The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-05-16
souTHERN CONVENTION

L
Congress have met and approved Of
the southern convention. One account
which we published yesterday. says
that there were only four members
absent. Whether this included the
members ofboth Honses we have no
means ofjudging. .s
These gentlemen stand in a position
to know what is the best means to
secure equality for the southGunder the
confe eracy; aud their appreciation Of
the convention is pretty conclusive tes-
Itimony in its favor. To these men
the falsehood that has been SO industri-
ously and repeatedly uttered among
us-namely, that the convention is int
tended to dissolve the Union-we pre-
sumo will not he applied.
The people Of Georgia have exhibit
ed some apathy in the appointment Of
delegates to the convention, but nothing
that can be considered as any signiG
cant opposition to It. Ina case like this
movement, it is fair to presume that the
opposition is active-whether it pro-
ceeds (as unquestionably it in some
measure does from doubt as to the
necessity ofthe convention; or, in other
cases from prejudice caused by the
calumnies which have been invented
concerning it; or, lastly, from those who
atheart are opposed to the southern po-
Icy by education or other similar
courses. These are the three classes
which make up the opposition to the
measure. In our cities, this opposi-
ton originates principally among anti
Southern men, whose circle of control
over public opinion is bounded by the
materials they have to act Upon. The
country has not beenafairly aroused to
the question:; and those who inhabit it
can hardly realize the fact that there is
a necessity for the conventions. They
are also in some measure. influenced
! by the calumnies which proceed from
:, alien editors in our towns and cities
The nature Of such an opposition as
/, this is positive. 1t has definite objects
to effect, and is likely, therefore, to be
as prompt and united to secure them
as its means will permit. The Other
is the negative side, for no organized
attempt has been made to elicit it,
force; and it has been paralized BY
doubt as to the necessity Of the conven.
t. tion, as we'll as influenced by the Sian
h der ofthe disafected southern press.
Our conclusion, therefore, is that il
!; Georgia, the whole Of the opposition
IS has been brought out; and, as this i
totally Insignificant, 1t is intirely un
y worthy of valuation in judging Of th
popularity of the convention. So ia
we have returns from meetings he'll
In twenty-five counties of the State, |
some ofthem no opposition to the cor
vention appears. In nine. countie
where alone it appears) the whole {
It amounts in the aggregate, to onl
900 votes, which, we presume, IS abot
all the opposition which exists in the
TO the convention, On this sub jeet II
Savannah Georgian says: a aia
i "a vast majority of those that vote
were in favor of the convention. W
have no orightto say that those who sta
ed away from the polls were oppose
TO it. Is it more reasonable to suppo
that they did SO from an over confiden
Of success; from the belief that Il
delegates were sure to be elected wit
out their vote2 We believe with o
friend of the ConstitutiOnalist, that
will encourage our enemies both at t
north and south. They will boast
it as a freesoil triumph 10 Georgia.
But they will not convince any or
th> not even themselves. They knt
gh that a very large majority Of ci
ow zens will supporta southern convt
90, ton. or any other measure, necesst
Oh. for the protection Of southern rigt
Let them crow as much as they plea
H., their growing may serve to wake
'oy the people ofthe south and show tn
alo their danger. These men that rejo
over the small vote given on the
are day Of April viii be marked and
membered, III all coming time. Iftl
Il, have deceived honest men heretof
W, they can do so no longer, they hi
,ad exposed their real sentiments, and
people will no longer, trust them"
n In this state, as far as we have kno
UAL edge Of public opinion there will b
nee general expression, in favor Of the {
lark vention. The only meeting we b
that any account Of on the subject was !
or Il in Limestone on the 10Th ult. Y
liu resolutions are earnest in protest
Mai against the encroachtnehts Of the
he states, whileiexPf fessing the stron,
,roof attachment toiths UNION. They
To. prove Of the appointment Of deleg
y made by the late legislature. There
4 uooppositiOn IL thsmeetiug. Itse
,F;r tohaye haan entirelvunaninous ~