The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-21
Governor Floyd's Special Message In favor
of a National Convention.
Governor FLOYD says:


of bringing 10 an end all sectional controversies
rrLaiire 10 sLareru To secure that end, the
principles ,ohich should govern the action Of the
contention ought 10 be announced IN The resola,
tions bg achich IL is called. All should be inrited
10 unite in this Increment ichO are in tdror "
The perturbation of the Union, and rho 10 et:ain
this result are in fdror Of the Fugttire Stare o,A
honestlu and cordially enf0rced--icho are opposed
to lis repeal or essential modification, and 'eho
are dererse TO any farther agitation q me Sidrery
ouesfian, either in Congress or in The Sfafes'-
with This the South ,oiH be content--iess than
This ran only ereniuale in the dissolution " The
Jynioa, The action Of such a convention, II sue
ces.fu, and fully sustained By the non slayehold-
inv States, would satisfy and quiet the South
if unsuccessful, it would prove that the friends
of order and the Union are impotent TO contr"i
the fanatical passions which are now urging on
n speedy dissolution. 1t Is measure which
addresses itself to no particular party, and re-
fers to no political organization, but asks the
cordial support If every true patriot in all sec
tions of our widey-extended republic, and which
alone seems adequate TO redress or avert the
terrible evils under which the country now Ia
bors, or of which it is apprehcnsive.
We have great respect for the opinions OF
Governor FLOYD and his motives. But we can
not see how the movement he proposes, will
promote the Union or tranquility of the country.
The proposition is singulary anomalous and
incongruous 1t proposes that delegates to
represent the ,chole people, shall meet in gen.
er,) convention. But then those only are in
vited to unite in this movement, who "are In
favor of the perpetuaton of this Union and who
to attain this result, in favor OF the Fugitive
slave bill, honestly and cordi lily enforced-who
are opposed to its repeal or essential modlhea-
ton"
Now, about three-fourths of the Northern
States are pretty we'll known to be in favor OF
the repeal or essential modification OF the Fugl-
five slave law-hence they would be excluded.
The Governor says that with the execution OF
tho Fuoitive slave law and without further agi-
tation of the slavery question in Congress or
the States, the South would be content. That
is to say, the South would be content with the
late pretended compromise He is utterly mis-
taken, She never will be content with it.
If those States only in the South who are
content nth the compromise, were to send dele
rates. and those from the North who are III
favor of sustaining the Fugitive slave law, the
convention would be a very meagre one.
If convention were proposed to amend the
Constitution to provide for difficulties now ex-
listing that were not foreseen-and to settle the
penling controversy, it would be quite differ
ent thing
But Il convention of delegates from States
only that were in favor Of the late omnibus,
could do but little to give peace to the country.
BY the way, it may be as well to remind Vir-
gna that Georgia has now virtually deserted
the Fugitive slave law. For she does not emu
merate its n, n-cxecution as one in the list OF
causes for which she would separate. Her con-
vcnticn has also lodged, or befogged the issue
of abolition of slavery in the District. These
are both rather more important to the border
slave States, than to the cotton States 80
Georgia supposing that Virginia acquiesces in the
territorial outrage, acq uiescesalso, and indicates
quite plainly enough, that she will acquiesce in
the non-execution of the Fugitive slave law, and
in the abolition of slavery in the District.
Georgia according to the platform of her con
vention, would not be entitled to an invitation
from Gov FLOYD to the National Convention.
We must beg Virginia to remember that of
all the rights of the South involve! i'll the late
measures, one only was respected, by Congress-,
and that was a right affecting the border slave
holding States chiefly. The delegation of Vir-
II, e. h,r1 f,fn
that remained faithful to the whole South.
The rest tied generally in a scheme to sacr.
flee all the Southern ri ghts involved except that
of extradition. But behold what it was easiest
for Congress to grant, it is hardest to compel
the North to observe And now the right which
is considered the most important to the border
States, is the most in danger.
1t is not compatible with the course of her
escence in the wrongs of the adjustment to Sc.
cure her right of reclamation. We hope she
does not contemplate deserving The cause of the
uhole South, to patch up an alliance with few
Northern States for the benefit of Maryland and
Kentucky chiefly with herself.
The Southern States will cooperate cordial
ly with Virginia in asserting the rights of all
They will take no part in maintaining the single
right in which she and two or three other States
only, are principally interested, upon the c'nd-
ton of finally renouncing, the more important
territorial rights of all.
A Southern Congress is already called by a
Southern Convention. Let Virginia and the
other Southern States assemble togcther-let
them adopt n moderate conciliatory, but d:fn-
the declaration of the basis on which they will
maintain the Union. Aud they will save both
the South and the Union.
Fall of Parties.
The majority in the Georgia Convention, that
adopted the report and resolutions, met after
wards, and formed political coalition or Union