The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-23

Governor Floyd and n National Convention.
The greatest of poets describes the Goddess
of Discord wandering about, at flrst small
and insignificant but soon raising her head up
to Heaven. She delights in the tumults of war
and the lamentations of men and. after all the
other pods have withdrawn from the battlefield,
she still remains, rejoicing over the scene OF
havoc and carnage The spirit thus embodied
and defed in the ancient mythology still
seems to walk about among men, eXulting over
dissension- and tumults, and with her apple
&" for the iairest' at every feast.
We had hoped that the peace measures of
the last session of Congress would be received
AS a :" final settlement" Of the questions which
have agitated the country; but the spirit Of
Discord still hovers about the field of strife.
As far as the press is concerned, the only i'm
mediate index to public sentiment, its cordial and
almost universal concurrence with the policy
marked out in the Message leaves us no reason to
doubt that the PRESIDENT was right in assuming
that great majority of our fellow citizens
sympathize in the spirit and purpose of conci
alton, and are prepared in all respects to sus-
tain this series of measures as a .'FINAL SET
ELEMENT OF THE DANGEROUS AND EXCITING
SUBJECTS WHICH THEY EMBRACED" Here,
then, we have reached distinct issue, which
presents in brief compass, and In form I'M
mcumbered by collateral and incidental topics,
all the matters of interest involved in the sla-
very questions, which have been the cause of so
much dscord and confusion. The PRESIDENT
says. that by these measures we have been res
cued from wide and boundless agitation and
'HAvE FIRM, DISTINCT, AND LEGAL GROUND
TO REST UPON" which he exhorts his country
men to RALLY UPON AND MAINTAIN"
To this sentiment the people of GEORGIA,
assembled in Convention, have responded by
All address and series of resolutions, which
breathe the spirit of elevated patriotism and of
the most cordial attachment to the Federal
Union. The people of MARYLAND stand upon
the same platform. They accept the issue
that has been rendered, and prepared TO
.rally upon and maintain" the ground indi-
Gated by the PRESIDENT The State of lNDI-
ANA, by her Convention, has taken her stand
upon this ground. The press Of all parties and
all sections, with inconsiderable exceptions, re-
spends To the exhortation of the PRESIDENT in
language as distinct and unequivocal the
most ardent lover of the Union could desire.
In both Houses of Congress there is almost en-
tire acquiescence in the views of the PREsI
DENT on this subject, and feeling prevails re
sponsve to the general sentiment Of the
press All men seem disposed-with the oc-
casional exception of QUITaAN, Quar-
TLEBAUM, a GIDDINGs, OF a GARRISON
to regard the peace measures as the "FISAL
SETTLEMENT" which the PRESIDENT ex-
horts his countrymen to consider them. Much of
this feeling, and all the confidence which it
inspires, are to be attributed to the position and
the language of the PRESIDENT position
which will entitle him to the gratitude and
praise of unborn millions, and language which,
by the wise and patriotic, will be held in per
petual remembrance.
In this state of the public mind we cannot
but condemn, in the most pointed and explicit
terms, the late special message Of the Governor
Of Virginia, which proposes, by the call of a
Convention, 10 set us adrift again on the wide
and boundless sea Of agitation, from which we
have Just been rescued. The cause assigned
for the extraordinary movement of Governor
FLOYD is altogether inadequate TO It's justlhca-
ton The passage of an unconstitutional law
by the Legislative Of VERMorT-a law,
as we have reason TO know, condemned
BY her delegation in Congress, and as We have
reason to believe, condemned by her citizens,
g., Il
for the resort TO general Convention Of the
people, To reopen the exciting controversy
which has been so happily terminated If the
adjustment has not disposed of this controversy
no Convention Of the people can hope to be more
successful. 1t is not in the power Of VERMONT
to annul law of the Union. The Federal
statutes will be enforced in her borders, and her
own Judiciary will rebuke, they deserve TO
be rebuked. the Legislators who have abused
their trust and disgraced their State.
We regret that, in an hour of excitement
- overmasterng his better judgment - the
Governor Of NIRGINA should have lent hi,
official aid to the disturbance OF the cou,
promise We regret that he should have
aspect of it, is mischievous in the last de-
gree. Governor FLOYD proposes to throw
the whole matter again before the State Legis-
latures for discussion in the first instance, and
ultimately before Convention, in which ex-
IRENE men and extreme opinions must necessa-
sarily be represented, and in which Northern
and southern agtators will again cooperate to
overthrow the Union. Such Convention
could lend no auxiliary influence to the Federal
Administration, or to the Federal Legislature.
" the Federal authorities have not now ample
power to maintain the laws, they could derive
none from the Convention. Mischief makers,
busy bodies, fanatics, agitators, have existed
from all time, and will exist, doubtless, 70 the
end Of time If Governor FLOYD supposes that
he can succeed in extinguishing them by
Convention, we apprehend that he INDUCES .
vain hope. They came into the world will
Satan, and must do his work while the ~orl'
lasts.