Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-17
NASHVILLE CONVENTION.

We shall publish the resolutions and address
adopted by this body, as soon as we receive them
otherwise than through the telegraph AS they
have now been reported to us, their meaning is
not very perspicuous.
The resolutions seem to embody three leading
propositions first that it is the duty of Congress
to recognise and by its acts to maintain, the equal
rights of the citizens of the several States in the
public Territories; second, that the performance of
this duty would remove the embarrassmens in
which the country is involved with respect to the
government of the Territories, would deprive the
questions between Texas and the United States
of their sectional character and would infuse the
principle of Cancellation into the discussion and
adjustment; and, third, that in the event of the
failure of Congress to perform this duty, the Ter
ritories should be divided, and then the adoption
of the line of SO 80, to the Pacific would be ac
quiesced in as an extreme concession.
1t is obvious that the practical import of these
propositions may be differently understood. We
are left in uncertainty what the Convention meant
by exacting recognition by Congress O. the
principle of equal rights contended for by the
South. Heretofore, it has without doubt, been
held that the establishment of governments in the
Territories without any restriction against slavery
was all the recognition of the improperly of such
restriction which the South should demand. By
failing to declare that the recognition now re-
quired is specific declaration that Congress ac-
knowledges the injustice of adopting an act of
exclusion, the Convention has apparently left
it to be inferred that it would be content with
the negative recognition embodied in the Com
promise bill of the Senate, with regard to
Utah and New Mexico. Surprising this to be the
meaning of the first of the three propositions,
which we have eliminated from the resolutions,
the second proposition would imply, that the ad-
mission of California and the adjustment of
the boundary question between Texas and New
Mexico, would not be objected to. The third
proposition, declaring that in default of the recog-
milton demanded division of the Territories upon
the line of SO 80 to the Pacific should be united
upon as an extreme concession, presents an alter
native that necessarily depends on the nature o
the recognition the denial of which is made con
dton precedent.
If this analysis of the resolutions of the Conven-
ton were correct, it would justify the conclusion
that majority ofthe members designedly declined
to affirm that the Compromise plan of the Senate
would not be acceptable. And we should have
little doubt that this really the fact had not
the telegraph further reported the final adoption OF
an address, in which that scheme is pronounced
"a fraud and scheme of poorly disguised en-
croachment." 1t is said that the Convention was
far from being unanimous or harmonious in reach
inn Ttc J;,t; I'D
JudgaeS harkey, is known to have expressed opn-
ions Which must have constrained him to be dis
sentient. The result, however, does not surprise
u.s. The scheme of Southern Convention was
unfortunately permitted, in most of the States, to
fall into the hands of extreme men. This led the
mass OF the community to discountenance it, 1t
was only after this had become perfectly manifest
that we became convinced, that the Convention
would find itself incompetent to speak for the
South, and urged the people of Richmond not tt
attempt to lead the rest of Virginia, at late day
into its support. The same view was adopted
throughout the State, and the delegates who re-
presented few of the districts at Nashville were
consequently empowered to act for only very
small minority ofthe people Virginia, therefore, is
in no manner, committed by what these gentlemen
have done, and her citizens will doubtless form
their judgments of the merits of the Compromise
bill as independently as if the Nashville Conven.
ton had never assembled.
Still we are not without hope that the resolves
of that body may have salutary influence
Northern statesmen should reflect that in times of
excitement, extreme men are generally the pio-
neers OF important movements 1t will not require
avery long continuance of the present agitation
to arouse spirit of resentment throughout the
South Men of moderate opinions have hitherto
looked upon the contest at Washington with q
confidence that things would work RIGHT in the
end But the apparent perseverance of the North
ern majority in the House of Representatives. ir
the purpose of carrying offensive measures to the
enactment, cannot fail to beget alarm and alena
ton amongst the coolest and most temperate
Southern men, Let the North remember, while
yet there is time, the great truth declared b
Daniel Webster, before the people of Boston, tina
"the great security of every thing prosperous, an
great, and glorious, in the future, is, THE UNITE
LOVE OF A UNITED GOVERNMENT"
1T appears that certain important amendments wer
offered to the Address reported by the Committee
Wei have account OF the nature of these amend
mens, but we presume they embodied the views of thos
members who approved the plan of the Comproms
now before the IT, S. Senate and who ultimately votet
against the address itself Judge Sharkey is stated t.
have spoken in favor of the amendments and to hay
said that II they were adopted he would be COMPEL
ed to vote against the Address which he did according
lyl
We understand that the Democrats OF Spottsylyani
and Caroline counties have held meetings nrenarator