The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-25
From the Winchester Ha.) Republican.
The Southern Convention.

also acted, and appointed four delegates Messrsl
Mcdonald and McAllister, Democrats, and Messrs.
Law and Daugherty, Wings. Mississippi, which
originated the measure, has not yet appointed
has Tennessee, SO far know.
In Virginia, il will be recollected, the proposition
to appoint by the State and 10 pay the delegates
has been negatived; and the resolutions of the Leg
islature provide only for the appointment Of dele
gates by the people-two from each Congressiona
district-one Of each party.
No movement has yet been made among the peo-
ple-ior the reason, we suppose, that there is an
abiding confidence among the masses that all dis .
tracing questions will be settled by Congress be-
fore the adjournment--and that there viii be no
necessity for the Southern convention If every i
body who loves the Union above every thing else |
does not feel satisfied with the details of Mr.. Clay's
propositions, there is yet confidence that the
spirit of them will be sanctioned by the great ma
jority of the people, and that something will be done
to render unnecessary any such assemblage that
proposed.
There is one thing certan-the people of Virginia
will not hastily embark in any measure, the exact
purport of which is not fully discussed and devcl
oped. Especially will this be the case with Yves
tern Virginia. Let commonsen view Of the
question be taken
1t is agreed on all sides that the continual inter
meddling of the northern people with the subject Of
slavery is offensive, if not unlawful The institu-
ton is purely matter belonging TO ourselves.
that it is the height of impertinence for any body
else to take cognizance of the subject at all. And
it is therefore very difficult for the South to be pa
tent. But then, if we expect to be driven to
IRENE measures, where is the necessity for the
semblage of Southern convention, without dis
tnctly defining its object? 1t will not do simply to
say that it is to consult as to the of redress
That is altogether too indefinite. The true feelings
and purposes Of the people should first be
tanned The question should be distinctly put, care
ready for resistance sat all hazards and to the last
| extremity our members have declared" II
| we are then, indeed, have Legislators been
criminally inactive? What preparations for resist
| ance have been made? If the danger be as close
many people declare, how is il. to be warded off
| Let understand ourselves before go too far.
If the admission of California with the anti slavery
restriction is the of offence, let say If
we not prepared to adopt Mr.. Clay's compromise
resolutions, let declare. If resisting at all
hazards and to the last extremity, means fighting,
in Congress should not please by its action,
| let us say so unequvocally, and our armory be
put in motion and militia be organized, so as
| to make practical our high sounding words. Don't
| let us rely upon paper bulletins and pompous re-
solves. Let us act like men, really believing what
| we ourselves do utter.
| 1t cannot be- then, that Southern convention is
called to resist the admission of California because
her constitution has clause in it TO prohibit sla
very. We cannot fight against any thing so replb
| lican that. No measure has been proposed 10
| NEEDLE with slavery in the States None has thus
far met with countenance in Congress in reference
he abolition of slavery in the District of Column
bia; and if it should, we repeat confidence in
the belief that the President of the United States
will pefo the measure.
| What, then, is the Southern convention called
upon to resist? Let its orginators be frank enough
to declare their purpose, for no people will heartily
! engage in any scheme whose ultimate object is
known to them at the start. Speak out, gentle
men tell us in plain English whether you mean
that resistance means fighting or not, because this is
a business that requires little preparation. In
case of the last extremity we may have two
enemies TO contend with. We cannot back our
high resolves by mere paper declarations, and,
therefore, it is useless to be vaporng upon the sub
ject.
| The counties of Frederick, Jefferson and Clarke,
are as deeply Interested in the ultimate results
/ likely to flow from Southern convention,
those Of any other portion Of the State. Is IL not
| time the primary assemblies were speaking out
The March courts will be proper periods for
| feeling the public pulse. Let US have an inter
change Of opinion. The time for holding ne South
ern convention is the month OF June. Can three
months be too long period for " preparing the
hearts of the people -
No deny that the agitation Of the
slave question in Congress il insulting and pro-
voxing to the South We feel as kecnly as any
body else the annoying language used in reference
to the South; but we have doubted that there
our statesmen TO enable them to ward of all evil.
We will not abate title of our confidence as
long as we have such men in our national councils
"a Clay, Cass, and Webster. Something soothing
will yet be applied to the irritating of the
body polite, and all necessity for sectional convcn
tons will be obviated
There are various methods of retaliation upon
the northern people, if they continue their sggres
| sions II we are in earnest in our repugnance to
their unjustifable interference, let adopt law
full retaliation. We have within limits all
that can make a people wealthy and independent
We raise among ourselves every thing desirable in
the way Of necessity luxury. If our northern
neighbors have such an adherence Of slavery that
they cannot sleep easy after dealing with us let
save their consciences from any further disturb
ance. We can raise every thing we want from
our own soil, and manufacture every article that
reasonable mind desire. If they dislike
our institutions, let leave them to the use
Of their own products and the culture Of their
own morals. II they do without to-
bacco, corn and wheat, do without
their brooms, brushes and baskets. We make
our own and merchandise, and they
their own NOTIONS; and II they come TO take our
negroes, we can serve them as would other in
truders. We can then resist at every hazard, and
to the last extremity"
But we repeat-let the people assemble. and say
what they desire TO be done in the Southern con
vention. Il is scarcely wise to appoint delegates
unless we prepared TO instruct them as 10
present wishes and Interior purposes
Ifthere be no response to this suggestion ON the
part Of the people 1--WE expect little froth from the
demagogucs) shall conclude that the
yeomanry Of the country neither discern danger TO
the Union, nor are ready for the " extremity Of
which we have heard so much We anticipate
prompt and final settlement Of the ''vexcd ques-