Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-20
SOUTH CAROLINA VIEWS OF THE NASHVILLE
CONVENTION
PROM THE RICHMOND "rIaEs" OF ArErr IL.

. /.
PROM THE RICHMOND "rIMEs" OF ArKrr H.
We propose to show, by evidence which de-
serves the most serious attention, that the object of
the Nashville Convention, as understood by its ad-
vocates in Virginia is very far from being its OBJ
iect as understood By ats advocates elseachere,
and that dangerous and schoAy inadnaissibte pro-
iects sciH certainly be urged upon the considera-
lion of the delegates who may constitute The body.
The Charleston papers contain long report OF
the proceedings of public meeting of the citizens
of ST. Lukes parish, in Beaufort District, South
Carolina, assembled at Gillisonville, on the lst Of
this month. DIR. Screue1, venerable gentleman,
was called to the chair. Col. Il. NJ. SngeAton,
in speaking of the resolutions which he was about
to propose, remarked, amongst other things OF 81
milar import:
eff they (he people Of The South) intended
their rights and maintain their self respect they knew what
they do. The guarantees of the Constitution which
intended protect the weak, afford them protection
If they would protect themselves from further wrongs and
ndgnies they must take the mode and measure Of redress
in their hands. He knew the temper and spirit
Of the South Though they were generous and obeang,
they would not submit to beyond certain Point ihat
point they had reached They could make
promise, and concession out Of the question. They
united and in their determination to preserve
and strengthen their constitutional rights II was because
he believed the Southern people be in earnest IN this mat
that he favor Of the proposed Southern Conve
| ton"
| One of the resolutions was as follows:
aResoved That have full confidence in the integrity
intelligence, and fmness of that bdy the Nashville Con
vention) and cheeruy submit rights to its protecting
care and thot hold ourselves ready to aid in the enforce
of any recommend 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. Sin
gellton having been unanimously adopted, Mr.
James A. Srobhart rose and offered the following,
to be added by way of amendment:
sResoued That in the opinion of this meeting the as
sembng of Nashville Convention should not be prevented
By the refusal Congress to admit California as sfafe
or to pass the Wl,ot prouiso any other kindred act g
aggression but that, in that should still to
degise measures for tie procurement Of guarantees against
the repetition of encroachmens upon the rights Of the slave
| holding States.
The address Of Mr.. Strobhart, in support of this
resolution, presents matter of so much consequence
for ssthe contemplation Of Union-loving but true
Southern men of Virginia, that we give place to the
larger portion Of them, as reported by the Secre-
tary:
"The resolution which he (Mr s. had submitted in
consideration of what he feared becoming prevalent
opinion in certain quarters, viz that should Congress not
pass any Objectionable the South, there would be
necessity for the meeting Of the Convention Mr. g. was
clearly Of opinion that should assemble under any ccnm
stances and he thought perfectly proper that this meeting
should express opinion upon the DID one
believe that should Congress aggressive act we
could be hout guaranty against repetition
of The present state Of things? Is the constitution as Il noa
q W
of twenty years shown that that instrument which bound toge
ther SO harmonousy thirteen States in their OF fame
and prosperity has become inefficient p hold thirty STATES
together egbGGty2 Have not local faafa
csn, party its barriers, and e the
mercy Of bare majority This state Of things must inevitably
grow After temporary ullng OF the fears OF the
South will be again inoperaon, and will End
u.s. Perhaps less united in other respects 70. weak to
! prevent their baeful effects
Mr s. asked confidence could be placed in the pro
per exercise of the Executive the maintenance of
rights What in its effect Was the prevailing party
at the North opposed the South and her institutions
Was the numerical force Of that party rapidly increasing
ssIf then said Mr. ST. have nothing to hope from the
nstuon Executive Interference from the naiurnl
progress Of events does not behoove us to profit BY the
experience Of the past and avail ourselves OF the golden
opportunity which offers to repair the consftuton Sc
as 10 adapt to oHr increased necessities The South
now in great degree united, and or never must the
Federal Government be brought back within the legitimate
scope its operations Should the attempt 10 do this result
in the destruction Of the Union let orses at euey
hazard Is there any thing like in this can COM
nit treason only against South Carolina She Is only
soueregn. The Federal Government is only agent Of
not sovereign orer the States secondary obedience
those laws which she has been authorized to under
and in accordance with her delegaed but no more
be slaves because in throwing off the yoke we
rend the Union Is Union God that should worship
it, Is it thing sacred that zoe should Uenerafe Il?
While answering the purposes for which was intended
between equals neither legally nor equi-
taby sacred than other contract PROVIDES ior
its own amendment. Were the Union to be foimed now,
would become party TO such as 1t Can the strong
. contract
thing common between the wolf and the lamb Restore the
constitution Let The Union be Of oppression
then indeed may love the Union. Now, il union Of
the weak with the strong, of the victim to the Of The idol
union tainted with the fanaticism OF the North-boated
with the spols Of the Souh-roen with general corruption
Mr ). said it would be Of place to address
men to the interests of who conendng r princ
pie but it would be OF place TO say that should
dissolution the Union ensue, Il ,coud be greatly 10 TIE
benefit of the South He then summed up in focible
manner, The advantages phch wouh result to the South
that In conclusion, le. u.s. said hes not only express
an opinion that the Convention should assemble but that
should devise such in lis wisdom may best to-
restore and preserve the Union in its purity possiblebos
preserve the rights OF the South in any event"
The significant sequel TO this extraordinary ha-
rangue is that after discussion, in which Messrs.
Fickling. Tlinghast, Allston, and Mccarthy ably
: participated, Mr.. Srobhar,'s amendment ,0as
, unanimously adopted"
! Now, without arguing the matter, we wish mere
y to direct the attention of those who may be de-
berating the question whether Virginia should
send delegates TO Nashville, 10 the wide difference
between the object Of the proposed Convention as
understood by the Virginia Legislature, and thas
object as understood, without dissentient by the
citizens Of St. Luke's Parish, South Carolina Mr..
!, RoBERr 6. ScoTT, whom we take to be an authen-
tic interpreter of the intention of our Legislature, in
his remarks at the city meeting Saturday night,
declared that the adoption by Congress of scheme