The organizer., 1850-05-11

Constitution n)-concert, united actor
upon the part of the South -advis'
love of country, and love OF the Cox
sTITUTIoN, more than love of PARTY
much good-great good, may be done
4th Inerrogatory. "What are its objects, il
accordance with the acts of the Leglslalurel"
This interrogatory calls for my
construction of the proceedings of the
Legislature. have not these pro
ceedngs before me; and if ] had,
| should suppose you as capable of Civ
ing them a proper construction as
myself No two members Of the Le-
gislature, perhaps, would place the
same construction on all the acts oil
the Legislature in relation to this con,
vention. No two perhaps would fully
agree, as 70 all the objects of the Con.
vention. /But for myself | can say,
that SUI hpose the Legislature intend.
ed by its action. that the Convention
ought 10 meet; that it ought TO set forth
in strong and unequivocal manner,
the aggressions of the North upon our
rights; that it ought to point out the
violations Of the Constitution; that it
ought to say to the North "thus far
yru may come, but no farther"
ilh Interrogatory Do you, as one Of the dele
-aeS feel yourself authorised to attend meeting,
that has for one Of its objects, secession from the
Unionl"
This interIogatory seems to assume.
as a fact, that one of the objects Of the
Convention at Nashville, is SECESSION.
| have not so understood the objects
of the Convention. But on the con.
trary. the principal object of the
Nashville Convention, as | have un>
derstood, is TO call our erring hreth.
rem of the North, b0ck into tie Union.
hold that when Congress or the
Government of the United States,
disregards the Constitution, its acts
are without authority. ] hold that
when Congress or the Government OF
the United States, takes jurisdiction
of the subject of slavery. for any
other purpose, than TO fix the ratio OF
representation, direct taxes, and to
provide for the recapture Of fugitive
slaves, the Congress or the Govern
ment ITSELF so Ear as any such act is
concerned, Except the three cases
above euumerated,) has seeded from
the Union. / go further, and say. that
the Northern States Of this confede-
racy, by failing 10 execute that clause
Of the Constitution which binds them
to give up our runaway slaves. have
as to that subject, secededand dis
solved the Union. And that the Union
that clause of the Constitu.
tion. is not the Union. handed down
10 us by our fathers. II is not such
Union as they Would hare formod, nor
is II such Union as ne ought 70 form
d. submit 10, OR DESIRE TO SEE CoNTfN~
JED. And in my judgement, the OBJ.
Iects Of the Nashville Convention are
10 call the Northern States, the
Northern people and the Congress
and Government Of the United States
hack into he Union, and to point out
he dangers Of secession, TO take steps,
BY united and concerted action,
throughout the whole South. without
distinction of party, whether Demo-
rat or Whig,-progressive or con-
resist at all hazards, I
hese dangerous departures from the
Jnion-the Union given To Us by our
Union upon the Consti. |
ulion, in letter and in spirit-and to I
prevent the calamilies Of secession
md dinmioa.
9Th InierrogaioV. "Have you or not, any
eason 10 believe that secession viii be brought
cfore that bodyl"
Ny answer TO the 9Th interrogato>
v, might be considered an answer TO
his. IL 70 disregard that clause Of
he Federal Constitution, which
makes il obligatory upon the Con-
.reSs Of the United States--the sew
raj States Of the United States and
he people Of all the States Of the
United States to deliver up fugitive
laves. be secession from the Union
IS 70 that obligation, as I believe il 10
,e. then think Il probable that soces-
ION. in that sense. will be brought
,efore the Nashville Convention. IL
o exclude one half Of the States Of
his Union from an equal participa-
ion in the common domain Of an the
jtaies-a participation guaranteed BY
he Constitution, be secession on the
art Of the States thus excluding The
thers. as I believe il 70 Be. then "a
~ as that exclusion extends. I think
have good reason TO believe, and