The New York herald., 1850-06-12
The southern Convention at Nashville.

OF its sesson. We say remark able body for il is
It's proceedings have been characterised by dig
nity-its sentiments, as expressed in speeches,
solutions and amendments, are lefty, generous
embracing the good and welfare of the whole
Jnion-modsrate, and just-just 10 both North and
South. What contrast with the conventions that
have been held North, West and East, aniagonistic
to the institutions Of our Southern States On the
one hand, we see this Southern convention meet
ing organising, without trick or fraud, It's mem.
bers openly and above board declaring their
object 10 be TO preserve the rights of the South
under the federal constitution--to retain their
equality in the Union and, by securing these OBJ
jecs, to more eectually and surely perpetuate the
Union itself No base and low motives are in the
minds of those members. They have no selfish
political motives 10 ac,nate them-they have no
party to make, and no political adventurer to push
forward to the Presidential chair. But one great
and noble sentiment pervades the Southern assem-
blage, and that is, how best the Sonih-her inst-
tuions-the rights of those States in the Union
the honor, the safety of their families and resdes
can be protected and saved from the mad and un-
sparing demon Of fanaticism which is sweeping
over the North, and whose aim is to destroy the
South On the other hand, we have had the
pointed politicians, and composed of men of all
shades of color of religion, of politics and of wick
edness-a convention got up in fraud, consum-
mated by treachery, which has not only ruined and
destroyed great political party, who, in the main,
were disposed to do justice to the South, but has
convulsed all sections of the confederacy, and
brought our glorious Union TO the brink of dissou-
uon, where IL even now is standing.
dasiu of he icin Of cb,,;lla
Convention was pure and patriotic. Far-seeing
men-some Of whom are now in another world
saw, felt, and knew that feeling of discontent and
alarm pervaded great portion of the South, and
that it was spreading rapidly. They knew, also. that
party feeling had divided the South to give the
impression in the North that the South were not
united, and that they would not resist the Wilmot
proviso, any other obnoxious and unjust measure
which the majority in Congress might force upon
them. They felt that would the South but forget
minor matters, meet in solemn convention, called
in reference to the great and vital question upon
which nearly the entire South think as one man,
and present an unbroken front, and show the North
that they were in earnest, the danger would be
passed, justice would be accorded to the South,
and the Union would be saved.
The State of Mississippi led off, and recommend
this June, naturally supposng that the present ses.
sion Of Congress would act before that time, and
pass the obnoxious proviso deprving the Southern
States of their rights in the Union of States, thus
rendering the assembling of this convention a
matter Of safety or that the difficulties would be
satisfactorily settled, when the necessity would be
at an end, and the intention of meeting at Nash
vile would pass away with the causes which coun-
.ofl, 81. ho,. I,,a ,t.:.
but have rather fallen back from the determination
formed by jority of members at the commence
ment of the session-the people Of the North have
had their attention awakened TO the danger, by this
and other presses; their sentiments have mater-
ally changed in favor of the Southern cause. This
change has reacted upon members of Congress,
and the chances of the South for getting their
rights assured, and their interest in the territories
protected, are far more favorable the ls of June,
$50, than they were the lst Of December, ISi9.
No sooner was this convention called, than il
was met by one universal howl from presses aRd
people (wth some exccptons) throughout the free
States. Nulliiiers, disunonisis and traitors, were
the mildest terms used towards the delegates as
their names appeared. The most false. lying,
imaginary reasonable motives and designs were
fastened upon the convention months in advance of
iis meeting. This was not all So universal and
starting were the charges brought against the
Nashville Convention, that very large portion OF
the Southern press got frightened and began to
condemn it. The old notification prejudices
against the immortal Calhoun were re-roused. 1t
was asserted by many presses in the South,
that the proposed convention was another move of
the dictator, aud ausrsed by him for the express
puIrose Of separating the South from the North,
ioIning a Southern republic, aud placing himself
at is heaG-ihus bringing on civil war, and, per-
hsps, causing en- insurreedon Of the slaves, with
the loss Of that species Of property, and the lives of
the owners. Aspiring Senators and members Of
the House Of Representatives reiterated these alb
suId fslsehoods on the stump, among their con-
slilu,nis, in somc States of the South. In the
face, and in spite Of all these obstacles, the South
em Convention have met, and they have done
nGbly under the circumsts noes. The following
States sent
DELEGATES TO THE NASHVILLE CONVENTION.
Alabama. ...........5g Mississippi. .........12
south Carolina. 10 Texas. z
Virginia. ........s Iiorifa. 80
oeorsh. .'..s.. ....io Isnnessee. .'.........
ArkaLsas.... ........Z
Istal' '...... ''........'.'' ....' .9s
and from what we know Of these delegates. they
are the most able and sagacious men that can be
found in their respective States. The opening Of
the session was marked by the delivery of an adj
diess from the presiding officer, Judge Sharkey
20 fully does il express the designs of the conven-
ton, it deserves TO be perpetuated, and give the
following noble exiruct;-
The several States he said had united: equal right.
lad been grsnted to all by the constitution that those
rshts had been violated aud that the government
could stand the shock % this decoration OF the
constitution The cOuvrn ton. lie declared. had not
as mbd 70 devise measures 70 protect the rights and
property o the Southern people but TO preserve the
government which had been handed down to them
tarnshsd 10 he'd not been called to prevent. but to
psrpetuafe the Union Who. he asked better pa
triots-these who wsulj make wsr til direct calam
~ he'd fallen the country those who propose to
adopt TO avert the calamity It was tor the
convention TO devise remedy for the evils under
which the South was laioring snd for the people 10
carry II out lie trusted thst remedy would be found
In conclusion he repeated that the object a. the ORR
giuators ~ the convention not TO dissolve the
jbiou-the ISLANDERS of it, enemies to the contrary