Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-07-12
THE QUESTION OT THE DAY.

Wm o. Goodc Esq., of the acts of that body and his ynd
cGon Of their To throw all possible light On this
mrot,ant subject to-day give place another dsiin
s. uscd in the sccncsA .. r. Nicholson, ESQ.
& whose letter vii! DC found below lie is well known 10 f
h Country as n gentleman Of fine talents lofty character and
hunswcivug Democracy. IL will be that he supplies
some important sketches Of the action Nashville, and
places portions Of the picture in new light lie ably
s ciucs some o the objections the 5i which lii
Marques no, seriously conflict with the resolutions oi the
ECuuvcnon The paper is written with g;r.i cand'r i.-
ness an, pD%er, must be admitted hy th"sr slo dir
fer with Kim. The question is mighty one, BIZ Win mo
mcn,ous consequences and the people cannot too aty
Reconsider il in all lis bearings Fo- this have
sthou il be- due 10 the al truth thGi Mr.. Ms
views should 90 forth II The people ." Virginia along wh
s the Nashville Address anl Mr. Goo.e letter:
IA NASHVILLE JrSE Is, 1850
d ~ he Editor IF Me NastriHe fni,n:
% SIR 1t has in yGur paper tlat mem
Nhcr o the committee Resolutions in the late Son'hcrn
ony eniipn presented that body minority report in
l which my dissent from the address recommended by The
Elioy stated in general II my rurpos" tn
state in the convention in detail the election. which had
k - that portion OF the address which discusses lie plan III
Establishment o the slavery question pending III The ST.
cate Of the United States. This purpose abandoned
~ upon the agreement of the convection incorporate into
tlc addcss the amendments showing that the delegates
Eot unanimous in approving the Argument aea;st c plan
g.. adus,:cn; re:uTtc to- Although the amendments j.
81 oy the conrt made the address less obeciionabi
e than il III sS ol9inal shape they did not reconcile ,c
sa the reasoning oy which the plan Of adjustment recon-.
Ls ncndet by the Committee OF Thirteen concnncd hut
n ,his fact announced c lace a the id;css WAS
let ii IL forth without further discussion
Aay objections am requested however BY several friends
designate those positions Of the argument of the address,
which my exceptions in the miEoty report were incnd
- apply, and 10 state the grounds wh.ci dissc
RON ,enI readily yield this request ond know OF np
b. nGi. oi dom. than ,.sFon" yonr corlnn9 IL"
S dis the chrefiuy as Ii will enable me !" maze known
8 inc which e il my duty pursue in the d,iber-
& o,s The committee resolutions
81 entered III, convention with views MS to the bcsl lin. ~
3poicy 10 be pursued in lis proceedings widely different from
n those entertained by many others. Is The whole schee Of
81 Southern Convention had been as;lrd the South
S ha.ng had its origin in spirit of hostility To the Union
Esand is suspicion know,: 10 pie:a,i extensively
satisfied that good could rcsal, unless hl entire
Eon Of tic assembly should be 90 clear. conservative
iissipaic forever all such UNJUST and uniouEs apnree
y -ons. doubted That there woGli hc individual
gates who would advance sentiments ioln. uii-
mate d!s.uon secession asi hGi con-
E strong tai the large majority Of lh convention
2 would and feel tie neccasity relieving .c Sscino
n rom all odiGm by clear and ureqiyucll manifestation =.
b their continued devotion TO t.ic constitution ard 10 hc
Il niun. That sucn the prevailing sentiment cas
the very Of the session BY general
conscn' II seemed Ia be conceded on all sides that the
subject of grievances nnicr the deliberations of
SConaress, il would bc imrruden in L. that oar
wrones would be reresscd aud upon that assumption
sto consider ot remedies or anticipated yel.inns .: curl
tights There %aa, therefore, very general ii uni
g rersal acquescence in The proprev Of limiting deisat
z lions and action firm but temperate enumeration and
cr,ion It" constitutional rights and equally firm and
cmperac expression fixed determination roist
d urlhcI agec:-ons them Ii believed tea would
III be niwisc and premature IN convention, IN which only nl
u The fourteen holding States represented fard
lhose nine but partially reprcscedl Thai the qc
4 ,i,s rs to the best mcic II Resistance q NJ ycss.o
nc ye consumnla;ci should be discussed riuch l,Ss
s. lerci ANA acted upon In tho 5nni.nGn. ly cacirfc
Sand carried il W.!h laJ iho con.i'ce ie-nlr0n
Z believed then, and believe now, that the obstacle
ao the successful maintenance ot "r rights cAir:S in c
Of union In the Southern States ana tal the most i'm
s. poan duty resting upon every friend ni the South j. 10
lcii I'LL his influence in producing SUCH union csiiatr
u -
8 sentiment and purpose in tile Southern Sta al! .l-
were known 10 the world all the ehs aule! To a. Ly the
constitution would be in:eaciy conceded With s con-
aviction looked upon Southern Convention Important
as the first step towafds hamnnizng and uniting the southern
81 mind had hope that This result could bc aua;cc,i y
q Inc action of single conventions but d believe that the
:unvenon Nashville could 10 conducted be fol-
lowed tY e;hIa after year, until the inr c,u wor
undivided southern sentiment tie slavery question
s DO regard the question Of slavery connected with
MEXICAN acquisitions The only great practice qIrs-
h ton at issue between he North nnl South In mv view
H the question in whir! most Interested i, wc:e
1--WE shall be permitted 10 c:ioy our constitutional rights
81 e subject OF Sayey in the States where 1t exists.
reference the newl qurod Territories a. thai
demand desire IS that Congress shall neither force slave
y into them kcepi ont OF them by assumption o.
