The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-18
From the Charleston Mercury.
The Nashville Convention.

The leading results Of the session of the
Convention were published in our Geographic
dispatches yesterday. The position taken
has given the highest satisfaction to all with
whom we have conversed, and has indeed
caused lively emotions of joy. The platform
is plain and ineligible. The people Of the
Sou,h know what is proposed by this division
Of the territory in accordance with an old
line, rendered famous by the magnitude OF
the controversies which it has settled in past
til On the admission of Missouri, it was
en-, cted that thenceforth slavery should be
excluded from all territory lying to the
Northward OF her Southern boundary, which
is the line of SO degrees 80 minutes, north
latitude. When Texas was annexed, it
was stipulated that any States formed out Of
her territory to the north Of this line, should
be Free States. The Nashville Convention
proposes that the South shall assent to the
extension Of this dividing line through New
Mexico and California to the Pacific ocean,
with distinct recognition by Congress Of
our right to colonize the country south Of it.
There is simplicity in this proposition
that commends it at once to favor. There
is a moderation in it that shows the Conven-
ton was moved by no desire to aggravate
the existing controversy; by no ambition to
make sensation by startling novelties -
They appeal to the past, and, rotwithstand-
ing the great provocation to take position
,fmere defiance, in reply to the aggressive
action Of the North, they have chosen to leave
ample room for reconciliation, and to exhibit
a spirit as forbearing as it is firm.
Another point Of great Importance, is the
extent to which tie Southern States were
represented in this Convention. When the
amount of influence brought to bear against
it is considered, its assemb,age in such force,
is an immense popular triumph. Its purpo-
ses were belied with consistent and perse-
vering impudence that showed a determine
ton to try the EXTREMIST efficacy of falsehood.
Then Mr.. CLAWS scheme OF deception and
evasion was brought forward, and another
sort oflying resorted to for the same purpose
consisting in infinite assertions that the
Southern people were delighted with this
scheme, and would support it with great
unaaimity. AS the crowring falsehood, it
was circulated throughout the States that the
Convention was dead-that there would be
no meeting-that at the utmost, only Mis-
sissippi and South Carolina would be repre-
scented there, and consequently the project
would simply involve in ridicule all WHO az
tended. This was put in circulation Just be-
fore the time of meeting, when there was not
opportunity for effectively exposing it, and
some delegates were keptback by such means,
among the rest those from Louisiana.
1t has been the fortune Of the Convention
to fix the proper mark upon all the lies and
slan6e,s of which it has reen the topic; first
by assembling with delegations from nine
States; and secondly, by the dignity, mode
ration, 6rmness, and authority of all its pro-
ceedings 1t has indicated the South with
out aiming any blow at the Union. 1t has
dealt honestly with the questions that distract
the country; it has proposed basis of set
Element that is at once moderate and efiec-
tual; that is neither an evasion, nor fraud,
nor a riddle 1t proposes to divide the ter
ritory in dispute, between the two sections,
giving to the North much the larger part,
but reserving something definitely and surely
to the South; and this division is on line
which is consecIa ted by history as dividing
line between the North and South.
Another point of great Importance is, that
the Convention went through its dellbera-
tons in the best temper, and came to its
mighty conclusions with entire unanimity.-
1t was body Of men of high talent; all the
common, causes thai distract men represent
ing wide and diversified country were in