The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-02-06
THE DAY BOOK.
The Inspection Law.

The following is the memorial OF large
number of citizens of North Carolina, to
which we REFERRED few days ago, presented
to our Legislature by VIM. Il. Mann, Esq.,in
relation to the above law:
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
GEN1LEMEN:-Hav been delegated to
bear two portions to your Honorable body
from a petion of the citizens of the first
Congressional District OF North Carolina,
and the other from citezens OF Norfolk, Vir-
ginia. in regard to the "Vessel Inspection
Law" of 1856, beg leave, most respectfully,
to submit to YOUR consideration few re-
marks in reference to the same, and hope
that you will not think it presumption in
me, especially when have not the pleasure
Of a personal acquaintance bat with only
few Of your Honorable body.
In the first place allow me to state, that
am full aware of the watchtulness OF Virgil
MIA, especially at this time, to do every
thing consistent with law and reason, to Sc
cure to her the protection of her slave pro-
perty, and in this she is perfectly right. But
in doing so, it should be her policy so to
frame a law, that her sister State-Nortb
Carolina-trom whom she receives such a
large amount of produce, should not be class
ed with the Aboitionists OF Massachusetts,.
For four years have the vessels of North
Carolina, trading through the waters of
Virginia, and owned by true Southern men
and manned by true Southern crews, been
under the search law of Virginia, while her
own vessels, loading at the same landing in
North Carolina and going to the same port
north of the Capes of Virginia, have passed
free OF search and the fee Ter the same. Is
this light? Is it honorable for Virginia to
tax the citizens of sister State, like North
Carolina, and not tax her own citizens enga-
ged in the same trade? | think your Hon
orable body will respond that it is not.
One feature Of the law, as it now is, is ex-
tremely hard. For instance, a vessel leav-
ing Ocracoke Ialet, bound north, is driven
by stress OF weather into Hampton Roads
holds no intercourse with the shore, but be-
fore going to sea again, has to be searched
and pay fee of i've dollars. This looks to
me like calling man into your house out OF
n hard shower of rain, and when the rain
ceases, charging him five dollars for Keeping
him dry. | hope your Honorable body Will
see the injustice OF the provision ana repeal
the same, or SO modify it as not to let the
provisions of the bill apply to vessels driven
into Hampton Roads by stress OF weather
There is one more feature OF the present la"
that would briefly refer TO; 1t Is this, max
ing the vessel pay for the search. This, it
far as North Carolina is concerned, the YES
sells that are subjected to the search are ca
nal boats, and in eight cases out OF ten they
are owned in whole or in part by the captain
that sails them, and it seems wrong 10 take
from them that which they have worked so
hard for. II State will have inspection
laws, think it no more than right that she
should pay her own officers for inspecting.
And in case fugitive slave IS tound on
IL Al, hA on n
ted to the State and the proceeds OF sale go
as a fund to pay the officers for inspection.
For the idsa of searching man for stolen
goods and finding none, and making him
paw five dollars for the search, is rather
hard.
The petition from Norfolk is signed by
nearly all the principal commission mef-
chants of that city, together with other
leading men. That from North Carolina is
numerously signed by merchants, farmers,
captains and others, reference to the same
is respectfully requested.
understand that bill will be brought
up to day (Tuesday) in regard to this mat
ter, and understand, further, that the pro-
visions of the same will extend to vessels
trading to Baltimore, through the waters OF
Virginia, as we'll As to ports north OF Balti-
more. This must be looked upon by Eastern
Virginia and Eastern North Carolina as
direct blow at their best interests. For 1t is
well known, that in the absence OF direct
trade with Europe, great mercantile trade
is done annually with Baltimore. Gut OH this
trade by passing stringent inspection laws,
and where will the mercantile trade OF Eas-
tern North Carolina go to! why, to New
York, where you do not wish 1t to go For,
instead of the vessels OF Eastern North Car
DINA keeping on their usual course, by Old
Point. they would be found going out OF
Cape Hatteras and Ocracoke lnlets. So
instead of helping the South, such laws
would assist, in my humble judgment, to
build up the North, a thing to be deplored
by every true Southerner. l hope that,
that feature of the bill may be stricken out.
1t strikes me when vessels are owne1 en-
tirely by Southerners and commanded by
Southern captains, and manned by southern
crews, that inspection on account OF slaves Is
unnecessary; for in searching them you IN
hesitatingly put them on the same footing
with Northern vessels, Abolition captains
and Abolition crews-a position that DO
not think our Southern captains and crews
ought to be placed In.
IT, after looking over the remarks,wrltten
hurrriedly, your Honorable body should feel
constrained not to repeal the law as lar as
vessels owned and manned by Southerners
are concerned do hope that you will place
Virginia with North Carolina, so that the
law may be equal on both States, although
North Carolina has already borne the burth
then for the last four years.
All Of which is most respectfully submitted
bv Yours, respectfully,
WILLIAM E. MANN.
Exchange Hotel, .jan. 81, 1850.
Virginia Farms.--At a recent meeting