The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1850-03-20
GOV. Brown-N Nashville Conyen-
lion.

The Delegates In Congress from The stale Of
r,o,;d, recently addressed letter TO The Govern
a, Of that stale calling uden him iodesiss mode
AZ proceeding by which the people Of ths state
sb.II he represented in the Nashville Convention
The following is the Governors rePlyi
Executive Office. .
TsIlehassee, Feb. 22d, 1850. )
Gentlemen :-Il was my desire TO have
seen The good people Of Ibis state pass up
IN ,he proposed southern convention as
their judgments might dictate, without
any expression nf opinion on my pad
bu, The appeal which you have made
leaves me without discretion, and feel
hound in Difference 10 yuu and our con-
s,ilupnts, as well as in respect 10 myself.
10 stale. candidly, my opinions upon This
contemplated measure.
I do not believe that possess any
mower or authority, as the chief executive
magistrate Of this stale, 10 take any OFF,
cial slep 10 cause the election or appoints
meni Of delegates 10 attend The conyen-
lion of the southern slales 10 meet al Nash
vile. in the state Of Tennessee, on the
first Monday in June next. know of
no provision in the constitution or laws
OF this state which points out OF permits
ihe performance Of such duty; or that
prescrbes and defines the powers and du-
lies of such delegates, when elected orap-
pointed. Il isyery clear 10 my mind that
have no more power or authority in this
matter than any private citizen Of The
commonwealth, and that ans act on my
pari, in my official character. 10 procure
an election Of delegates 10 such conyen-
ton, would be an usurpaiion alike danger
Gus and censurable.
consider such convention as reyolu-
tionary in its tendency, and directly against
the spirit il not The letter Of the consiIiu-
ton Of the United States, which declares
that i. no state shall enter into any treaty,
alliance, or confederation !" aud the Ira
mers aud expounders Of the constitution
seemed to understand this subjec, fully IN
the course pointed out as proper TO be
pursued by the states, TO oppose encroacli.
menis by the federal government. lu
treating upon this subject, Mr. Hamilton
says:
"The separate governments in a con-
federation may apily be compared with
the Feudsl Baronies. with this advantage
in their favor, that from the reasons al
ready explained, they will generally pos
sess The confidence and good will Of the
people, and will. so important support
will be able eifeciually to oppose all en-
croachmeu,s Of the federal government
The legislature will have better means ol
information, they can discover the dan
ger at distance, and possessing all the
organs of civil power and the confidence
Of The people, they can at once adopt
regular plan Of opposition. in which ihey
can combine all The resources Of the com
muniiy. They can readily communicate
with each other in The different states
and unite with their common forces in thu
protection Of their common liberty"
If the object Of the Nashville coaven'
tor be for the redress Of grievances,
would ask il more efiectual mode conlt
be pointed out than that indicated BY ih'
foregoing quotation! Would not The ex
preston of an opinion ora determination
by the states, in their sovereign capacity
be calculated to carry more weight, ant
10 command more respect than The act
and proceedings Of an irresponsible con
venlinn Of delegates, assembled from |
portion Of the states, without any pre-
scribed powers or duties, and subject 4
no control
Blu, il is said that the states haze acte'
BY resolutions, reports and addresses; AM
they (he norih) will not believe IN
states are in earnest, and mean what the.
say" Then what more could this pro
posed southern convention do to max
them believe we are in earnest, unless
indeed, il is TO be considered, and 10 con
slider itself a revolutionary body! Wha
more could il do than 10 re eresolve and re
affirm. unless TO propose violent and eS
ira constitutional remedies! Ifit is call
ed for This end, most solemnly protes
against it. The time has not arrived 70
such measures, and pray God such
time may never arrive. There are, how
ever. restless spirits amongst US. who hav
calculated Tie Ualue Of the Union, an
would. perhaps, sell il for mess Of poi
tage. Since this southern convention ha
been projected, southern confederation
has been more than dreamed Of.
And when this southern convention
meets. who can tell what its members ma
not attempt to accomplish, not thought g
by those who sent them there Shout
they attempt measures dangerous to ih
permanence of this Union, where is III
power to arrest them! Whose voice S
potent as 10 say to them. thus lar sha
thou go, and no furiher!' How Ion
may they remain in session.! What ma.
be The term OF lheirappointmeni! These
and many other questions may and shout
be asked by reflecling men before the
go too far to relract.