Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-07-01

And I'd give much more than care to say
10 be boy again.
Remarks Of Mr.. Gholson in the Southern Con-
Uentio7,.
MIR. Gholson, OF Virginia, said that he did not
rise to make regular speech The position
which ne and other members of this convention
occupied had not been fairly stated. Gentlemen
speak OF tmidity. That which some call tmidity
is often evidence of great moral firmness 1t is
easy to go along with the current-t is more diff
cult to oppose it. He knew that he was in a mi
norty in this body, yet he trusted he had the firm
ness to pursue that course which his Judgment ap-
proved.
He was happy to hear from the gentleman from
South Carolina, (Mr. Pickens,) that the course of
that State had been misunderstood it was
conservative. In much that had fallen from that
| gentleman, he concurred To other portions of
his speech he could not subscribe. He was for
taking firm ground-for uniting the South; but
ne was opposed TO assuming position which he
did not believe majority of the Southern States
would, or ought, to sustain. He had been anxious
to produce concert and harmony, and with that
view had been willing that the resolutions reported
by the committee should be adopted He would
have made no opposition to them, but he could
never agree to the address now under consdera-
ton. He regarded it, in every respect, as unwise
and mprudent-calculated to distract, not to unite
| the South
The amendments proposed by the gentleman
from Mississippi he considered as of no impor-
lance. The argument remained substantiayt e
same. You could not mistake the object of the
argument. 1t would be no more necessary in Or
der to understand that the address referred to the
"Compromlse' to say so in words, than it would
| be to write over the picture s'this is horse'-
1t gentlemen insisted that the Compromise should
be discussed and opposed, it was in his opinion
more manly to do so directly. He dissented from
the address. Gentlemen say they are anxious to
leave here united. Then they had it in their
power to do so. The resolutions take ground as
| high as any Southern man need occupy. II is
UNNECESSARY to enforce these resolutions by any
argument. The argument will distract Besides
who can undertake to say what form the plan of
adjustment before Congress may assume? He
did not propose to discuss that measure But if
ne agreed with gentlemen, that it was opento all
the objections urged by the address, he should
still regard it unwise tot issue it.
Gentlemen should recoect, that this Conven-
ton does not represent the whole South The
address declares in substance that by the accep-
lance the Compromise the rights and honor of
the South would be sacrificed. There are num-
bers of distinguished men-as true friends as the
South ever had, who entertain different opinions
who hail it as the offering of peace. There are
several slave States, which, from public indica-
tons, are ready to accept it. Why then place, or
attempt to place, the South in position from
which she may back out?
Suppose the compromise bill with such amend
ments as may be adopted, becomes the law of the
land; does this Convention mean to declare that
this Union is to be dissolved? If so, then he de-
clared that in his opinion the South will not sus-
tain them. He called upon delegates here to an
| syvpr nnaS tbo tb
t promise BILL if passed? He appealed to the de-
legates from Alabama. from Florida, from Mssis-
sippi, from other States, and asked them to tell
him, will the people of those States resist? He
appealed to his own colleagues, and asked them,
IT Virginia is ready to dissolve this Union, rather
than acquiesce in the compromise, if it became a
law? If gentlemen are not ready to answer, that
resistance is to follow the passage of the mea-
sure, why, he asked, publish such an address?
Sir, am tinaid. | wish the South to take no
hasty action--to make no hasty resolves-but tc
consder-ponder and weigh we'll every measure
before it acts.
Let the South keep herself in the right, and let
this convention assume n ground in which they
will not be sustained by the great body of the
Southern people. | desire never to see the South
placed in a situation from which she may be COM
PEELED to take &c step backward"
Mr.. President, am one of those who desire to
use every effort under heaven to preserve the
Union. | trUst-1 believe it may be preserved
preserved without the sacrifice of Southern rights
or honor. | agree that firmness is Indispensable
but, sir moderation is not less so. | love the
Unon--love it for all that is glorious in the past,
or bright in the future. | love ii because of the
blessings it has conferred upon the civilized world
| shudder at the contemplation of its destruction.
| dare not calculate its value. 1t has blessed the
inhabitants of the earth, while its influences have
extended to Heaven. Strike down this Union,
and the trembling thrones and totterng crowns of
the old world will again become steady. Despot-
ism, that has been qualing before the march of
free principles, will again rear its head and fasten
the chains that fetter the minds and bodies of men.
He would pause, before he would take any step
involving the perpetuity of such an Union.
He loved the South more than the Union, and
would never agree that she should be subjected
to shame or humiliation He loved the South as
he did his own hearth and ire-side and gentlemen
would find, when the necessity came, which he
prayed kind Providence might forever avert,
that those whom they may now regard as tmid,
will be found the first where danger calls. Let
no man think that the South--any part of the
South, will ever yield to the arrogant pretensions
of the Northern fanatic We must have peace
security, and equal rights, or his Union cannot
endure 1t was an Union of equality into which
these States entered, and that man deceives him
self, who thinks, that the South will submit to see
the Constitution, which formed the terms of the
compact, perverted and abused, and instead of con-
tinuing the source of protection and blessing,
verted into an engine of wrong and oppresslon.-
| Every man in whose bosom there is a Southern
lheart is resolved to stand by South.
FERN rights-our duty to ourselves, to our chill
ldren, requires it.