Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-21
ADDRESS OF THE
NASHVILLE CONVENTION
TO THE
People of the Slave'HOlding States


FELLOW CITIzENs-In obedience to the commands of
those represent, we have assembled together to
fer with each other concerning your relation with the
general government and the -slaveholdmg States of
the Union the subject OF the institution of slavery
We deem proper to lay before you as briefly as the
subject will permit the result OF our deliberations and
councils
In order that your condition may be understood. and
the conclusions at which we have arrived be Justly APP
preciaed, it is necessary briefly to refer to few past
transactions.
1t is now sixteen years since the institution sldvery
IN the South began TO be agitated in Congress and as
sailed by our sister States Up that me the people
OF the Northern States seem TO have respected the
rights reserved to the Southern States by the constitu
ton, and to have acted under the conviction that the
subject of slavery being beyond the legislation of Con-
gess all agitation with respect to it on the part OF Con-
gress equally forbidden by the constitution But
this time portion OF the people OF the North began
to assai in Congress the inst tuition of slavery, and to
accomplish their object of dragging it into the vortex
OF congressional agitation they claimed the right OF Pc
ttioning Congress upon all subjects whatsoever. AS
petition only the first step in legislation it clear
that right to petition Legislative body must be limited
by its powers OF legislation.
No one can have right to ask OF another to do that
which he has no moral or legal right 10 do. Nor
any tribunal have the power to receive and consider any
matter beyond its jurisdiction. The claim therefore to
present petitions to Congress the subject OF slavery,
considered by the Southern representatives gene
rally attempt indirectly to assume jurisdiction
the subject itself in all parts of the Union. The object
without disguise the overthrow OF slavery in the
States but assaants framed the petitions presented
chiefly against slavery in the District OF Columbia and
our territories, and against what they call the internal
slave tradetha is the transmission of slaves from one
Southern State to another Conscious of the fatal
dency Of the agitation of slavery in Congress to des-
Troy the peace and stability of the Union an effort was
made supported by large portion of the Northern re-
pesenatves suppresst by rule in the House OF Re-
representatives., which provided that all petitions on the
subject OF slavery should be neither considered, printed
referred. This rule assailed by the people OF
the Northern States, violating that clause of the con-
stituton which prohibits Congress from passing laws
prevent the people from peaceaby assembling and Pc
ttoning for redress Of grievances In December
1874, this rule fell before the almost unanimous voice
OF the North and thus the unlimited power of intro
ducng and considering the subject OF slavery in Con-
greSS asserted.
In the mean time, the course of the Northern people
showed clearly that the agitation ofslavery in Congress
only one OF the means they relied to overthrow
this institution throughout the Union Newspapers were
set up amongst them, and lecturers hired go
abroad to excite them against slavery in the Southern
States. Organizations were formed TO carry off slaves
from the South and to protect them by violence from
capture Although the constitution requires that iugi-
tive slaves like fugltves from justice should be render
ed up by the States to which they may have fled the
Legislatures of almost every Northern State fahless
TO this treaty stipulation between the States passed laws
designed and calculated entirely to defeat this provision
OF the constitution, without which the Union would
have never existed and by these laws virtually nufied
the act OF 1884, passed by Congress to aid its enforce
men Not content with the agitation of slavery po-
lca circles, the Northern people forced it also into the
religious associations extending over the Union, and
churches.
The result of all these various methods of assailing
slavery in the Southern States was, that became the
grand topic OF interest and discussion in Congress and
out OF Congress- and one of the important elements
OF politics in the Union. Thus institution, belong
ing to the Southern States exclusively, was wrested
from their exclusive control ; and, instead of that pro-
lection which the great object of all governments, and
which the Constitution of the United States guarantees
to all the States and their institutions, the Northern
States and Congress under their CONTROL combined to-
in he 'bo
Southern States did nothing to vndcate their rights and
arrest this of things The Mexican war broke
sections Of the Union which would have taken place in
the better days Of the Republic, to bring it to Just and
honorable conclusion in the very first appropriation bill
10 carry it on the North endeavored thrust the sub
lec OF slavery Throughout the war, they kept up the
agitation thus clearly manifestng their determination
mat the General Government In none 81 its operations
internal or external shall be exempted from the intro
ductlon OF this dangerous subject.
The war closed with honor; and an immense terri
tory was added to the United States Their previous
threats We're realized and the non-savehoding States
immediately claimed the right exclude the people of
the Southern States from all the territory acquired and
TO appropriate it to themselves. II this petenson
from mere lust OF power, it would be hard to bear the
superiority and mastery it implies. 1t would degrade
The Southern States from being the equals of the North
ern States to a position OF colonial nteriorty. But
when your exclusion is not from mere lust OF power
but only further step in the progress of things, aim
ing at the abolition OF slavery in the States by the ex
tension and multiplication Of mons aveholdng States
IN the Union the pretenson is seen to be as alarming
as is insulting The Southern States, in their Legis
atures set forth with great unanmity, the righsin our
territories belonging them in with the North
ern States and declared their determination maintain
them and, finding in the Northern States no DISPOSE
ton to abae their demands the convention in which
we are assembled has been brought together to take
counsel as 10 the the Southern States should pur
sue for the maintenance OF their rights liberty and ho
Such is brief but imperfect statement of past trans
achons and they torce upon us the question, in what
condition do they place the Southern States! And
hrs what Is their condition in Congress! The time
was when your Representatives in Congress were
neither offered nor would they endure reproach in
your behalf But tor many years past they have heard
you IN Congress habituay reviled by the most OPP
probrous eplthets on account of the institutions OF
slavery. Ii their spirits yet mbroken, they mus,
be chilled by sense oihumlliaton at the insults they
daily receive as your representatives. y on ar
ralgned as criminals Slavery is dragged into every
debate, and Congress has become little else than a
grand instrument the hands of aboonists to degrade
and ruin the South Instead of peace and protection
aggression and insult on the South characterize its
proceedings and councils And what is your condition
with respect TO your sister States? Where is that res
pect and comfy which (due from all nations towards
each other Is more especially due from States bound
together in their Intercourse Instead of respect and
sympathy, denunciatlon and hostility account OF
your institution OF slavery have for years past character
lsed the communications addressed you by the Nor
thern States
And what is your condition in the Union? The
non-slaveholdng States stand combined not onv to
wIes, from you your common property, but to place
upon your front the brand of neriority You are not
to extend, on account of your institutions but they are
10 increase and multiply that the shame and sin ofsa
very may, by their phlanthropic agency be exngused
hom amongst you. But the worst feature Of your
condition is hatt is progressive. AS low and huma
ting as 1t now may be, it is destined if not arrested
10 "a lower deep" Every effect is a cau,e and the
spirit OF anat,lsm brooks no delay in the progress it
creates Ii you to yield everything the North
now requres-abolish slavery in the District of Column
ba-snomt TO be legslaed pirates for conveying
slaves from one State into another-let trial bv iurT
and writ OF habeas corpus from you in the Nor-
thern States every fugitive slavegve up all your ter
tories so swell Northern arrogance and predomnance
would things stop there? These are all means Amino
at one great endhe abolition slavery in the States
Surrenderng OF these means you will but in
fame the power by which another will be exacted-
and when all are conquered will the evil he arrested? In
fifty years twenty nonslavehoding States NAV
be added to the Union, whilst many which are now
slaveholdng may become non slayeholdmg States
There then will be no need as now openly TO put aside
:ha Constitution reach their object II they VIII demt