Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-03-15


81 not surprised to hear the resolution discussed by its
friends as war measure. They defend it principles
which would justify none but measures and seem
pleased with the idea that il may prove the orerunner
of If is necessary-if we have reached that
point-let us have war. But while have life, never
will consent to these ncpent measures, which, in
their commencement breathe nothing but peace, tho
they plunge at last into war;"
The noninercourse bill of 1909 was viewed by France
as an act OF hostility, and was followed by the in
slant condemnation of millions of American proper
ty-and that of 1912 was followed by war with
Great Britain in 60 days. Now this bill is partial and not
general and may be SO necacious not to lead to war
or disunion-nOr even concedng TO be unconsutu-
tOna would il any necessarily involve such results,
and place out of the pale of the Union, than the UNI
constitutional laws which this is intended to offset,
have put out ofthe Union the States which passed them
but yet it is in its nature an act OF hostility, and
tends to dunion and should not be entered on except
where we are prepared to follow it out to It's natural
consequences agree, sir there worse things than
even and dsuniOn. Submission to wrong, beyond
that point where forbelrance to be virtue Is one
such. Where that point Is must always be Tor prudence
decide in view Of ali the circumstances of the occa-
sion There is no absolute rule. just resentment
against palpabe wrongs should determine the end Dut
a wise prudence the time and the means Ii may be sale
ly said, perhaps that should adopt no measure "hcn
would expose the State and the people 10 certain anu
great evils, without being fully satisfied that we should
thereby avoid greater If the time has come for peace
and union to be staked the ISSUE there IS no o9ec-
ton taking measures that naturally, though they may
not necessarily inyove the loss of them But II not they
ought not to be taken. That time, in my Judgment, has
not yet If it shall not be behind the gen.
eman from Stafford in taking any measures, OF Whatever
extremity, the exigency may demand But VIII not
invite its coming by uniting in a measure, which l
think neither the interests the honor OF the State de-
mand should now be taken.
object TO it because the principle covers all the States
saveholdng and nonsavehoding alke-and oil the lat-
ter well those whose legislation is hostile as those
which have no laws TO which can obectahu tho tue
enumeration Of articles designed to limit its elect to
States whose legislation has been hostile 10 us 1t yet
does embrace ruriousy the trade OF our best friends
and neighbors.
Thus our trade with Maryland in many of the enume-
rated articles is very considerable. Exclusive OF guano,
the purchases Of this city alone stated TO be scarcely
less than 100000 while those OF Norfolk Petersburg,
and Fredericksburg, probably reach SS,OOOOOO more
The purchases of the rest of the State trading more ex-
cusively with Maryland would probably make total oil
$4,000 900 for the entire State and, as specie never
or very rarely goes Baltimore TO pay baancest Is APP
parent that Maryland buys OF products an equivalent
amount and is one of our most desirable customers
Manufactured tobacco alone of the value OF several nil
lions, goes to Baltimore.
Though our purchases from North CarOlinl and Ten
nessee not large yet they are rapidly Increasing aud
their dealings with very heavy.
So sir the trade OF large part OF our western border
with Ohio which believe has no law on her statute
book inconsistent with her duties to US under the Constr
| tuition.
know sir there is a provision which exempts sis
ter slaveholdng States from the effect of this blow at
our trade with them provided they will adopt towards
the North the policy this bill initiates But submit That
the mode adopted for obtaining concert o. action Is high
" discourteous-nav well excite umbrage and perhaps
reDel their submit further that they
are ms free as ourselves Judge OF their best line OF poll
cy and hey choose differ with us in the course they
adopt it is yet just ground OF penal legislation on our
part against them.
object to the law because, if fully carried out and
enforced which in my opinion can never be, Whle the
burden il would impose own citizens Is certain, 1t
would very partially if at ALL njure those against whom
it is aimed.
