U H T >! A J 4 T 1 HT'IOH £4 H 

 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



80 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



RICHMOND, MARCH, 1856. 



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THE INSPECTION LAWS. 



In consequence of their course on the Inspection 

 Laws of the Commonwealth, the Executive Com- 

 mittee of the Virginia State Agricultural Society 

 has been arraigned before the Democratic Party 

 for an abuse of its powers. As a member of the 

 Executive Committee, and still more as one of ita 

 sub-committee to whom this matter was entrusted, 

 we take issue on the charge ; but we plead to the 

 jurisdiction. Always a member of the Democratic 

 Party, dedicated to it from the cradle, and never 

 for a moment tinctured with any other faith, we 

 bow to it with as much submission as a freeman 

 may. But it has no cognizance of offences com- 

 mitted against the Virginia State Agricultural So- 

 ciety, and it never shall have, if we can help it. We 

 appeal to the society : and in order to bring up tho 

 case, we shall offer the following essay for on« of 

 the society's premiums. If we take a premium, 

 it can only be on the ground of meritorious oppo- 

 sition to the Inspection Laws. If we succeed, wo 

 shall assert the acquiescence of the society, and 

 claim for their sanction the consideration which is 

 indirectly, but distinctly, awarded them by those 

 who deny their assent to the present movement j 

 and we give notice of our intention, and publish 

 the argument we shall rely on, that in case we do 

 succeed, those members of the society who think 

 the present laws ought to be retained, may oppose 

 the award and know the arguments which hare 

 won it. This is just to the Committee, to their pro- 

 secutors, and to the Society. 



In treating the question we shall avoid personal 

 and political allusions. They are immaterial to 

 the issue ; they are an obstacle to argument, and & 

 hindrance to reason. Truth to say, we have no 

 disposition to retaliate in this kind, but feel 

 rather obliged to the gentleman, who pursuing an 

 opposite course, has served up the Executive Com- 

 mittee with sauce piquantc, and has thereby lent a 

 popular flavor to a dry question of statistics and 

 economical policy ; and, more than that, has pro- 

 ven that acknowledged ability cannot resist the as- 

 saults of principle with a stronger weapon than 

 ridicule, or find more fitting answer to grave re- 

 monstrance and petition for reform than the merry 

 jest of "a very ancient and fish like smell, a kind 

 of net of the newest poor John." 



Nor shall we aim' to show mal-administration in 

 the system we oppose, except when it is necessary 

 to illustrate its operation thereby. That it exists, 

 and to a very serious extent, we fully believe ; it is 

 incident to the system, as abuses always will bo 

 to impolitic laws. But to notice it in detail would 

 argue only reform, when we go for abrogation. 



The inspection Laws of Virginia present a four- 

 fold aspect and may be considered I., as a question 

 of police ; II., as a question of the duty of the gov- 



