The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-07-30
A Lady.s Picture of the Southern Convention
From ai,.Makin's Model American Courier
NEEDLES FROM MY NEEDLE-BOQK.
BY MISS KATE CoNyNGIAM.

"NaShville Convention. tear you VIII nave
no more to do with me- 1t was curiosity that
y (hmpted me, and being a Yankee girl felt
TIE greatest desire to he present at meeting
which was drawing the attention. of the whole
world. The Colonel is true Southern man
in interests as well as in feeling. and at the
Sd inst, he said, in his badinage manner.
"Kate, what say you to going to the Con-
ventiona"
The Nashville Convention, sir" exclaimed
with a start of innate horror.
eyes 1t begins its session to day. It's
but a three hours drive into town, and | am 60
ng in to see what they are going to do. lsa'
bel is desirous of being present, as Ladies are
especially invited to grace the assembtage;;
ssI thought they were to meet with closed
doors, Colonel" said in my innocence, hav-
ing the ghost of the Hartford Convention be-
fore my eyes.
aNo. They will do all open and fearlessly,
Kate. If you can overcome your Yankee scru.
plies enough to be one of the party, we should
be delighted tehave you to CO.
After afeymoments' reflection, | concluded
to consent, though l must confess with some
computations of conscience, Mr.. M'Makin, for
I yerily believed the Convention to be traitor
GUS in its spirit, in its views, and in its tenden-
scies.
The carriage was at the door, as soon as
breakfast was over, and after three hours ride
we entered Nashville, city as have before
remarked, presenting the most charming aspect
to the approacher of any inland town IN the
Union. The tall Egyptian towers OF the Pres
'byterian church, the gothic battlements OF the
Episcopalian, and the pointed turrets OF the
Baptist the fortress-like outline of the halt nm
ished Capitol, and the dome of the Court house,
with the numerous cupolas, galleries, groves,
and bridges, together form coup d,ol, that en-
chants the eye On our road, we had overta-
ken open travelling barouche, containing two
South Carolinians on their way to the Conven-
ton. One of them being known and recog-
nized by the Colonel, we had quite an anima-
ted conversation, as we rode side by side, of
exclamatons upon the beauty Of the opening
scene before us.
Arrived in town, we stopped at an elegant
mansion, the abode ofa arelation OF the Colonel,
where we were made as much at home as we
would have been at the Park. We found the
city thronged with strangers from all the South.
ern States, and the houses of the best families
were Hospitality opened to entertain them
Upon expressing my surprise to an eminent
whig jurist opposed to the Convention, that
lie should have thrown open the largest and
best rooms his house to the members Of the
Convention, he remarked that che could never
forget the laws or hospitality, and that it was
opinion that strangers visiting the city should
be received with kindness and civility." hon.
ored the venerable gentleman for this specimen
of old Roman feeling.
The Convention first convened in Odd Eel.
lows Hall, a large and beautiful edihce, but not
being found convenient for the accommodation
of spectators, Especially the ladies, Mr.. M Ma
KIM the MKendree Church which is the most
spacious in the city, was offered to it and ac-
cepted. As we entered the vestibule, which
was thronged with gentlemen, | noticed pla.
card, reading in large letters, as follows: "Ihe
,pews on either side of the church, on the floor,
reseryedto the ladies; and no gentleman without
a lady to be admitted on the floor unless he is
aInember. This rule will lbe strictly enforced" )"
Upon entering, we found the house filed, the
members occupying the body Of the church,
the ladies, like borders of flowers, THAT is a
gallant delegates figure Of speech) enclosing
them on each side, a.ld the galleries packed
with lookers-on and lookers-down, some OF
them with their hats on their heads, for there
are some men that don't know when they ought
to keep their hats of:
Through the politeness of Col.--,a a gen.
tlen,an as distinguished for his patriotism as for
his politeness, we were escorte,! to an advanta-
geous seat near the platform, although we did
not turn any gentleman out of his seat in order
to get places for ourselves.
know of nothing more uncivil or worthy of
being rebuked, than that rudeness so common
among ladies which would lead them to make
agentleman sacrifice to them seat, which, per-
haps, he had with much difficulty obtained for
himself 1t is the duty Of every man coming
into crowded room with ladies, to find places
for them without discommoding other men. |
saw two 'ladies" come in and stand before a
pew, and look steadily at an elderly gentleman
in it, as if they were resolved to look him out
of his seat, though his wife and daughters were
with hun in the pew; but the height of impert-
nence is for man with females under escort,
to ask another gentleman to rise and give his
seat to the ladies yet during the session of the
convention, l saw this thing done repeatedly.
When we entered, Mr.. Hammond, of South
Carolina, was addressing the Chair, which was
filed by dignifed Andrew Jackson-looking
man, who, learned from the Colonel--who