Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-01-23
AW 81 Na'
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY %, Is
SOUTHERN CONVENTION.

crates fo7 Southern Convention, proposed to be
held in June next, a. Nashville.
II has happened little unfortunately that this
frebrand from the North should have reached It's
destination. before the Wilmot Proviso Committee,
having in charge the important questions connected
with Southern Convention, had reported, and the
Legislature acted Ifany question ever brought up
before the General Assembly Of Virginia required
its dispassionae judgment, it IS this sectional oen
yention. We very much fear that the excltements
produced upon the opening Of this new budget OF
nonsense and fanaticism, from the State OF YER
mont. NAV seriously interfere with calm and dig
ni6ed discussion Of its merits Already we Ind
prominent members crying out, now is the time
speedy action-strike while the iron is hot Is II
possble, that because Vermont chooses to look over
The TOP of her icebergs to make mouths al us, we
should act like children! A thrill of excitement
and indignation may be excused, but let not VIZ
ginia forget her dignity. The Legislature must
cain respect and confidence by the ,csdom, not The
passion of lis acts.
What are the purposes OF this Southern COaven-
ton VIII its action commit the people Of Virgin
ia? If the General Assembly appoint four dele
gates, and the people, from any cause, fail to elect
the prososed ffteen-can the four bind the people?
Nav not disuon be the result of this Southern
movement? Then the people should be gravely
consulted before any steps are taken. Their rep
rssen,atives in the General Assembly have not been
charged upon any course of action tending to break
The sacred bands of the Union, and they will not be
committed bndfold to its dissolution We insist
upon the right in this case above all others, to IN
struct our representatives. at least we insist upon
the propriey Of their being fully imbued with pop
ular sentiment. We protest against being instruct
ca, and led by the nose, from legislative resolves 10
legislative crusades, then to revolution and civil
war, with all its horrors, and this through the am
bition of disappointed spirits.
Whenever the Legislature shall appoint its men
to this Southern Congress- they will be selected, IN
al probability, for their fervid popular eioqucnce'
glowing imaqinations and exctable temperaments
not FOR sound judgment, sober thought and known
discretion The latter shun it for its responsibility
The former, it is feared, would stump it through
the district for agitation; and the high compliment
to the people of electing their Fifteen will afford the
fit occasion for these sons Of thunder 10 alarm and
disturb peaceful communities 1Imeo Danaos ct
dona fereaIes Southern by position, education
and feeling and ready to defend our peculiar nstl-
tutions. sat all hazards and to the last extremity,
iat the proper tme-we must still consider South
ern Convention premature and lmprudent.
The whole proceeding, wilhelm full keeping with
the resolutions of ls47 and lS49, goes long stride
beyond them towards that fatal maestrom whose
image is horror, and the nearing up TO which, is as
certain destruction, as if The dark waters had en-
gulphed US. Our Delegates, who voted against
these resolutions, know where Augusta stands Her
cherished motto is, "Liberty and union, now and
forever, one and inseparable."
We commend the patriotic remarks CT Mr. SHEF-
FEY, on this question: to his constituents and are
pleased to know that Mr. McCUE and our senator,
Mr.. WIN. KINNEY, concur fully with them
AMERICAN COLONIZATION SociErY.-The th'r-
ty-thrd annual meeting of this Society was held in
Washington City on the evening Of Tuesday, the
18th inst. Mr. Clay, President of the Society pre-
sided, and delivered an address at the opening OF
the meeting. Addresses were delivered alsoby K. u.
Scott, esq.,, Of Richmond, the Rev. DIR. Bethune, and
the Rev. r. Il. Gurley. The last named gentle
man has recently returned from visit to Liberia
aud gave an interesting and gratifying account ofthe
state OF things in the young Republic.
From the report read by the Secretary, it appears
that the receipts of the Society for the past year
were $4,000, but the expenditures, having exceed
ed the receipts the Society is now in debt upwards
of$l2,O0. During the year the Society sent Out
A22 emigrants, and has made preparations to send
out three expeditions during the next six weeks
There have been about 600 applications for passage
in these vessels but from the state Of It's funds tht
Society cannot send more than $50 persons. The
Republic now extends over about $50 miles of coas
and the slave trade is confined 10 a coast Of abou
$50 miles in extent. In his last communication Il
the Society, President Roberts expressed the opin
ion that all that was necessary to abolish the slave
trade was to secure possession Of this $50 miles o
coast, which could be purchased for 1900.
In connection with the subject we may add, tina
the Special Committee Of our House of Delegates
TO whom was referred that part of the Governor
Message relating to the Colonization Of free negroes
have reported ''that it is expedient to appropriate
annually sum sufficient to transport to Liberia a
least the annual increase of our free negro popula
tion."
A DIFLoMATic DIFFIcULrY-The Washing
ION correspondent of the Baltimore American give
an account of personal renccntre at Lima, on tn
10Th of december last, between Col. u. w. PoT
TER, UG!ted States Consul at Valparaiso, and III
Hon. HENRY STEPHEN SULLIVAN, nephew Of Lor
PALMERsroN, and British Charged afairsto Chill
During brief absence OF Col. P. from the hotel
his wife aud child were forcibly turned out Of tn
rooms which had been assigned them, by MIR. SUI
LryAN. Cob P, demanded an exploration OF tn
outrage, which being refused, he inflicted wei
merted chastisement upon the person of the Hon
orable gentleman, in the presence OF Gen. HERE