Year: 1860

MENT OF GRIEvANCESIAND SUGGESTIONS OF


REMEDIES THEREFOR.


n, the General assembly Of I'irginiG:


Your memorialists the Central Southern Rights As
socation of Virginia respectfully represent that the hos
tile relations for many years and At the present time ex
istng on the part Of certain non-sayehodng States oi
the North TOW ards Virginia and her sister Southern
States require the earnest and solemn consideration oi
your honorable body and the adoption by the South OF
a well concerted system Of prompt and ehectua meas
ureS of set-deence


Bound together, as are the United States by a COM
mon bond OF Federal and Taterna unon-a coniedera-
ton fraternity OF co-equal SOyereigntes, with equal
rohts and equal guarantees for their protecton-the
uoa-ayehodiug States while exercising those rights ana
guarantees for themselves even beyond the just limits
and true intent of the compact have practically denied
them 10 the Southern States; and while enjoying TO the
uI all the advantages of the Union, and grown great
and rich through cur resources, they have used that
Union as bulwark from behind which to plot schemes
and perpetrate ouages against our peace onr property
aud our lives


ton African slavery existed in, and protected by
the laws of every State in the Union except MasSachu-
etts aud in Massachusetts, it had been only recently
abolished.


The Constitution was ordained, not to create, or de-


rov but to preserve and perpetuae the sovereign pow
rs of the several States in respect to their nStitu-
tons aud governments, and to spread the shield OF
common nationality over the rights OF each and ALL Inc
controlling cause Of its origin and adoption, was the
felt necessity of regulating intercourse with each other
and with foreign nations that the Sovereignty oil each
might be preserved in harmony with the supremacy and
pro,ccon of the whole In respect TO the great subject
of Slavery and all its political relations 1t Is well known
that the Constitution was compromise based upon mu-
uql conces sOns-not indeed IN regard to the existence
of the institution in the several Sates-ior OF that each
state was Left free to act for tsebut in regard TO the
power it was TO WELD and the burdens it was to bear
under the Federal Government and the protection that
Government was insure TO IT, rights aud preservation
in the Union Chief among the rights reserved TO the
several States the right oi governing ise IN res
meet 10 hat institution of all other domestic concerns
and chief among the express guarantees OF the Con
siiuon was the clause providing Tor the rem
dition OF fugitive slaves by the several States
Aud in accordtuce with these truths, the Northern
States one by one As the cxjgences OF their condition
and the natural influences OF climate and soil seemed to


dictate have gotten rid OF their slaves by sale or eman'
ipatou certainiy they ceased 10 be PioAa-
Bile while the Southern States in obedience 10 the same
natural laws the necessities of their social ana political
position. and the great wants OF the word-incudns
the Northern States-haye preserved the institution as It
stood in the times of their orefhers and must stand so
long AS the Industrial interest, of mankind and the adj
yanccmen Of civilization depend upon the products OF
compulsory African labor IN the fertile heids OF Tue SOutn.
But notwithstanding the most solemn and sacred OOh-


,tions several If not all of the five Northwestern States,
sprung from that rich old empire the muuiccnt uo"ery
of Virginia 70 the Union have passed laws in plain con-
rvcntion OF her constitutional rights while all OF the
North States proper in open violation OF clear COM
nct and pghted faith almost in solid phaanS, have eth


r expressly nu!ed the laws OF Congress, enacted under
hc Constitution for the rendition Of fugitive slaves, or
have enyironed It's execution with penalties anUoyanceS
aud difficulties which practically deprive 1t OF force


Under the system OF uuiriendy and fraudulent esSa-
ton he Northern people have plaged property and
co.u,d the crime with the sanctty Of law Adding IN
suit 10 theft and confscaton, they have sandered the
owners of the property they have stolen or destroyed
and by ep;he and invectiye, by rdcule and yupera'
ton by carcaure and iasehOOl and all the artillery OF
omnv and abuse thev have sought to traduce and de-
rrade us in the ewes Of the world Perverug the pure


