The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-14

/ The SoUrHERs CONVENTION. body adj
journed on Monday, the 18th ult, after having
adopted an exposition Of wrongs which the
Southern States have suffered, and declaration
of rights to which they are entitled under the
federal compact, together with a series of reso-
lutions. We publish the result of the conven-
lions action to-day, and fully approve and en-
dorse it as a suitable platform for the whole
South to adopt The bill Of rights, Gas the pre-
amble may be appropriately styled is, with
slight notifications, the same offered by Gov.
Clay, and the resolutions are substantially those
offered by Mr.. Davenport of Mississippi We
cannot perceive any good reason why any State
rights republican, whether he calls himself Wing
or Democrat, should object to the action of the
eonyention. There is nothing in il inconsistent
with the Constitution of the United States, dis
| loyal to constitutional Union, or repugnant to
the resolutions Of Virginia and Kentucky of
| 1898 and 1899; the former written by Mr.. Madi-
son, the latter by Mr.. jefferson, which have ever
since been regarded by all but Federasts the
truest expositions of the rights Of the States Is
parties to the federal compact. If the conyen-
ton had done less, it would have betrayed IT,
nudity unworthy of freemen, the representatives
of freemen, and would Justly have forfeited the
respect and confidence Of their constituents
The great bugbear to Federalists, who want
strong consolidated central government, to
overawe the separate States and ride roughshod
over the liberties Of the people, is the right of
secession which the distinctly ay0wed.
It is right claimed for the several States by
Mr.. Jefferson, Mr. Madison, Gen. Jackson, Judge
PhiM p. Barbour, Mr. TazeweIl, Mr.. Calhoun
and host of other good and great men, whom
our country have delighted to honor We have
no evidence that Gen. Washington expressly
sanctined the doctrine, but he did not deny il,
when Kentucky 10 1898 threatened to secede.
II is right of selfpreservation belonging to the
people of each and every State in the Union,
which they may exercise whenever they find it
inconsistent with their safety and welfare to re-
main in the Union. In fine it is,a right 'inest-
Unable to freemen, formidable to tyrants only"
We will, from time to time, discuss this doctrine,
and cite our authorities in support Of it,
We cordially concur in the recommendation
of the convention to all the parties in the slave
holding States, to refuse to go into or counten-
ance any National Convention, whose object may
be to nominate candidates for the Presidency
and Vice Presidency of the United States, under
any party denomination whatever, until our con-
stitutional rights are secured. We do take and
have for some time past taken, little or no inter-
est in the elections in the Northern States, be-
cause neither the Wing nor the Democratic party
at the North is free from free-soil tendencies
| auu auoHtioH iiiiueuceS Neltner lW1tn the eX-
ception of a few Democrats) has, OF late, shown
auy disposition to do the South justice. We
are, therefore, in favor Of repudiating all party
connection with the North, aboshing all ma
tional party organizations, and uniting all true
Southern men in great Southern party, to bat
tie together for Southern rights, equality and
Independence in the Union, rs long rs there is
reasonable prospect of attaining those objects,
or out of it, if Northern ambition and fanaticisn,
memorable and unyieldng in their tyrannical and
oppressive demands, drive us to extremties.
We likewise cordially approve the recommen-
dation OF congress or convention of all the
slavehoiding States, or as many as will 90 into
it, to be composed of delegates clothed with full
power and authority to deliberate and act with
the view of arresting Northern aggression, and
if possible, Of restoring the constitutional rights
of the South, and if not to provide for their fu-
ture safety and independence. This is no time
to mince matters-to doubt, daily and delay,
fearful to assert rights, and fearful not to do
it. Let the issue be plainly presented to the
North, and the last and only conditions on which
we are willing to remain in political fellowship
with them. The sooner It is DONE the better
for all parties. The North is largely in the ma
jority, and has the power to save the Union, if
it desires. Let the united South force the PEG.
pie of the North, IL possible, to acknowledge her
constitutional rights In such manner that they
cannot recede, and IL the North persist in DENY
ing them, let us renounce the Union, regarding
them, as our forefathers regarded the people Of
England, "enemies in war, in peace friends"-
| Huntsville Democrat