Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-02-03

demands us at any time to differ with James
Barbour, of Culpepcr; but when the eS'scn-
cies are grave, and the occasion seriously de-
mands the best effort for our country's good,
neither the dictates Of personal friendship
nor the claims Of party bias will weigh with
us. Utterly opposed to Mr.. Barbours rcsol'l-
tions, we design to submit them to rigid but
fair criticism; and io. this end we reproduce
them:
Mr. Blaporn then askr, the Clerk read the following
resolutions which he sai he had Intended 10 submit 10 The
| Joint Committee:
Resolved, by the General Assembly, That have re-
ceIred, will deep sensib.r, the communication which
South Carolina has made to the authorities Of this Common
wealth. through her Commissioner llo. T. G Mchhlneer,
and hail with lively qualification this renewed naniles
,a,on of atcrnal regard and affection which has hereto
fore characterized and will always continue TO
characterize, the relations Of south Carolina win virginia
Resolved That We perform pleasing duty IN RECORDING
and communicating TO the authorities oil sou'h Catohh our
high appreciation Ul the ability dignity aud courtesy win
which Mr. scmmnger has discharged The Important duties
Resolved Ths the General Assembly OF Virginia, reccs
nsng In the present condition Of our relations win the
Northern Suites IMPERATIVE pecrssy for decisive mea-
sures does ye, n;s,rust capacity Of The Southern
States By wise and firm exercise OF the Reserved Powers
to protect the rights and liberties the people, and
store aud preserve the Federal Union In such measures
We earnestly desire the cordial cooperation OF MI the
Southern States: but believing that prompt and efficient CO.
authoritative action OF the constituted authorities 0i The
States than through the agency OF assrInblage wlnc
the General sseuhy will not at present, unrrtakr TO In
any conference Of commissioners appointed by the au'
ihorilIes OF lle Southern Siates.
To the first and second, we have no objection
to make; but We must say that they look like
an "antcccdcnt apology for subsequent in
suit" Eliminate the resolutions Of unneces.
sarv vcrbiagc, and what does the last lncan?-
! Simply that an imperative necessity "drmands
! decisive measures" That these measures can
be best obtained by State legislation, and Vir
ginia recommends the Southern States to adopt
such measures. No measures" arc recon-
mended; but each State left to grope their way
in the dark, and in the end cnacting conflicting
and harassing legislation. A csc in point is now
before the Legislature. Virginia, undertaking
to tax Yankee vessels, under inspection laws
has subjected North Carolina vessels to the
same suspicious distrust with those Of Massa-
chusctts, and the citizens OF North Carolina
are now prttioning the Legislature Of Virginia
for relief from such unjust and hsrassing sus
| p!SloIl aiiu ANY, ti''i
North Carolina will next year tax Virginia vcs-
sells entering her ports, and thus bad feeling is
already sprinsing up, from decisive measures
which "wcre obtained by the direct and au-
thoritative action Of the constituted authorities
Of the State" teitsoVt conference to adjust
their operations. upon orr "eighjors ana
friends.
How are decisive measures to be made
operative without concert: Will not each
State adopt such laws as her wisdom suggests,
and thus be instituted rirarics and jealousies,
which operate upon Southern, and not North.
ern citizens? Is it expected that the Southern
States, rejected by Virginia, will look with such
favor upon her decisive measures" rs TO adopt
them, merely because requested in resolutions
which virtually tell them to mind their own
business, and leave ours to 'the constituted
authorities" Of Virginia? There has recently
been reported, as 4 decisive measure" non
intercourse law, which, if constitutional may
or may not find favor with the Southern States.
These States may consider that two per cent.
tax OH Northern goods is sufficient, while Vir-
ginia may lay 4 tax Of ten per cept. The e.
feet Of such legislation will only be TO compel
our citizens 10 6uy Northern eoods& higher
price. This will moi bc submitted TO- and we
predict the repeal Of such law by the
next Legislature.
But decisive measures" being deemed irl
pera.irsly necessary" we cannot see why
the imperative necessity" did not suggest a
conference to adapt them to the policy Of each
and every Southern State, and to harmonic
the difltreA systems of laws, so as to MAKE
the measures" really "dseisire."
We oppose the resolutions because confer,
encc is not comprchcnlc'; within them; the
: Southern State, and the resolutions admit that
the conference can only "de6ate and alrise u
and hence can do 40 act that will cndanger the
Union
''nccisiTc mcasurc'-''yc pay ,ithc oi mint
and ansc and cummin, and have omitted the
weiShtier matters Of the Law. judgment, mercy
and faith; these ought ye to haze done, and n"t
10 ieare the Oshsr uhd0nc" Adopt any laws,
any decisive measures, but do not reject the
conference. Take both-kcep the South uni
ted preserve the integrity of the Democratic
party; encourage by Southern union the hopes
and efforts of Northern conservatives. Do not
create distrust and division at the South in the
vain and futile hope Of concilia,ing Black Re-
publicans.
/ The prospect Tor the adoption Of the copfer-
cncc we consider much improved in the last
two days. Democrats seeing the Opposition
combined in solid phalrnX, supported by the
talent and influence Of many Of the leading
Wings Of the State, who accidentally appear
in Richmond since this subject has been before
the Legislature, are curiols to krow why such
singular unanimity exists i'll one party, while
differences Of opinion divide tic other. The
question naturally presents ITSELF would not
the division Of the Democratic party, the scve-
rance Of the cotton States from the bread
States, emasculatc the Democracy ard ncccSsi-
tate the formation Of ncw party? In such
a deal Of the cards. the Wings expect better
hand than they at present hold. To tie 0p-
position no harm or injury can possibly accrue
by the defeat Of the conference; while the
chances (yca the certainty arc that defeat
and division will visit the Democracy when the
leading State, Virginia, has rejected the con-
ference asked by the cotton States. We dis:
like 10 be uncharitablc, but really the singular
unanimity of the opposition seems ''ominous
of sign" portcnding ruin and destruction TO
the Democracy, victory and success to the Re
publicans, aiSunion and revolution to the coun
| try.
2. S.-Since the foregoing was written, Mr..
! Barbour's resolutions have been somewhat