Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-11-21
rhe Nashville Convention.


ford ana the present Nashville Convention, is that
one was crowded into secresy by the public senu'
ueut OF the times, with its object unavowea an"
ambiguous, while tho other is read and known OF
oil men. Both had the same end in view-seees-
aion from the Union on account Of actual or sup
coeea grievances, The secrecy of the one and the
cpenness Of the other indicate vast thahee III
,,,,,;c sentiment The first flied the country with
.,.r,.. and all who were known participators In
II. were branded a. traitors, and the name OF haf'
Nord Convention has since been held up as the
ssrav head and bloody bones," to Tighten the peo-
Me out Of countenancing and supporting all those
tho had any connection with it. The "dium thus
.tsxed 10 this COW alton had its desired effect,
and ~. largely shared in and helped forward by
VA. majority in, as well as out Of New England
The true history Of that convention Is known 70
but few. That its projectors had grievances 10
comp,sin ofas great those which have called to-
rether the convention at Nashville, we have no
doubt.
The oaestion 10, will the same odum attach to
the m Ambers Of the last as did to the hrst? we
know why the meeting at Hartford was condemned.
Whether rightfully or otherwise,they were accused
of assembling to promote the secession OF New
r.nr,and from the Union. The bare suspicion Of
.uch movement awakened such q patriotic hor-
ror Of the consequences, as aroused the whoie ma
siou and it was denounced as treason from one end
OF the country 81 the other. The object, whatever
Il may have been, was smothered in its birth. The
meeting at Nashville has the same object in view
a. Il was supposed the Hartford convention had
nth are analogous. Parallel strokes at disunion.
nut We think both will not share the same measure
Of odium.
Were our Union less valuable than It was forty
Years ago. such an ad,nis sion might seem less mel
ancholy. But il is not SO. Its stability thus far
has encouraged frecmen in other climes to hope
for freedom and to aspire after the same privileges
which we enjoy. At least, il their own country
could not award to them realization cftheir hopes,
they would always find an asylum in this "land Of
the free ami home Of the brave" Millions have
made trial Of this latter alternative, and millions
more are preparing to follow them. Our example
OF self-government has had no small influence in
cromotins the strugsiings and throes for freedom
which have of late characterized many cfihe ahso-
lutte monarchies Of Europe. Our country has been
called ss.he last hope Of Freedom, and on this &C.
count it seems that owe ito other lands as well
% TO ourselves to preserve the Union.
II seems, that as much more is at stake in pre-
serving the bond that binds together as nation
at the present time than could have been before
we had gained such character as we now possess
that any act pointing at dissolution should be look
ed upon with the more adherence and dete station
u it 50? Look at the calmness and toeia wit
which the proceedings OF the Nashville convention
are viewed, and all must answer, no. The concl''
sion to which we have come, is, then, as true as
Is melancholy.
The only way to preserve the Union, is to frow
down any attempt 10 destroy it, whether secret O
avowcd. whatever may be the supposed or actu;
grievance, il should never be permitted to be bro
In competition with the Union. II for want of
suitable expression ofpublic sentiment on the PAL
OF those who value the Union above all price, tn
Nashville Convention should effect their object 9
secession, posterity will hardly award them niue
praise, either for their attachment to freedom O
their love Of patriotism. The page of history,
truthful, will ax stigma on the act, that can ney
Or be erased.