The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1850-05-03

peculiar order and ambition shaped in such
peculiar style, could never assemble with
out producing something great. 1t was
ecessity-not the eactitself-but that heads
so clear and hearts SO patriotic should fail
to hatch wonder-in this act we have
one.
Our canvass admonishes us that but
small space is left for figure deserving
much attention. 1t is figure we design
holding up to the people. We intend ex-
posing its good as well its bad points. We
allude of course, to the resolutions setting
aside, in effect, the Central convention held
in October last. 1t is necessary only to
say, that convention was the spontaneous
outburst Of the pent expression Of the Peo-
pie, irrespective ofparty or party ties. A
question nationally political drew the best
talents Of the State together in that con-
vention. The people, the motive power
Of government-the source Of all power
here expressed opinions, which found a
response throughout the South. The peo-
pie selected delegates to represent them in
proposed Southern convention. They
had the right to do this. Their power, le-
gitimatel y expressed, is.omnipotent. The
legitimate mode of spreading the will Of
the people of the State before the nation
was resorted to. Primary meetings were
held, and delegates appointed to meet at
Jackson. Numerically, the whole State
was represented. All that wisdom dicta-
ted was done. The wisdom Of the legis-
lature thought differently. Not satisfied
with the power conferred by the constitu-
tion, it sought for new vents through which
TO let its surplus patriotism escape. The
country was in danger, the people with
their usual short-sightedness selected inef-
6cient men to represent them in the pro-
posed Southern Convention, and to repair
that awful calamity, the talent Of the leg
islature was invoked, and the patriotism Of
its members appealed to, TO step in save
the Union! Unwilling to let an opportu-
nifty so big with the fate Of humanity es-
cape, the legislature threw themselves in
tothe breach. What patriotism! Itneeds
must appoint its delegates. They must
have per diem allowance and mileage.
The State treasury must back their palri-
otism. This, it is authoritatively given
out, was done to 'ssecure attendance"
Note the words.
We give paragraph below to which
we call attention. Read:
"The delegates to the October Convention
are expected TO be present at the Nashville
| Convention. A mistake exists in regard to
the action Of the Legislature. 1t was not in
| tended, nor does the action of the Legislature
imply, that the State should be represented on
" by delegates elected bv the Legislature.
The delegates of the October Convention will
| represent the State equally with those of The
Legislature. The only object of the latter bo-
| dy was to secure an attendance, and to give
that countenance to the Southern Convention
which its great Importance and high character
necessarily commands from all Southern States 2
MississiPpian.
Mississippi will be represented by two
sets of delegates. One sent up by the
people, the other by body, selecting from
among lis own members for material to
keep the Union from breaking into pieces.
Which set represent the people and which
the Demagogues?
If those selected by the October conven-
tion were worthy and capable-and who
shall dare say that they are not-the sub
sequent act Of the Legislature can be con-
strued in no other way than as heaping
disgrace upon the delegates appointed by
the People. 1t is saying to the people
"your selection of delegates was unworthy
of you, and we, the legislature of the great
State of Mississippi, will select from our
own body talents sufficient TO keep the
State from being disgraced." But, says
the blazing light of democracy, 1t was
necessary to '.secure attendance" And
that is saying that the people are not suffi-
ciently aroused 10 the dangers which sur
ronnd them, to send up their delegates.
Or, in other words, that the Peoples dele
gates are unwilling or will not attend the
proposed convention. Then, this move to-
ward warding off the aggressive steps Of
ths Northern fanaticism, is not a naove by
the PeopIe2 Is it, as the position taken
by the Legislature leads all to suppose, a
move of unrecognized Demagogues! We
had really believed differently. We had
contributed our feeble aid towards arous-
ing the people to a sense of the perllous
position the slavery agitation was throw
ing them into. We labored zealously and
honestly, without suspicion entering our
head that we were contributing in the re-
motest degree toward strengthening the
hands of desperate demagogues, If we
have erred, if we have advocated the de-
magogue's cause under the impression
that we were aiding the people, we shall
{ sin no more in tAat way. We shall now
attack the demagogues Of this move. We
shall attack those who have attempted, and
partially succeeded, in taking from the
, hands of the people, and placing in the
hands of demagogues, the settlement of Q
question of vital importance. tits hazard
, ing too much for too little. 1t is hazard
| ing the permanency Of the Union in order
, to put in position few men who seek no
+ toriety, and who would rend the Union il
, twain so that that they but ride out theil
, little hour in view of the contending hosts
If to ''secure attendance" it was neces
; sary to add the per diem and mileage
t allowance, why, instead Of disgracing the
October Convention, did the Legislature
i not give the allowance to the delegates o
II