The North-Carolina standard., 1850-05-08
RALEIGH NORTH CAROLINA WEDNESDAY MORNING MAY 1850

EDNESDAY MORNING, MAY
lotte be requested publish these proceedngs and
that the Raleigh papers and other State papers fend
ly the objects had in vew be requested copy.
Resored, That copies of these proceedings be sent
TO the Representative from this district in Congress.
and to Senators, with request that they lay them
before their respective Houses. I a
On motion the Convention adjourned .ine die.
JOHN WALKER, CA'n.
J: J.. {. F. sapsss, ss.ss: Secretaries.
+e Letter from Hon. w. b. Shepard.
ELIZABETH Cry, April 9th, 1850.
GENTLEMEN 81 have received your letter of the
26h ut. inviting me, in behalf of the citizens of
the old Meckenburg district to be prese Mt at Con-
vention to be held in Charlotte, the 23d inst, for
Southern Convention. 1 regret that business Of an
imperative character will compel me to 60 in another
direction about that time, else would be tempted,
in spite Of the great distance. to be present with you
on so important an occasion. Old Mecklenburg has
claims upon the patriotic heart of North Caronian,
which will entitle her to a much longer pilgrimage
by all who venerate her former action am glad to
the chidIen Of that cradle of American Indepen
dence are about sending deputies to the Nashville
Convention. wish the whole State would follow
measure and no solid obj lection to it. Associated
action for the purpose Of eecng important object.
is of the wisest discoveries of modern civiliza
tion to it must be attributed most the Improvements
of times. This matter is very well understood at
the North, but am sorry to say but little known
practiced at the South At the North, whenever it is
intended to act with efficiency upon the general Gov
eminent, individuals know well how to combine or
associate together, that their action may be felt. This
we have seen for years past. Whenever the policy
nf fho hos in <xrsSh
great Northern interest," Immediately that interest
bnes and associates togher, and speaks to the Gov
eminent in such manner that its voice must be heard
and listened 10. 1t but the other day the great
iron interest of Pennsylvania, and other States,
sembled at Pitsburg, and uttered its grievances;
few months previous, delegates were focking from
the North and West to ST. Louis, to force upon the
Government mammoth scheme for rail road to Cal
iforna and short time previously, MIR. Polks veto
upon the harbour bill reused indignation North and
West, which assembled in Convention at Chicago,
and spoke in voice that neither misunderstood
nor unheeded. For thus consulting, about their own
affairs and interests these people were not charged
with desiring disunion or committing acts of treason
and yet when the great slavehodng interest of this
nation, the most deenceless in its nature and charac
ter, is attacked by unprovoked and malignant foe
foe rapidly getting control of the Government-the
cry of disunion is most unustly and unfairly raised
against because proposes to associate and consult
for its better protection and defence.
The National lntelligencer, paper which circu-
lates extensively throughout the South, with view
of throwing odium on the Southern Convention and
distracting the minds of the Southern people, has
lately been running parallel between that and the
concludes its article by preerring the patriotism of
the latter. These gentlemen. in their great desire to
apologize for the Hartford Convention and prejudice
the Southern, forgot to mention that the odium at
tached to the Hartford Convention arose exclusively
from the fact that the time of its assembling the
in f,,,th Tho
most powerful nation of the world-a conflict the is
sue Of which was extremely doubtful and brave
and generous public then thought and yet think that
whatever be the peculiar grievances of the New
England people, the midst of the din Of battle and
struggle for existence, not proper time TO dis
pute with their friends. And if do not mistake the
patriotic and generous character of the Southern peo-
pie, the time will come when those who oppose the
Nashville Convention, will be regarded not sufi
cently sensitive to the honor and interest of their
country. The time proposed for the assembling of
the Nashville Convention, is one of profound peace
The Government is all-powerful-the siaveholding
interest is scattered great surface and notori
ously dcenceless-the preudices of the rest of the
world against it and if those whose duty it is to
guard and protect it, dare not combine and associate
for that purpose its fate is inevitable. Our people
ardently and justly attached to the Union of the
States. Its value is nestmable, and in my judgment
the assembling of Southern Convention, so far from
enfeebing the Union, will tend immeasurably to
strengthen it, by convincing the Northern dsorg gan
izers that united and determined to resist all
unconstitutional assaults upon our rights and proper
ty. History teaches that the best way to invite
aggression and insult, is to exhibit weakness and
distraction. .... ... ...
In the language of Mr. Webster in his late patriotic
speech, am bound to believe that if the worthy
gentlemen meet Nashville in Convention, their
object will be to adopt counsels conciliatory.''
If there is any interest in this country which pecu
liarly needs that protection and security which is de-
rived from association and combination, that interest
is the Saveholding. Our planters generally reside
isolated upon their plantations. They are conding
race of people, and have comparatively little inter-
with the rest of the world the danger Of their
present situation is, Mr.. Webster said of Texas,
IS a snap judgment" may be taken upon them. 1t is
in consequence of their Indifference, heretofore that
the slave question has been badly managed in Con-
gress. Had they exercised proper vigilance, it
never would have been mixed up with the party
politics of the day, would it now be agated on
the floor Of Congress, threatening the Union with
destruction am glad to see from your letter that
you propose to hold Convention composed of both
the great political parties. 1t will be sad day for
North Carolina, when the ordinary blindness and
of party shall mark the discussions and action
on this subject ..-..-,..-
In conclusion of this hastily written letter, would
say that having but little direct pecuniary interest in
the question of slavery, and with desire for public
life, think view this subject as dspassionate-
been able to give it, am decidedly of opinion that
unless the people themselves. who are interested in
this question: do associate and combine for their own
protection, the day is far distant when an ire
sponsible government, actuated by false philan-
thropy, will reduce the Southern planting interest to
England's misrnle has entailed upon her West India
Colonies. 60 ...,t.,.. r.,.-.I-a.s.--Ei: :.
Should the Convention assemble in Nashville, and
produce other result will unite the South, and