Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-26

preservation OF the Unon if it be preserved, and
Tor their own preservation, il it cannot" This clause
OF the preamble it will be observed, was manfesty
designed to set forth the inducement to the recon-
mendation of the Nashville Convention in the 9th re-
solution for there it is declared, in almost the same
terms, that the Legislature regard the Convention as
'the best and most efectual Of resisting the
aggressions of the North" A cordial union of the
whole South" in the Nashville Convention was therefore
the prime condition which the legislative recon-
mendation was founded Hence it belongs to the peo-
pie, without the slightest mpugnment Of the propriety
of the Of the Legislature to enquire whether
that condition will be far fulfilled, as to make the
Convention "the best and most efectual means of
ayerting the aggressons which Virginia specified as
proper causes of resistance. We are constrained BY
the facts before eyes, to give in the ne
gative.
Since the 9Th of February last, it has been demon
strated beyond dispute that neither Maryland Ken
lucky, Missouri Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia,
nor Louisiana, will be represented with any adequate
sanction OF popular authority at Nashville 1t impos
sbe, therefore, that there can be "Unon of the whole
South In the proposed consultation, such
tempated by our Legislature or such as will give the
acts of the Convention solemnity or consequence
In view OF this undenabe fact those advocates Of
vention, equivalent to surrender of the Southern
pesition seem to us to commit unfortunate, and
it may be afata error They making for the South
issue in Which is obliged to shop apparent ueak-
ness They rest cause on reed already broken.
In poor judgment, it is the part Of true wisdom
decline the mere accessory measure, about which we
cannotnow attain unanimy of sentiment, and to stand
In perfect unitedness upon our principal ground of
ristance to the first act of aggression.
We must say here that we do not sympathizs with
the objection urged against the Nashville Convention
the score Gifts being sectional proceeding That OBJ
lection, without limitation, seems to us to carry with it
the ablect doctrine of submission to every enormty
which the Federal Government might choose to perpe
rae I'VE hold that the Southern States ought to stand
ready to resist any serious aggression upon the tenure
OF slave property and to resist it efficiently they ought
to combine together. But that resistance and combina-
ton would of course folo,o the aggression. We can
assent to reasoning which concludes that there ought
never to be sectional combination in advance. For that
would be to deprive of one important mode not the
most eectua MEANS, of avering the contingency upon
which resistance would be inevitable.
Believing that the Nashville Convention has been de-
c;dedy dscounenanced in the Southern States to such
an extent that it cannot be useful think that
it behoves the citizens ofRchmond to make vain effort
the people of the States mentioned above declined
to sustain it, but it is evident that large majority in
Virginia at present against it, the whole West undi-
videdly So The of this dsapprova is undoubted-
ly to be dscerned partly, in the fact that there has
been some suspicion that party politics had much to do
with its origin and partly in the circumstance that the
apprehension OF the passage OF obnoxious measures by
the present Congress has been removed from the public
mind 1t is considered certain that neither the
Wlmot Proviso, any other ofthe injurious acts men,
toned in the resolutions of the Legislature can pass the
Senate 1t cannot now be said February last that
the action OF Southern Legislatures "has met with no
other response from the non-saveholdng States than
violent denunciaton and systematic perseverance in
the wrongs OF which we complained" fThe dawn of
spirit OF Cancellation in the North has produced cor
responding satisfaction in the South But let it net be
inferred that the Southern States will not be prepared
tor Southern Convention, if Congress shall fail Ito give
quiet to the slavery controversy.
Whilst the resolutions of Mr.. Claborne's Committee
before the House of Delegates, and before those
OF the Joint Committee reported, the following
editorial remarks on the proposition send delegates
to the Nashville Convention, were made in the Times
of January 10th. We may repeat them here, for the
purpose of illustrating the review have taken of the
circumstances under which the resolutions of the Le-
gslature were adopted:
I'm the outset must confess that we have felt much
difficulty in forming opinion as to this measure On
the hand readily that it might upwise-
ly ordered, work infinite inury and the other we
are persuaded that with proper guards against ndscre
ton it might be productive OF much good. 1.-THE Con-
vention is merely to be which the most fiery
spirits of the South may vent their EXTREMIST declara
tons; lit is designed in any degree to depart from the
single object OF securing calm conference between the
wsest nteects ofthe South, to the course which it
behoves us to adopt in existing emergencies it. above ALL
it involves, however remotely, the idea OF furnishing
nucleus for the organization Of Southern Confederaey
then utterly oppose it. But is impraccable
for Virginia to lead the way in prescribing such safe
guards against its possible evil consequences as will de-
prive it Of the elements ofdanger. twas well remark
ed by prominent member OF the prevailing party MR.
Ferguson in the House OF Delegates on Saturday last
that the proposition for Southern Convention, being
new and important one, should not be decided upon
haste and it worthy OF consideration whether the
Legislature should not instruct its delegates to Nash
vile to do nothing rashly to break up the Union.
Ihis suggestion seems to to point to certain pre-
cautions which ought torccompany the OF Vir-
ginia to the scheme, il she determine to give it. Our
delegates certainly shouc not be commissioned to COM
init the State to any other principles any other course
OF action thon those laid down by her declarations
1t should be their office simply to mould the distinct
propositions which her Legislature will have thrice af
States represented in the body. With her delegates
confined by specific instructions to these limits the con-
currence of Virginia in the Southern conference at
Nashville might be udcious and its deliberations might
have beneficial influence in removing all doubt of the
reality of the determination which the Southern States
have severaly formed IT. in addition proper spirit of
lberality be displayed in the appointment Of the four
delegates at large, to secure the movement from
any infusion OF party politics. much will be accomplish
ed to makeit acceptable.
~ We remember that in eyes, it was cause
OF objection to the resolutions Those OF 1889 thatth
did thus omit all provision for ensurng the cooperation
of other States. IT. as have before remarked, the
Convention movement should be discreey managed,
we think might supply what was an important defect
IN the original project"
The Suffolk Va) lntellgencer eff the 18th inst, thus
chronicles the result of the call for meeting of the
people Of Nansemond county to consult on the ques-
ton OF sending Delegates to the Nashville Conven-
ton.
he called Mnndoy {ao