Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-28

Having no familiarity with the subject OIL
commerce. will leave to others more competent
than am, the duty OF dealing with 1t in fuller
detail than it is my purpose TO refer TO 1t now
| said, Yesterday. that represented peculiar
interest ana that, in fact the interests of the
uhoIe State were peculiar. Her interests are
peculiarly diversified. She appeals to no king
cotton: she appeals to no particular trade; she
anpeals to no particular interest to decide hel
destiny. rs doihc other States OF the South, the
Cotton States in particular She, like good
mother as she is, embraces all her children
She looks around her, TO the East and Vest
and considers alike the interests anu the wei
fare Of all. As one Of those representing
peculiar interest in Eirsinla, | Will state thai
that while | ain more immediately concerned
in the welfare Of that interest, shall not be
governed by any such consideration in the
course which may pursue in this Convention
| will produce few facts in connection with
this interest
lind, sir upon examination OF III article,
for which ain indebted TO ono who occupies
an official position in this body one, sir, to
whom the State OF Virginia perhaps is more
indebted than to any other nan IN the Com
monwsaith, for having, from time TO time, made
such an exhibit in bis annual, ScInl'alinGai and
quarterly reports of the resources OF the trade
of Virginia, rs serves to enlighten Ecr people
and inform them correctly OF statistical Facts
connected with their material interests lind,
sir, upon examination Of that article, the iOi.
lowing fact. But first will observe that the
gentleman to whom alludc As the compiler of
this important statistical information, is the
gentleman who occupies seat OH your right,
(Mr. John CrGsme Assistant Elefk) The lacts
to which | refer show that the export of TO-
bacco from the port OF Richmond alone, to
foreign ports, for the year 1860, were -, Ies
hogsheads, of which Liverpool took $50 hhds.,
and London 2.iGl; while the total amount OF
Leaf and SEEMS 70 the Northern ports, to bal.
timore, Philadelphia and New York alone, was
ITO hhds. TO this is to be addeda still larger
item Of 275,GT5 boxes and packages Of manu-
featured tobacco sent 10 these ports.
Now, sir, tell me that this g,eu; Interest IS
Of no concern to The people Of the State OF
Virginia, because Cotton has installed itself
King in another portion of this Republic! |
tell you, sir, that ! cannot be driven from my
propriety by the arguments Of gentlemen, how
ever ingcniously they may te applied. cay
nothing of what may have gone from yonr port,
sir, Undressing himself 10 Mr.. BEaHcn, OF Pc
tcrsburg.) Or what may have gone from other
ports. The statistics which | present, how
ever, will be sufficient 20 give some idea OF The
great stake which Virginia has in this pnltlcu.
Iar Interest FROM this it will be seen that
these pnrts Of the North ure large purchasers
Of one Of our great staples ond tina: il is by
no means the interest Of Virginia 10 Gu! oil
these people from ell connection with us. II
this alienation should occur, where is Virgins
10 find u market for this article? ask my
friend from the county Of Orange, DIR. MnR.
TOM who II presents Il tobacco interest with
myself, whether he vii! readily yield 10 the
cutting off Of these ports or not? But know
INF; hi,n as | do, know that, however he may
act in this matter, he will do what he believes
To be for the best interests of his people md of
the whole State Now, Sit, in connection viii,
this subject, I want this Convention. | want
the State Of Virgins, to understand, iha, ii she
goes out OF this Union, if she determines upon
any policy, it should be such Il ppicy as would
forever settle these difficulties ! want the
people of Virginia 10 know, when they leave
this Union, that they are to contract uu till.
unce which is TO give them that security which
they have failed to lind in the Union ia which
they were.
Gentlemen talk about extracts from news.
papers as furnishing no reliable information
Why, sir, as sad yesterday, how are we 10
obtain information On any subj ect. unless
through the medium Of the press: We have
heard * frequently designated another pallu'
dunn Of our liberty; and yet We have heard il
sait! that an extract from journal is worthless;
81 tli,,Ii. IN ftat I,pf
think that newspaper authority is entitled to
the consideration Of this House, especially
when it is found 10 be one OF the leading pa.
pcrs Of the country, and one which reflects the
general sentiment oi the State and section in
which il is published | rrior IL the Charles.
ton Mercury, and that paper has. within the
last few days, Used The following language:
I'VE admit that tie Government is but pro.
7isional and temporary, and that, therefore, the
features objected 10 mas noe be carried into the
Permanent Cove, nIncnt, and probably NeTe
nerer intended to be carried there. They acre
doubtless intended To cVncl!t0i6 he SOrdsr
Stare States; and induce thetn to an early
union. But the concern We nave expressed
was not understandable. II mag be QUESTION:.
LIr whether, should the Border Slave States be
induced 10 union by such attractive features Of
the Constitution, it would be proper to propose
change 1t is TO DO doubted whether when
they shall have entered. it will be possible for
the Cotton States to make any changes to which
they may object; and, as we would certainly
lament the final adoption Of the policy objected
to, as we would lament constitutional recog-
milton Of protective policy and n constitu-
tional brand upon the institution of domestic
slavery, we think il cmincntly important that
those who dcprccatu those measures should
make the ellurts Necessary to defeat them.
Here, sir. we have it directly from that jour
nal, tha,.thuse men al the South who entertain
certain opinions OIL the question OF Govern
uent, which they would luve US adopt, mere
" beca, Sc they have embodied in their prov-
s:onal Constitution clause prohibiting the AZ
rcan slave trade, defer to our pre- ndiccs and in-
teres,s to the extent Of adopting that clause
with a view to cxpunge il after they should have
secured our cooperation in their new scheme
of government. 10 be sure, this clause cDnSti
tutcs very attractive element in the COnstitu-
ton: but it is declared that this new Congress
shall have power to regulate the whole subject
of slavery; and who doubts but that the pro-
hibi,orv clause, in relation to The African slave
tT3te, WHICH, bS tiIS -lSiSu1 was
bodied IN the Constitution merely to induce the
Border States to jain in the new Conlcdcracy.
would be stricken out when the interests Of
those States demanded that policy, and when it
should have accomplished Inc purpose which
first led to its'cnactmcnt said. that while was
for the restoration OF harmony and Of peace:
yes, sir, il peace cannot be obtained upon hon
orabe terms to the State; il her rights are
not only fully recognized but established,
l shall be willing, not only to 80 with Viz
ginia, but to lead her to her duty. But before
| will agree to do so, will see that those mea-
sures which the Legislature inangnratel and
adopted by u unanimous vote have failed tn
meet the ends for which they were designed
allude TO the resolutions inaugurating the
Peace Congress" now in session in the city Of
Washington. | mn willing to await the report
Of that Conference, and say that | aul
locking with anxious interest That something
NAV be dore to restore harmony; and l say
now if that can be accomplished, vii! hail it
as glorious event; will rejoice ut il, and will
4 ,,,;li n,,t