Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-02
NASHVILLE CONVENTION.
LETTER FROM CHIEF JUSTICE SHARKEY,
OF MISSISSIPPI

GENTLEMEN: Your number of the 18th of March,
contains an article headed The Proposed Remedy for
justice to the members of the Convention which net in
this place in October last. The part which it was my
fortune to take In that Convention makes it necessary
that should orego inclination and appear before the
public to repel an untounded caumny. That article is
but the sequel Of several which preceded of less bold
ness The public journalist owes it to the country to
deal candidy and fairly with the conduct of Others and
in departing from this duty he is like swift witness he
betrays his partially at the cost ofhis integrity.
Your article is lengthy land shall content mysel
| with noticing such portions Of it place the Con-
venton the most prominent point of view Your title
seemed to give promise OF discussion but your essay be-
gins and ends IN assertion and denuncaton You prove
one thing, however, which may have BE- en- generally
known-an entire identity in feeling with the North in its
high claims OF power the subject of sla gery Your
Northern readers will doubtless feel gratifed at your
devotion to their avore measure but they will not be
much enlightened by your argument. Your Southern
countrymen can no longer regard you neutral am
not willing that the Convention shall be judged by the
open enemies OF the South, and still less willing that it
shall be condemned evidence and nerences not found
in warranted by its declarations; and assert
IN the most solemn manner, that motives have been
ascrbed to the members which they did not entertain
Your aluson to the Hartford Convention is an artifce
which requires no comment to shows object Its hso-
ry is given at length and you conclude from the mode
OF composition and the OBJECTS, the Nashville Conven-
ton is more deserving OF odium This is condemnng it
prematurely on assumed grounds The Convention
has not met; its composition cannot be known or at
least but partially known Its objects are lust what the
Convention OF Mississippi expressed them TO be- When
men have openly and fairly declared their object it I'M
Just to ascrbe to them motives which they did not ex
press unless the charge can be sustained more con-
elusive evidence. My purpose is with the Mississippi
Convenon and if you had dealt fairly by it as YOU
have towards the Hartford Convention, no vndication
would have been required The history of one is given
at length; but not with the other The Hartford Con-
Venlon pronounced an innocent affair, on the strength
q, te contained IN It's proceedings but the
MISSISSIPPI convention is not judged by the same rule its
are dsfegardeo aud motives ascrbed to 1t
which were hot expressed One sat with closed doors,
ana IT'S proceedings were kept secret, time when we
were al war WIN powerful oregn enemy, which had
pee opposeo' ana te OF "hlch mad been denied
oy poIIon OF our people, yet It's motives are determin-
eo ny e journal OF us proceedings; the other sat with
wh open doGIs published Its proceedings to the world
dnp Veu o'scusSioh yet II Is condemned on what it
o'o not say.
gu next aliuoe 10 the MISSISSIPPI Convention, and
a.er setng out us resolutions say These resolutions,
G eesehal palloi wnch contained IN the second re-
souon none put political fanatics (and hardly they
WoIia oe Iouhd 10 dspute-but family outline the pur
pose OF winch late discussion IN and out OF Congress,
hafoy leave DOUBT, through the fundamentally OF the
proposed Convention, to unsettle the foundations OF
the Government OF the United States They set out, in
deed, with processing devoted and cherished attach
meh 10 the Unlon OUT they beg The question of agrees
s'on 6y the n-slaDehong States in order suggest
h the dea at they he people of MisSsspp desire
charge OF design to unsette the foundations of the
government. 1t IS denied that any member of the
MISSISSIPPI convention had any such object in view
ana 1t IS asserted that every member there assembled is
friend to the Unlon The great, the leading object in
calling 1t was to preserve the Union. 1t is asserted by
you that the resolutions but ianty outline the purpose
to unsettle the foundations OF the Government but the
picture is led out, by the aid OF perverted imagina-
ton, on the evidences furnished by discussions in and
out OF Congress" Why did you not judge the Hart
ford Convention by discussions in and out of Con-
gress e. The Mississippi Convention also asks TO be |
judged by Its own acts and by its acts only.
But the foregoing extractt is also asserted that the
essential part OF the resolutions is contained in the Sc
cond which you say none but political fanatics would
be found to dispute" This is not true. The third re-
solution is lar more important. ltdenies to Congress
the power to legislate the subject OF slavery in the
District OF Columbia, cor to prohibit the slave trade
between the several States, prohibit the introduce
ton OF slavery in the Territories Of the United States"
This is the very gs of the dspute and yet it is passed
over as OF no importance This is the controverted
question OF right asserted On side and denied on
the other out OF which all the danger the Union has
arisen. On this ground the Convention is charged with
having begged the question OF aggression by the nom
slaveholdng States" wish the South to mark your
language Tor this is the immediate cause OF the quar-
rel We conscientiousy believed, and still believe the
North claimed too much, that Congress has no power
over the subject OF slavery in the Territories, the COM
mon properly OF all the States We believe that the
exercise OF sucn power would endanger the Union,
ana 70 prevent tnls catastrophe we met If we
nave begged me question OF aggression, we shall
commune 10 thaf category We were sincere in
our expressions OF attachment to the Union. | be-
leVe the whole South is attached to it, and that no
secret designs are entertained aganstln that quarter
ou ana othefs like you DO most to unsette the toun-
.,.L;oL - S -, ] ~ oi"liiiiuS ioI power
whGn II aots . not possess by trying to build up
s4daea laoic on 'he runs OF State sovereignty and
~ .le coIstiIqoh. ana H. unfortunately, the future
historian snail pe competed 10 deplore the ruin OF the
aap 70 trace lls cause you and your class
mus WI slaid Conspicuous IN the foreground
oh se CANVASS whch snail represent the great drama.
Du. your greatest alarm lor the safety OF the Union
has has , IRON polhon OF me Address prepared I'm
peI lie aifecunn OF ne Convention That regarded
~ ySu as iuil 1evelppmen! OF the object Southern
ION GGnieoefacy. i ne language alluded to is this "Be-
srn t aa y popular OF the South
ON Sa.es Will .lle view aha le nope OF aresting the
ooulse -. I ana not practicable, then to
m lne nouth IN WILL understanding, and
s6 aie convention OF MlssssPP suggests as the pos
o lesof lle eau by the Legislatures Of
sie assaeu Ila'es OF sun more solemn Conventions
sucn as should oe regularly elected by the people OF
oe States W uefi.peiate' speak, ana act with all the
sovereign power OF the people. Should in the result