Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-02-14
From the Pittsburgh Morning Post.
The Southern Convention.
"sound and fury, signifying nothing

"sound and fury, signifying nothing"
The recent Southern Convention, held
in the City Of Washington, was about
as foolish and uncalled for an assembage
Of men. as ever collected together in the
United States. If any good has grown out
Of its deliberations, we have been unable to
discover it, The ostensible object Of this
convention was to form league or COM
bination of Southern interests, TO oppose
the efforts of the North to prevent the
spread of Slavery over soil already free.
Ii is evident that the convention was nei.
iher harmonious nor unanimous in its de-
liberations, from the fact that the address
put forth was barely adopted by meager
majority. As to The cause Of difference, we
Of course are unadvised; as the Conven.
iion sat with closed doors-nor do we care.
The inevitable consequence resulting from
this southern movement will be to force the
people of the North to become more un.
yielding in their opposition to the South
and southern interests and influences.-
These extremes Of opinion only produce
violence, and disturb the harmony Of our
beloved Union. Much as we despise the
fanatics of the North, we have an equal alb.
horence for the fanatics and hotspurs Of the
South.
As TO the question Of Slavery in the new
territories, we consider it settled long since.
New Mexico and California became the
property of the United States, lin conse-
quence of the late war. Slavery did not
exist there. previous to the adoption of
the Treaty of Guadaloupe; and as matter
Of course the political relations of the peo.
pie continued until changed by positive
Congressional enactments The Slave
who sets his foot upon the soil of New
Mexico or California becomes 60 Instant,
a free man. as much so as if he comes
into Ohio or Pennsylvania. For oil prac-
lical purposes, therefore, the "Wilmot
Proyiso,n as ii is called, is now in opera
ton. We. have always considered that
measure as unnecessary and uncailed for,
calculated to excite the South, and disturb
the harmony Of the Union. lfthe subject
Of slavery is kept out of Congress, the
South is satis6ed-she is willing 10 leave
the question where the Constitution leaves
il. Our Southern brethren do not expect
TO see Slavery introduced into New Mexi-
CO or California; but they are opposed to
everythir g that looks like an invasion Of
their constitutional rights.
We say to the North, hands of:-Slave-
~ will never spread over another foot of
free soil. Its boundaries have been fixed
-they cannot be altered. five ever had
the least apprehension that slavery would
be introduced into our new territories, the
sido IF nonulation now flowing into the god
regions Of California, from the North,
would forever remove them from our mind.
- We say 10 the Sou,h,-the warm heart
ed. chiyalrous South,-keep cool, and don't
allow yourselves to become excited or a.
larmed unnecessarily. We love you as
brethren, belonging to the same great fami-
" of the Union. There is no occasion
for your Southern Conventions : not the
least. The North will not disturb you
in the enjoyment Of your Constitutional
rights-rest assured Of that. Keep cool
then-keep cool.