The picture of the evils to Northern trade and interests
so graphically drawn by the gentleman from Culpeper
was not oyerdrawn viewed as the result of concerted
ton of all the southern States but will never be realized
from an isolated effort like this. Surprising yon could
crt of by it the whole trade of Virginia with the States
North of her yet large as that trade i, il is but small
part OF the aggregate trade OF the North and the loss OF
distributed over so large field, would not be very
heavily felt anywhere-and much Of it would fall
on MARYLAND where il should not fall at all Besides
we should not in my opinion, embark on course oi po
icv hostile and aggressive in It's character towards the
Northern States without concert rconsuauon ~ least
with the other ayeholdug States who more or less
compromted by our action This is due alike to comb
~ ami 10 considerations OF eXpedency Still, less should
we enter on IT, when it affects prCudcia.y friendly
n,ishboring Stae-and least Of all undertake H. where
its effects tho sufficient to irate, are not sufficient TO
seriously iuiure satisfied, therefore, that If The
measure should be adopted at ALL it Is as Indispensable
TO s efficacy that it should have the cooperation OF the
other slaveholdng States il is demanded by sound
policy ard comfy, that they should be consulted
If the States we're wholly independent and foreign 10
one anohehe citizens Of each foreigners IL the others
where commodity person could cross the ne OF
separate jurisdiction without passports or euomhouse
certificates the execution OF such Law as tAis ehac,eu
by single State would be well nigh mpractcabIe But
where these lines are for all purposes OF intercourse,
purely iiea-where roads and riyers like the veins aud
arterc, of the human system uterace us together, aud
permeate the whole body OF our Unon-its execution,
except in war; or state OF hate and hostility beyond
what anywhere exists at present along our borders would
be absolutely hopeless So far as the law could be car
rcd out the weight Of it would fall on those who are least
able 10 bear 1.-THE great body OF the community whose
abors and efforts always orely taxed TO meet the
necessary demands them for the support OF their am
les Tile afueut and wCllCiaOuC use the higher price,
ed rbrcs and TO them the change would be slight and
easily borne These aIe almost exclusively now imported
from abroad Butt the great body OF the people, nineteen
tKcueths Of them probably use for Their wearing appa
rel the chc,uer and woocns and boots and shoes
of the North which have driven foreign goods OF that de-
scHptoa wholly Of thsuarket Is not tins sof "a
them therefore must tall the almost undivided burden oil
the additional cost Of these paramount articles oil con
SUMPTION till they can be made and sold as cheapy at
home as Northern goods aeand proceed TO assign
some reasons why believe that Is result that must
be long in comiag if it can be secured at all.
Remember the amount to be supplied Is very large
OF cottous alone for example not per cent OF our con-
| sumption as | am informed are supplied by our own
manufacturers.
How will YOU supply it, except as heretofore, from
NortberD rroducers? b. direct trade? Where is the
enormous capital needed for such an object come from
For sir youare aware it requires nothing short oil abso
Lutte cash for our merchants to buy abroad Their wealth
credit aud character considerable at home, Is an I'M
known and unavailable quantity abroad, and they can buy
there only for money New ork alone can be said to
command European credit and that, in great degree
because she is herself branch OF the great money pow"
er of the world whose principal seat IS London
Then sir in the store of single merchant of foreign
goods here YOU have goods from all parts of the world
Linen, from Ireland, cottOus from Manchester woolehs
from Belgium silks from Lyons aces from Brusse,go'es
from Paris and oznaburgs from Germany. AT present
he may buy all he wants. much as he wants as often
AS he wants and all on credit from the North. How
could he fill such orders abroad? Or II all the mer
chants in any Of our towns finding their means and con
venienoe all concurrent which would DO Impossible
should combine their orders still how little way would 1t
20 to form cargo while, besides they must IN TINS
mode get large quantities at once, with necessarily much
los, from dltory sales and probably much more from
unsuitable goods.
merchant of this city thirty years ago tried the e1
pertinent Of direct importation OF French goods was
novelty and promised success. In the end large guam
titles of the importation lett on hand unsaleaOIe
and were shipped to New York for a market. The ex
pertinent was not repeated.
Direct trade may be nur.ed and aided and should be-
by bountics and exemptions and favor, and will come, in
particular branches with increased capital ana augmented
| population, but still must come gradually. But "heh
YOU count largely the success OF Direct Trade you
should shut your eyes TO the lessons OIL experience
Has not this dazzling prize attracted the eyes 100 anu
cited the efforts of Boston and Philadelphia and Baltimore
/ TI..f. nd mo