The North-Carolina standard., 1850-05-08
Letter from Chief Justice sharkey.

Letter from Chief Justice Sharkey.
JACKSON, MISS, April 4, 1850.
To the Editors Of the National IntelEgeneer:
Gentlemen: Your number of the l4th of March
contains an article headed " The Proposed Remedy
for the Evil of the Day Examined, which does gross
Injustice to the members of the Convention which
met in this place in October last. The part which
was my fortune take in that Convention, makes
necessary that should forego inclination, and ap
pear before the public repe unfounded calumny.
That article is but the sequel of several which pre-
ceded it of less bodness. The public journalist
to the country to deal candidy and fairly with the
Others and in departing from this duty he is like
swift Witness he betys his parality the cost of
his integrity.
Your article is lengthy, and shall content myself
with noticing such portions of it places the Con-
vention in the most prominent point of view. Your
title seemed to give promise of discussion, but your
You prove one thing, however, which may not have
been generally known, entire indentity in feeling
with the North in its high claims of power on the
subject of slavery. Your Northern readers will
doubtless feel grated at your devotion to their f-
vorate measure, but they will not be much enlight
can no longer regard you as neutral. an not will
ing that the Convention shall be judged by the open
enemies of the South. and still less willing that it
shall be condemned on evidence and inferences not
assert, in the most solemn MANNER that motives have
been ascrbed to the members which they did not en-
terrain.
Your allusion to the Hartford Convention is an ar
tifce which requires comment to show its object.
Its history is given length, and you conclude from
the mode of composition, and the objects, the
Nashville Convention is more deserving of odium.
This is condemning it prematurely on assumed
grounds. The Convention has not met; its comPo-
ston cannot be known, atleast but partially known
T. -I-Aa Al 1f
pi expressed them to be. When men have openly
and fairly declared their object. is unjust to ascribe
to them motives which they did not express, unless
the charge can be sustained on more conclusive evil
dence. My purpose is with the Mississippi Con-
vention, and if you had dealt as fairly by it as you
have towards the Hartford Convention, vindcation
would have been required. The history Of one is
given at LENGTH but not with the other. The Hart
ford Convention is pronounced an innocent affair on
the strength of the declarations contained in its pro-
eeedings; but the Mississippi Convention is not
judged by the rule its declarations are disre-
garded, and motives ascribed it which not
pressed One sat with closed doors, and its proceed
ings were kept secret at time when we We're at war
with powerful foreign enemy, which had been oP-
posed and the Justice Of which had been denied by
portion of people yet its motives determined
by the journal of its proceedings. The other satwth
open doors, published its proceedings to the world
and invited discussion; yet is condemed on whati
did not say.
and after setting out its resolutions, say these
olutons. certainly, upon no sufficient ground in their
averments the essential part of which, CONTAINED in
the second resolutons.) none but political fanatics
(and hardly hey) would be found to dispute, but faint
ly outline the purpose, of which late discussions in
and of Congress hardly leave doubt through the
instrumenaty of the proposed convention to unsettle
the foundat tions of the Government of the United
States. They set out, indeed, with protesting a
devoted and cherished attachment to the Union, but
LII
ng ates in order suggest the idea that they (the
people of MississiPp desire to have 1t only such as
they desre.'' Here is direct charge of design to
unsettle the foundations of the Government 1t is ut
terly denied that any such purpose was designed 1t
is denied that any member of the Mississippi
ton had any such object in view and it is asserted
that every member there assembled is friend to the
Union. The great, the leading object in calling it
was to preserve the Union. 1t is asserted by you
that the resolutions but family outline the purpose to
picture is filled out by the aid Of perverted imagina
ton on the evidence furnished by discussions in and
out of Congress. Why did you not Judge the
Hartford Convention by "discussion in and out of
Congress % The Mississippi convention also asks
to be judged its acts, and by its own acts only.
But in the foregoing it is also asserted that
the essential part of the resolutions is contained in the
second, which you say but political fanatics
would be found to dispute" This is not true; the
third resolution is far more important 1t denies to
Congress the power to legislate the subject of
slavery in the District of Columbia, to prohibit
the slave trade between the several Staes or to
hibt the introduction of slavery in the territories of
the United Sates This is the very gist of the dis
pute and yet it is passed over of importance.
This the controverted question of right asserted
the side and denied the other out of which all
the danger the Union has arisen. On this ground
the convention is charged with having begged the
question ofaggression by the States
wish the South to mark your language, for this is
the immediate cause of the quarrel. We conscien.
ousy believed, and still believe, the North claimed
too much that Congress has power over the sub.
ect OF slavery in the territories, the common property
OF all the States. We believe that the exercise o
such power would endanger the Union, and to pre-.
vent this catastrophe we met. If we have begged
the question of aggression, shall continue in that
category. We were sincere in our expressions of at
Is attached to it, and that designs are enter
tanned against it in that quarter. Yon, and others
Ike you, do most to unsettle the foundation Of the
Government, by claiming for it power which it does
not Possess-oy trying 70 build up consolidated e.
brio on the ruins of State sovereignty and of the
constitution And II, unfortunately, the future histo
nan shall be compelled to deplore the ruin of the
Government and to trace its cause vou and your clas,
OF politicians will stand conspicuoas in the foreground
on the canvass which shall represent the great dana
But your greatest alarm for the safety Of the Unior
has arisen from . portion of The address prepared
under the direction Of the convention. That is 70
garded by you 40 full development Of the object
southern confsdeney. The language allsded to i,
G's Besides, and beyond popular convention o
me southern States, with the view and hope Of ar