Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-06

treat each other State as It's equal, endowed with
equal rights, and subject to equal duties and
responsibilities with itself. In sum and sub
stance, this article is neither more nor less than
Qualification rediuiUus No reader can resist the
conclusion that the author Of the above article,
and all those who concur in his views, are
the interiors of that doctrine, dead and buried
SO many years ago that its brief existence is hardly
remembered at the present day, unless by the
surviving palbearers and chiefmourners at its
funeral. The whole doctrine of Modification i'm
Guiding that of peaceahe secession) is compressed
in nutshell, as the reader will perceive, in the
fourth short paragraph of the preceding quotation
If the production of such doctrines and such argu-
ments as are comprised in these paragraphs taken
together, endorsed by the Virginia organ of the
Conventionists, do not remove all doubt from the
minds of the Virginians themselves of the real OBJ
ject of the proposed Southern Convention. or Con-
federacy, they would not believe were one to rise
from the dead and proclaim it.
If no other objection had before presented itself
70 the convocaton of the Nashville Convention the
PRONUNCIATION, by authority, of this new programme,
is Of itself enough to establish the absurdity and
the danger of sending uninstructed Delegates to
Nashville, on mission the more to be distrusted be-
cause OF its vagueness, and of the conceaIment
practised by its projectors concerning its Objects
OF these nothing is definitely known every thing
about them is involved in mystery. Were there
not good reason to dstrust the intentions Of some
Of those who favor the project it would Of itself be
conclusive objection to il that their intentions are
not certainly known.
Our respected contemporary, the Editor Of the
Richmond Uhig, has persuaded himself, we are
sorry to see, into the belief that no harm can ensue
from the city of Rchmond's appointing Delegates
to the Nashville Convention for the reason that If
they should, when they reach the scene of action,
find that other objects than the preservation OF the
Union and the protection OF the rights of the South
are contemplated, they can oithdraw." Certainly
they can. But ,cW they? What security have
the People Of Richmond that they will do so !! We
very much doubt whether those who can be in
duced to 60 there will Withdraw from the Conyen-
ton under any circumstances. But if they should,
what other effect could their withdrawal have
but to leave the Disunionists to act out their play
without interruption! When 10y your assistance
0, Virgnians } the first step towards the establish
be retraced. Your State Legislature has already
committed the State beyond retreat, should it take
the first step, to 60 far in " the road to RUM as
he that will 60 farthest. Did the " Whig'' ever
hear Of Revolution retrogradng? Once begun,
those who engage in it have no option but 10 fight
for their lives, or be hung as traitors. The latter
fate has indeed already been openly denounced, in
one of the papers Of the South, as the lot of any
man who dare 10 stand up, in its neighborhood,
for the Union, against the Disorganizers.
But, were the intentions of the authors Of this
project such Angels might avow, and its objects
such as Infinite Perfection might smile upon, still
there would be danger in such Convention, the
members Of which would be without any other
known community Of feeling than purely sectional
one. Under the influence of that feeling, there
would be much for the friends of the Union to APP
prehend from its action. Our readers have already
been warned by US of the danger of such Con
yention being surprised into the adoption of some
measure which, until the moment of its being pro-
pounded, had never entered into their thoughts.
An excited Convention of Delegates is subject to
the same influences as an excited populace. tits
composed of different materials, to be sure, and
would probably comprise much larger proportion
Of learning and intelligence than an ordinary popu-
lar gathering of equal numbers. But the Nashville
Convention could not be expected to be exempt
from the passions and weaknesses Of humanity.
Should that Convention ever assemble, dscon-
tent with the existing Government of the Union
will be the motive power Of its machinery. Re-
NEEDLES known to the Constitution and within their
reach, its members will have already disdained
]" Violent remedies to use the language Of the
Virginia oracle, to be resorted to, and to de-
wise these remedies-perchance to apply them
this Nashville Convention will have assembled. In
whatever manner it may be effected-by disco
luton of the Union in form, or by an equivalent
violation Of its objects--essential change in the
Government Of the Union is the only thing that
can meet the requirements of such Of those mall
contents as have frankly avowed their purposes.
What is to prevent the Delegate, who has a new
form of government. ready prepared, from start
ing up and putting it to the vote Of the gather,
ed Delegates, even before their having adopted any
forms Of proceeding Revolutions in government
are not accomplished by elaborate reports Of COM
mit!ees, or by the passage of ordinances through
their first, second, and third readings, with inter-
vening hour speeches by each member Of the