The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-04-14
Our Washington CorrespondeMce.

Our Washington Correspondence.
ASorHliR LITTER FROM PATRICK HRNRr.
WASHINGTON, April r. 1859
.Asxisty tn regard TO the Nashville Convention
Comp1oiwss of the Sossth--Introduetior Of the
Jv1daot Pror,so-Ths Mississippi Con0ension-
Coil AID Dv,igm of the NashviHs Convention
1k Doct,;ne of STATE Rigats-1yH High Ground
TO & assumed by the Delsgatss.
Tho greatest anxiety pervades the entire public
mind, North and South. East and West, through
sa, the lengi. and breadth Of the Federal Union Of
states and Territories, in reference to the Southern
Convention, which has been called by some States
OF the Southern section, to meet at Nashville, in
Tennessee, in the coming month Of June
The most absurd falsehoods have appeared in the
public journals in both sections in reference to the
motives and designs of those States which have
Saken active part in favor of this convention, and
which they have appointed their most eminent men
as delegates. The Washington papers have been
teemiag with nonsensical editorials, and articles
extracted from other papers, attributing the most
reasonable motives to all such citizens Of the re-
public as are favorable TO the meeting Of this con-
ventioa. Without noticing these false, malicious
and imaginary motives, will give brief but true
account OF the design OF this convention Of South
em States, and the Causes which have led TO its
being called.
Fora series of years, there has been an unjust
u
Washington, which has benefited the Northern at
the expense Of the Southern section of the Union
The leading minds at the South perceived the ten
dency OF such legislation, and that unless checked
il must, in the end, absorb the rights and equality
of the Southern States in the Union Until the
aniroduction OF the Wmot proviso discussion, this
legislation against the rights of the South had been
confined TO the following Causes Of complaint -
!. Unequal legislation in regard to the collection
sof revenue.
g. The expenditure Of the revenue in appropra-
a nf
States.
). The lack Of legislation on the part of Congress,
10 secure compliance on the part Of the Northern
States with the requirements OF the federal conSt-
sutton in reference 10 the surrender of fugitive
slaves
t. An evident disposition the part of the repre-
.sentatioD from the non-slaveholdng States, COM
tossing the majority in Congress, TO act in sectional
concert and 10 receive petitions tn agitate the sa
very question, with the design TO abolish it in the
Territories and eventually force the entire South
do the same in the respective slaveholding States
All these causes OF complaint did not alarm the
South TO such degree as TO cause their delegates
10 act IN sectional concert IN Congress, or to forget
Ihe distinctions OF party in the more important object
~of concert for safety and existence.
The Introduction Of the Wilmot proviso principle
into Congress, with the evident and openly avowed
design OF derivng the Southern II iles OF all right
IN the Territories, aroused that section from their
ieihargy, and melted them to prompt and deter
mined Resistance. i commenced with the issuing
of the celebrated Southern Address by Southern
.Inembcrs OF Congress, with the exception of such
as were welded 20 party, and of keeping the ties oil
party between North and South unbrokcn.-
The response 10 this masterly address by the
1nssecs cf the population OF the South, was
very general and very decided. IL was deemed
advisable that the South should act in con-
cen. A convention was held al Jackson, Mis-
.sissipp. in October, 1919. AT this convention were
many leading men from other Southern States The
sdiscusrion cf general convention of the Southern
states was carried on out Of doors, and finally the
convention itself decided to call Southern Con-
yeniion for June. The movement Of Mississippi has
been concurred in very generally 10y all the other
States and though the objects OF this general con-
vcntion al Nashville have been ridculcd and mis-
represented, there is question that nearly all the
districts in Tie Southern States will he repre- scented
AT Nashville and that the convention will speak
abe voice OF the South, and that il will be reechocd
'frcm the people Of these States
The design of this convention is undoubtedly 10
discuss freely and automatically the grievances Of
zion. in favor Of a remedy. There can be possibly
no objection 10 this course. Let the south hold
their convention, and then the North can be no
longer in doub, Of what the South want, or what
.ihey will have. or sccede from the Union. Better
come 10 a final decision than to live along in the
present excitement, which must eventually end in
sisunion, before the North are aware OF IL.
The doctrine Of State rights in the federal Union,
is doctrine that has been freely discussed Of late
year.; and ID any thing ~ fully and inconie stiby
established IN the minds OF the people, II Is this
trutb--thai The " United States and "fcderal
States" have the same meaning--that the consti-
tuition adopted by the States States-thit
not nation OF individuals but that we
"A federal community OF States each state being
sovereign. The secession Of one State would DC
had enough, would cause much embarrassment,
and probably plunge the Union into very general
civil war. How much better Is Il, then, that the
entire section Of Southern States should meet in
convention, discuss fully and Gceiy their causes Of
complaint, and the redress they seek, and demand
il with n united and un brcgen front The North
viii grant u, when they see ths attitude; Tor we
honestly believe that the convention a, Nashville
have no design Of asking for anything which the
constitution does not give them, II they had their
rights, and which II is clear they fully alive to
now. and which ii not accorded them, will sever
thc Union sooner later. When the convention
is held there will be no longer any doubt about the
true sentiments of the South, aud Asures will be
taken a, once which will end the controversy and
cave the Union.
have no doubt that when the convention meet
at Nashville IL will take high but just ground. IL
will insist that the Southern portion OF the Union
shall no, lie deprived Of their fI and equal rights
On the territory acquired from Mexico, OF any other
belonging 10 the Union; and that " the North pass
any act by their majority IN Congress TO do SO, that
they violate the constitution, Irrpctratc act Of
cros- injustice, and destroy The equality Of the
Southern States a members Of the Union. by re-
Iarduig their growth and accelcrs,iag that of the
states sconprssg the Northern portion Of the Union,
and destroying the equilibrium Of government. The
Nashville Convention will further insist tina, the
assertion that the inhabitants cl the territories have
n rirh, 10 form State when and how they please.
without the consent of Congress previously given,
s utterly destitute Of foundstion that IL is deroga
tory Ia the sovereignty OIL the states comprising tne
Union, 10 rlsch the territories are declared by the
constitution to belong, and IN whom the sovereignty
over them resides; " revolutionary and anarchica
IN It's character ircasonable in its tendency, and
wholly unsus,aincd by the practice OF the govern
meui that TO make constitution and form
State involve the highest powers Of sovereignty,
and that cannot OF course he rghftully performed
hy iahsbants residing IN the territories, without the
PERMISSION Of Congress, as the representatives, OF
se United States to whom the territories belong, or
an whom the sovereignty over them resides that
,yhe affcmT cf the Inhabitants Of California TO make
constitution aud form State, without the per-
Tnsion of Congress, is an offence against the Joint
sovereignty Of the States Of the Union, and that the
instrument purporting TO be the constitution Of Ca
hfomia IL utterly void and Of no binding force
.rnert nor on the states Il represents, aud the so
called STATE, but maine without any reality what
ever;thai all acts on the part Of any dePartmen, q