Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-11-27
NASHVILLE CONVENTION.

This blunderbuSS has at length gone oil, ana Tue
resnlt is only report At this distance we have
not even felt conclusion. The Preamble and Res
olutions which they have adopted have not yet
reached us in such distinct form as to enable to
give our readers clear view Of its action, but we
have hints enough to show us that in point of doc
trins, the conclaye has proceeded TO the utmost
length Of ultra States rights, and has attempted to i'm
press its views upon the South generally by the most
Intense force of affirmation. There seems 20 be some
ebscurty resting upon the telegraphc accounts of
their action, but gather from those have seen
the: it amounts TO little more than a recommendation
that still another similar body shall be convened in
the South to concert measures for redress Still an
other effort must be made to arouse the slumberng
passions Of the people, before the imposhume bursts
out into open violence. These repeated Nashville
Conventions remind us of the "repeal meetings" Of
Ireland after the death of DANIEL O'CoNNELL.-
They are evidently growing "smal by degrees, and
beautifully less" JOHN G. CALHOUN carried to his
grave the potent wand upon which the success fall
these disunion efforts depended, and left no
sor behind him. The charm of his presence is gone,
and nothing remains to give unity to the party of
which he was the author and the acknowledged head,
but one or two skeletons of deGunct politicians.
We heartily rejoice that Virginia was not repre-
scented in the Convention that has Just Adjourned
Il is true that Gen. VIM. F. GORDON was present,
voting in behalf of his State; but is equally true
that he had no shadow Of authority from any major
iy of the people, any where to do So He was there
as solitary volunteer, most decidedly miSrepreSsnt-
ing the community in which he resides, and the peo-
pie of Virginia. We rejoice, we repeat that Virginia
has kept her hands out of this aboriive affair. She
has thereby saved her dignity, and contributed much
10 save the Union. Had she gone into the Conven-
ton, with full delegation bearing her authority TO
act as the majority have acted, it is more than prob
able that her influence would have been promptly
fatal to the existence of the Confederacy in It's pres
ent state With wisdom truly admirable, aud
conservatism that does her honor, she declined TO
participate in the couusels of body whose deliber-
atoms, it clear from the first, could end moth
ing but disunion or disgrace.
This last, we think, will be the doom Of those
headlong politicians who have performed in the farce
If they have counseed disunion, and the people re-
fuse 10 follow, they must, of necessity, retire from
public life for lack of confidence. Many Of them,
we doubt not, will long continue to witness, from
the obscurity of private discouent the prosperity and
the triumphs Of the country whose unity they have
been plotting TO destroy. We do not envy them
their anticipated fortunes, their foreshadowed fate.
We hope their political deaths may be calm aud
peaceful. But may there be for such a mschievous
class, no resurrection
Our confidence in the stability Of our Union in
creases daily The external form Off raterua rela-
tonshp, as manifested by the action Of dehera''Ve
bodies is certainly not fatering; but ere is an IN
visible magnetism that holds us tosether, stronger
than all sectional jealousies and anauca dlsconents
1t is like The powerful, but aexphcabie sympathy,
that makes the various mzmbsrs CT the human body,
in motion and in feeling, owe. The Union, it is plain
from recent events can Aand very severe handling
and very rude shocks II prOclaims its own endur-
inc destiny at evepsieP ofs progress, and in every
,r;nmnb over dagger and seems 10 say like the sail
or.bov at the Aast-head,
.srbopob e strained mast should culver as a reed
And the ent canvass autering srcw the gale,
Still y"'l on :!
Nanrydoes not abhor vacuum, more than the pso-
ple ,/the United States dread separation. They
seIno!hing less than inevitable ruin in such catas-
sophe, They have not the hardhood 10 pray for it,
nor the insensbility to contemplate it. The seces-
sion of one or two planets from the heavens, would
not more certainly throw the solar system into fatal
disorder than the secession Of several States would
overwhelm this conederacy, and plunge our whole
population into despair. May mercilul Heaven, in
whose hands planets and States lie equally depend
ent and equally secure long avert the awful change
6 The Hon. GEORGE Nj. DALLAS, Ex-Vice Pres
ident Of the United States, having been selected as
one Of the Vice Presidents ofthe Union meeting held
in Philadelphia on Thursday night the 21st instant,
could not attend, but wrote letter giving his views
as 10 what should be the action of the meeting He
says that in the existing condition Of public feeling
mere generalities in favor Of the Union will produce
little or no effect To speak impressively it is ab
soluely necessary to speak specifically, and ne adj
Vised that the meeting declare the Fugitive Slave
Law to be CONSTITUTIONAL just and expedient. He also
urged that the Legislature Of Pennsylvania be nvok-
ed repeal the laws heretofore passed prevent the
re-capture Of fugitives.
Such sentiments from influential citizens of the
free States tend to inspire hope and confidence. Mr.
DALLAS occupies the true ground, and the only one
on which the Union can, or should, be maintained.
Much as we love the Union and direful as would be
the consequences OF It's disruption under any circum-
stances we have no hesitation in saying that it ought
to be dissolved if the fugitive law repealed or null
lifted by the North This law is, with us, not a
mere matter of dollars and cents. We do not regard
so much the value of the fugves, the general ben
e6ts that would result from the faithful execution of
the law, to all classes at the South.
Cap,srmAs is CoMNG.-We are reminded about