Unconstitutional powers but give 20 them ogornnenls for their
protecon whilst in territorial condition. leaving the
laws Of Nature the settlement of the question whether sl-
very shall shall exist when they seek admission
The Union as States Iagrc that this ia an important
and the northern view of il rot only involves 9o
arion Of the consu:;on but also carries with Insult and
degradation to the Sorth lis eons;'rmatinn calls nr i.cr-
denand as to the Territories The question in which We
aost Immediately interested would remain unsettled 10
have peace quiet and security the South the doctrine
with slavery in The States must prevail
n ~ recognized in the Northern States ar cGaiy III Con
res-. The union of 'he s.ouh, heeiurc merely
ID the sete.en. of ie,f0ridf question: but
of the whoc question: absolutely necessary
Eisaicd the Nashville Convention preliminary or
Hponcr movement in the grand ard noble scheme c. ;he
preservation ol Southern rights, and h!o.g ler press
ss'lon The pepeuaton OF or thon iEeleore io that lh
asl gcG: business Of this frs, Southern Convention would
s5c by the moderate and conservative character OF its pro
2cccding and cc,nn 10 put down Forever the eas ssp!
Melons insinndnns cannics which Il had to
e regarded lis next nios important duty 10 he 10 conne its
cEt :aiioEs and action those subjects wh;cl The
Southern ind could be lrmonizcd ard united and scrupu-
ou=iy avoid i!i topics which would .sc Necessary
Ydcncy to divide and iisf1ct the South cannot bu l,
mysc that tc con;cGlion has clcciay performed i'll
first duty and that in the South al least Gt!S is given
n the idea that II assembled for rcaslnah.c paposes Ru.
a frar HAT VT have nj been equally successful in the dis
e rhare o! The Guy oi avoiding eca calculated 10 divide
q :nd distract tie :SuGih
n rs member OF the committee rcsoations dc.
Hirnrs o. carrying ont the views here expressed On iis
ground yielded ronctln tic resolution in which
The convention expresses Willingness compromise ii,e
5leson uacr tic l.c OF 81 deg. 30 min North il,iluic II
d ccri and 50 said .lc committee that our
policy was To lay down clearly and specifically tl principles
on which rested constitutional rights and declare
tn northern rcilrca that me viii sn5n!t further ag
H5essons OF tn nis; lu did not seem 10 ~ either
entirely consistent o. proper that al the time weic
fs asserting rights should volunteer 10 them a notice
That they pcrsvcrcd in making assaults upon those
A:elory North Of the proposed line still have equal
canca Tor ;ha portion South OF The line Perhaps my
n ei0n 10 his resolution the result OF Il cherished
convic1n that the trac mode of securing rights is as
for nothing that not clearly right and submit aoinq
Hwrong. compromise which involves concession Of prc
cpe is almost 10 be regarded y aesary Is
If pIsil.aniity and in This !ioh bu fear the o.,I
81 ,f The Missouri Compromise will be :ewcd That Conirc
s mise ii adopted Is tbs that North of 81 deg 30 rn. sll-
Every shall exist but South Of sllvery ay exist
may not the people shall determine II i cniphacii
Intervention si!e ard M ir y
trrenton The other The South has been saniing Try
ing stand, the doclrrc og icyoniian: aad yet
Southern ConYen,on expresses its willingness sondsi
Inc doctrine Tor The purpose Of buying peace. Ii the N"rt
Ihad proposed such conrni5o The Sontlern Convention
Hmlt with rro'!ety have considered ana assentel 10 it.
Nbu shall he asecahly disappointed if the North does no.
Mconc!ndc from readiness compromise Oh 81 deg 81
min, a not much in earnest in the assertion ri
y our rights profess 10 bc, and as am sure
Il In Difference 10 The strongly nle p sentiment Of the
cniiitl,c SURRENDERED n! cblecGns aud consented io
Tc2ii ihe resolutions but 10 avoid any erroneous inufeact
Gas 10 o;. object proposed in committee that shon.t
add another resolution expressive Of Just appreciation
the efforts OF those members OF Congress who were labor
Hng TO secure adjustment o the slavery question: anc
Aexpfessve of The hope that perseverance their efforts
would result in plan pf adjustment that wo,d be conss
tcn with the honor and incrcas u. ,c Southern States
seemed 10 tha; il there any propcty in declaring