever the
Republicans triumph:
%. ResolUed, That the conservative element
at the North is either powerless or too indiffer
ent to control public opinion there, or to curb
fanatieism; and that we must rely on ourselves
to guard and defend our honor, our institutions.
and our rights.
IS. Resolved, That, dearly as we have loved
the Union, and the memories associated with it,
we DO not desire its preservation, except in
strict accordance with the Constitution.
"a. Resolred, That the election of William
III. Seward, or of any member of the Black Re
publican party, to the Presidency of the United
States, ought to be Immediately followed by
the secession of all the slaveholding States
from this Confederacy, and the prevention of
any organization of Federal Administration
under such President
"5. Resoaced, That Vigilance Committee
of twelve, for this magisterial district, be ap-
pointed by the Chair, land that the citizens be
requested to assist them,) whose duty it shall
be to arrest, examine, and search, if necessary,
all suspicious initerant strangers, pedlars, &C.,
who may be found associating, or be suspected
of associating, with slaves or free negroes, and
to take such steps as will effectually prevent
their meddling with them"
ho Eha,- ~
tees, under the foregoing resolutions
Richmond colLLltn Is of cnnrsa rar,r aoo;dod "a