Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-12
South Carolina Views fine Nashville Conue's


judgment, took a very forcible objection to the
Nashville Convention in declaring, as one of their
reasons for deeming it mpolitic under present cir
cumstances, that 'those who have been principal
ly instrumental in originating the proposed Nash
vile Convention, do not agree among themselves as
to its Object"
The Legislature of Virginia, in lis resolutions
passed on the 9Th of February last, set forth, as
causes for which she would be ready to Join
Southern league for mutual defence, three spec-
tc forms of aggression, viz: ''the passage of the
Wilmot Proviso, or of any law abolishing slavery
in the District of Columbia, or in any manner in
tertering with the rights of shareholders therein,
or abolishng slavery or the sayetrade between the
States;'' and it was provided, that upon the hap
elng Of either Of these contingencies" the Cover
nor should call State Convention to be solemnly
elected by the people, for the purpose of appoint
ing delegates for the State to Southern Conven-
ton or Congress. In regard to the Nashville
Convention, which was proposed to be held on
certain day, without reference to the actual hap
pening of the three contingencies in question, the
Legislature declared its approval of "the objects of
said Convention, as above set FORTH" that is to
say in this languageS"regardng the Convention,
proposed to be held at Nashville on the first Mon
day in June next, as intended to enable the people
of the South to take counsel together as to the best
and most efectual means of resisting the agrees
sions of the North, of enforcing compliance ON
their part with their constitutional obligations and
thereby Of preserving The union Of these States,
now in imminent peril by reason of the course
pursued by the non-slaveholding States and their
representatives in Congress, in their ceaseless
agitation (and that, too, in the most unfriendly
spirD of questions involving the peace, the nsti-
tutions and tho very existence of the Southern
States" 1t is perfectly clear from these citations
that "the objects, assigned to the Nashville Con-
vention by the Virginia Legislature, were, to pre-
serve the Union, by staying the North from using
its majorityin Congress to pass the Wlmot Pro-
viso, or any law to abolish slavery in the District
of Columbia or the slavetrade between the States.
In other words, it was plainly declared to be the
end of the Convention to maintain the Union as il
u.s. by preventing the violation of the constitution
as it is.
We propose, now, to show, by evidence which
deserves the most serious attention, that the OBJ
ject of the Nashville Convention, as understood
by its advocates in Virginia, is very far from being
its object, as understood by its advocates else
where, and that dangerous and wholly inadmiss-
BILE projects will certainly be urged upon the con-
sideration of the delegates who may constitute
the body.
The Charleston papers contain long report
of the proceedings of public meeting of the CT
items of ST. Luke's parish, in Beaufort District,
South Carolina, assembled at Gillisonville, on the
lst inst. Dr. Screven, a venerable gentleman,
was called to the chair. Col R. W. Singleton,
in speaking of the resolutions which he was
about to propose, remarked, amongst other things
of similar import
If they the people Of the South intended to pre-
serve their rights and maintain their selErespect thew
knew what they must do. The guarantees of the Con-
stitution which were intended to protect the weak,
afford them protection If they would protect them
selves from further wrongs and indgntes, they must
take the mode and measure of redress in their own
hands. 49, He knew the temper and spirit OF the
South. Though they were generous and forbearing,
they would not submit to wrong beyond certain point
That point ,oe had no,o reached. They could nolo
make no compromise, and concession out of the
question. They united and in earnest in their de-
termination to preserve and strengthen their constu
tona rights It was because he believed the Southern
people be in earnest in this matter that he was in ia
vor OF the proposed Southern Convention"
One of the resolutions was as follows
RESOLVED, That we have full confidence in the inte-
gritty intelligence, and mness OF that body he Nash
vile Conventon) and cheerfuy submit rights to its
protecting care and that we hold ourselves ready to
aid in the enforcement of any it may recon-
mend for the redress of our grievances
But this was not going far enough for the
leading spirits of St. Luke's. The resolutions
of Col. Singleton having been unanimously
adopted Mr.. james A. Slrobhar1 rose and offer
ed the following, to be added by way of amend
ment:
assembling of the Nashville Convention should not be
prevented BY The OF Congress to admit Cafor-
ma asa state or topass the Wilm0t Promise, any
other Kindred act Of aggression but that in that case
should stall assemble to deuse measures for the pro-
cuement Of guarantees against the repetition of en-
croachments upon the rights OF the slaveholding
States"
The address of Mr.. Strobhart, in support of
this resolution, presents matter of so much con-
sequence for the contemplation of Union-lovinp
but true Southern men of Virginia, that we piye
place to the larger portion of them, as reported
by the Secretary:
J
was in consideration of what he feared was becoming
apreyalent opinion in certain quarters. viz that should
Congress not pass any acts Objectionable the South
there would be necessity for the meeting Of the Com
vention. Mr. S. clearly otopnion that should as
sembe under any circumstances, and he thoughit per-
iecty proper that this meeting should express OPT
Mon upon the subject. Did any believe that even
should Congress pass no aggressive act, we could be
secure 1rith0ut some guarantee against q repe-
iition Of The present state of things? Is the con-
s,itntion as it nor stands protection to our
fGY nj txyAn
siewn that that instrument which bound together har
moniousy, thirteen States in their course of fame and
prosperity, has became inefficient to hold thirty States
esis anatics and party serambng eveled its barriers
and LETT us at the mercy OF bare maortyl This state
OF things inevitably grow worse. After tempo
sary ullng OF the fears OF the South, the causes
viii be again in operation and will find u.s. perhaps less
united oshar resnecis too weak prevent ihar