Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-06-13
THE NAsmvsLLE CONVENTION.
NASHVILLE, June 3


The delegates to the Southern Convention convened
to-day. and The Convention temporarily organised
by Aaron Vail Brown being called To the Chair.
The President, pro tenn, then reported TO the assem-
bly,. by order Of the Committees of the States. held
~ their primary meetings. the names Of w NJ Shar-
Key. OF Miss as President Gov Mcdonald OF Ga,
as Vice President; W. W. Cooper and E. G. East
man. as Secretaries
The vote taken each separately, and were
unanimously approved.
The President elect was then conducted to the chair.
upon taking which he made a brief but animated
speech, which received by hearty applause He
thanked the convention most profoundly for The honor
conferred in elevating him the position which he
had desire ill, hut which, after tie appeals that
bad been made to him, be could longer decline.
He alluded briefly to The causes which had induced
this meeting of the convention; the several States
had united upon terms of equality, and equal rights
had been guaranteed to all by the constitution but
these rights had been violated and the Government
could not stand the shock Of the dissertation of the
constitution. This convention has not assembled
merely to devise measures To protect the rights and
property of the Southern people, but to preserve the
Government which bad been handed down 10 tbem
untarnished. II had not been called subvert, but
to perpetuale the Union. Who. he asked, the
better patriots those who would wait till the dlrest
calamity had fallen upon the country, those who
proposed to adopt measures TO avert that calamity
1t is for this convention devise a remedy for the
people to carry them out. He expressed the hope
that remedy would be found.
In conclusion, he repeated that the object of the
ganZatIon Of the Convention not ~ dissolve The
Union, the ISLANDERS of its enemies to the contrary not
withstandng, and expressed the hope that the Union
might be the last thing to perish amidst the universal
wreck of matter. At the conclusion Of his address,
the Rev. j. B. Ferguson, by request, opened the de-
hbeatons with prayer, making eloquent appeal to
the throne of Almighty Grace, to protect our Union
Judge Wilkinson. of Miss, moved the States be
called, and the members from each be requested to pre-
sent their credentials; adopted
Gideon ]. Pillow moved a reconsideraton-he
wished to amend the motion as to raise cummt-
tee of from each State, to receive the credentials
of members and examine the same, and TO report
thereon TO the Convention
Afer short discussion between Messrs. Pillow
and Walker. OF Alabama, the motion to reconsider
prevailed-the amendment then accepted and the
motion as amended adopted.
TIE Chair then appointed the following as said
committee. viz Gen. Pillow, Judge Wilkinson, Gen.
Walker. Gov. Henderson, of Texas, Col Piekens. of
S. c.. VI. j. Crawford of Ca, Judge Tucker of Va,
Col Pearson Of Fla, and Mr.. Powell, of Arkansas.
Adjourned.
NASHVILLE, June A.
The Convention met this morning in the McKen-
dree Methodist Church, and was opened with prayer
by the Rev. J. B. McFerrin.
After some discussion, Gen. Pillow. Chairman of
the Committee Elections, reported list of dele
gates entitled to a seat in the Convention.
The ClergymeD of the city were invited TO seats in
the body of the Chamber.
Jeferson's Parliamentary Manual was adopted for
the government Of the Convention.
A. " Brown offered resolution appointing COM
miitee of two from each State, to whom all subjects
be acted upon should be referred but withdrew.
1t was then moved to adopt the report of the conf
mite on organization. Mr.. Erwin of Alabama, op-
posed the notion said he could support the report
If adopted He might acqulesce, but he thought
ii subversive of the authority of the people Each
Congressiona. district he said, entitled n sep
arae vote. and if each State entitled to but one
vote, how was each district 10 know whether 1t had
been properly represented.
Mr.. McRae Of Miss. offered the following an
amendment to the report of the Committee
Resolred, That the manner of voting in this Con-
venton shall be by States and that each State shall be
entitled to vote in this Convention in the same ratio
of it's representation in Congress- including Senators
and Representatives, and allowing to each State only
the same number of votes which it has Congressona
districts.
After long and animated debate, tho previous
question was called for and refused. and
Mr.. McRae then withdrew his amendment.
Mr.. Walker subsequently withdrew his call for the
previous question, that amendment might be Offered
by gentleman from Virginia.
Mr.. McRae here renewed his amendment, and spoke
In explanation.
Here the Convention got into confusion, and
number of gentlemen endeavored to bring order on
Of chaos.
The President finally stated the question to be
first, upon the amendment of Mr.. McRae; second
upon that Of the gentlemen from Va; and third, upoI
the report of the committee.
Both amendments were rejected, and the report o
the committee adopted.
The Convention then took recess, and on re-as
sembling. Mr.. Brown, of Tenn, renewed his resolu
ton, Withdrawn in the morning referring questions
that may come before the Convention to n committee
After some discussion the resolution amended
making 1t the duty of the committee to report on al
suggestions which they deemed proper for the actor
Of the Convention, and the resolution adopted.
Adjourned till tomorrow.