rt Of Christianity from is benign mission OF peace on
earth and good will among men, they have sown dscotd
and strife throughout the and-they have severed the
bond, OF religion that bound u togcther-they have
preached against us hatred and malice and all uncharta-
beness even sedtOn and slaughter gapne aud anarchy
and have deSecated the atars of God with proane pray
ers for curses upon heads Proceeding nov 10 sN-
trees of rage aud desperation, they have formed com
brations to invade soil and ucte inerneciue aud
,erye var and midnight treason murder and robbery
have marked their footsteps in blood aud crime Aud
while until late hour, the conservative few have KEEP,
doubtful silence instead of giving honest Outburt 20 fear
les. iudignaton-bv public and by private temonStra-
lions large masses of the Northern people have prompt
lv sympathized with and sanctioned have appauded and
commemoraed these heniish acts patriotic and hero
ic achievements


Vain indeed is il to say that the more intelligent and





this OF things We DO honor to the earnest states
men who have denounced with manly eloquence, the
actors in the bloody drama OF Harper Ferry their aid
cs and abettors and commentator is due 10 al! who
echoed that denunCaton aud the noble sentiments pro
claimed of tealtv to the Constitution and Mon framed
by our fathers But either such these are in
hopeless minority in the exercise criminal neglect
of the elective franchise by giving countenance and
control to wicked anatcsm they hare become rSpopSi
Bile for It's And while politicians are put in
power who shamees,Iy advocate, in open day the law
less and bloody doctrines which their minons, in mid
night darkness have but faithfully eNempiied by
treason and murder robbery, and attempted nsurrec
ton it is impossible to satisfy injured people by mere
assurances in public assembly of condemnation OF the
acts 10 which their authors have been thus instgated
and for which they have been canOnzed in public regard
Until the great popular masses OF the North, united
shall rise il righteous wrath aud hur from their high
places the panderers public Generalization aud crime;
until their Legislatures shall rescnd all enactments in
cOntrayentOn Of the Constitution aud laws Of Congress
providing for the rendition of fugitive slaves until fur
ther they shall by stringent and eiectua statutes pun
ish all Vaccinations combinations 10 invade our SOIL
or molet peace disturb in any manner our domes
tic nstutions-a cOnsummaton OF which present prog
nostcs furnish few cheering auspces-we can have no
hope Of quiet aud safety and it is the part alike OF wis
dom and serespect disregard the soft words by which
we sought to be soothed into inacton and repose
This condition of things cannot longer exist. When
the Constitution of the United States is thus broken down
and trOdden under foot when all the ties OF social union
and Christian brotherhood thus torn asunder when
we are put in daily peril of lives and in constant
jeopardy of property and the pike Of the assassin
and torch of the ucendar beSet IN our eds and at
our resdes it behooves us the people Of Virginia, aud
the people of all the Southern States TO take prompt and
thorough measures for remedy and redreSs-under tbe
Constitution if We can-beyOnd it, if we must


The dignity and honor of an ancient and oyalhearted
Commonweath-wth too much at stake in the past to
trae with the future-proud alike of the glores Of au
ancestral renown aud the purity of unsulted name
will prompt her 10 fulfil with entire fidelity all the obga


ons imposed upon her by the Constitution of the Union,
so long as il continues be the common compact and
fundamental law of the land The forfeiture of pghted
faith by the Northern States cannot release Virginia


from respect for her own But within the bounds of the
mutual bond she and will protect and defend her
self Standing upon her reserved rights and looking to
the LOYALTY af her sons with the confidence OF mother
in the hour of peril she will exercise those rights 10 the
utmost and invoke that loyalty ia the prompt and com
pee execution OF her policy and measures of protection
and defence Bound BY God and Nature TO strong and
dear aies-through whose noble veins every pulSation
of her heart throbs and throws kindred blOod-she
will summon to her side and gather around her all OF her
sister Southern States and by the ties of Il com
mon honor of common interests and institutions,
of common rights and common wrongs, and the
certainty of common destiny, she will invoke the
| united and determined cooperation of them ALL
Nor sill that Invocation prove in vain. Placed by
geographical position n the front rank of danger she
has but to set the bald and bright esampe aud they will
follow her anceat and trusted lead. In every safe and
energetic measure of remedy and redress the Old Dom
Mon might count upon tue aid and action OF them ALL


Encouraged by this proud assurance let her ak well to


the measures she may adopt and cherish the interests