The North-Carolina standard., 1850-01-16
THE NASHVILLE coNvENTf,N. t q


THE NASHVILLE CONVENTION. j
8 Mn. HoLpEN: From lats number OF & ths Hns4.
nets Nest see that at least one Wing paper in
State has SO far thrown OFF the shackes party as to
come oat IN strong terms for the rights of the South.
This thing is unusual in our State that It Is gEat
flying to every true friend Of Southern Institutions.
Il shows that although party may carry persons very
far yet their patriotism will in cases bring them
to the point Of defending what is to them all inn
porant issue. -s4 -. s i. .ss-.''44s s.
My object in the present communication is to sug-
gest the propriety of responding the call of the
State of Mississippi to meet her in Convention at
Nashville, the LIST of June next. It does seem to
me, sir, that it is time that we of North Carolina
should take some action in the matter. We have
been derided and laughed at as the Rip Vanwinke
Of the confederacy-as people hard to be aroused,
even to sense of our own interest 1t is time that
we should relieve ourselves from this, am ashamed
TO say, somewhat deserved epthet. But we are met
with the cry of PrecPhancy and $ dsunion . by
those who in high places, and claim to be the law
and order party and, par eeece, the true friends of
the Union. What means this That we are to be
denounced by our own people for standing up for
their rights If this was new question-if we were
merely making this an issue for party purposes we
might deserve their abuse, and still more than
they have heaped upon u.s.. AS true friends of the
Union, but of the Union according to the strict letter
of the Constitution call upon them all to Join in
this measure to save that Union which we love.
What danger is there, sir, in the Nashville Con-
vention, that they should oppose it strenuously
Is unconstitutional for the people to meet together
to consult and advise their grievances and adopt
means for redressing them! Why, sir, this is guar
anteed to not only in national bill of rights, but
in the bill of rights every State in the Union. Then
if constitutional, what other objection be urged
Is it inexpedient? Why, sir it must be evident to
every rejecting that this is the nost important
era to the South since the days of the Revolution.
Their all is at stake now. The records of the last
Congress TEEN with repeated insults to the South.
But if this were all could bear it. The politi-
clans of the North not satisfied with that, and
still press and make direct attacks upon rights.
Colts resolutions, Gidding's resolutions, passing
the lower house of Congress by majority to be fear
ed, shows an alarming state of feeling towards the
South among Northern men. The Wilmot Proviso
may possibly be of immediate danger to the South
to territories, may not effect directly the institutions
of the South for many years, yet it is such viola
ton of principle, such open Infringement of the
compromises of the Constitution, that we should be
traitors to our own rights were to assent to its
passage 1t leads directly to the abolition of Slavery
in the District of Columbia free State in
the midst of 1t leads the abolition of Slavery
in every arsenal and public property of the United
States Government in the Southern States, and will
finally lead to an attempt to interfere with it in the
States themselves.
But we are told to wait for an overt act-that we
are too precpitate. Doyou wish any stronger overt
act than an :open infringement and violation of the
strict letter of the Constitution which is practised
every year and every day, by the northern States!
The Constitution provides that fugitives from labor
our negroes when fleeing to Northern States, shall be
given up. This was Of the compromises of the
Constitution, and is violated every day. Yet, still
we asked to wait for act. As we'll might
you tell the man whose enclosure was on fire to wait
until his house was in flames before he took means
to stop it!
These are but few of the grievances of the North
upon the South, which we have borne, until to bear
them longer without resistance were treachery to our
own safety. The State of Mississippi has called
upon her sister soveregnes to meet her deliberate
over this state of affairs and consult for the common
good. She calls upon them to meet her, not for the
purpose Of disunion, but for dcvisng for pre-
venting that step. Shall not meet her, together
with the other Southern States!
feel sir; for deep interest in the matter, as
Southern man and Slave-owner. I believe that our
people feel deep interest, and that they will hasten
to place the good old State of our nativity along side
of her sister Sates this contest for their most
cred rights. A SOUTHERN MAN.