Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-08


this county numbering some two dozen persons.
The people have taken part 10 suggesting candidates.
have honored those presented to them with neither their vote
nor their countenance.
Several who did vote have assured they oppose
to the Convention and voted alone from personal consider
atoms.
NV intercourse with the people has satisfied that the
condemn and dsrus the Convention throughout and tina
this feeling belongs to no class party but is the feeling
the people en- mas,e
As such can neither do myself the people the inus
ce to assert and exercise the right of representing and bind
ing them BY my acts will consent under such cir
to thrust myself into the position Of aepresenta
tive when the constituency have declared 50 unequyocay
that they do not desire the relation exist under any terms
And if the Executive can find any in this district who
can consent to represent the people By his appointment when
thew have refused represented by their acts ne is
a, liberty TO confer such position upon him.
Under ordinary circumstances the refusal OF the people to
attend the polls works dscredt to the person elected
for with an that elections should be thus held under
the Government this absence is concession by the ory
that the minority may rule under the forms of Jaw.
The present is very different Here the people
asked to assent to particular ac therefore their
must be shown not presumed. They contracted with
their representatives in the Legislature for the exercise OF the
right Of calling Conventions, in view possibly, and Ill
tmaey, of overthrow of the Government This an
attribute Of sovereignty reserved to themselves and
usurped when exercised by the Legislature There must,
therefore, have been some positive the part of the
pie asserting to this recommendation before any act OF e
Of hem.can bind the whole and in my judgment the mere
omission to attend the pol and positive refusal to open
the polls were not such acts would justify the inference
that they approved the Convention and desired to be
sented init prove the very
1t is perhaps unnecessary enter into detailed exposition
of the which have peudced the public mind against
| the proposed Convention.
AS an independent measure with other purposes than
those strictly advisory, such convention might my opinion
been rendered exceedingly valuable checking encroach
upon rights well in restoring the brotherly
feeling which should animate all parts of the Union But its
capacity do good has been destroyed and only
do mischief good 1t had better be abandoned
once, than persisted in only accomplish injury and
prejudice. ... .n.. ..r."
At an early day the public mind astounded what it
believed the purposes those who advocated the call Of
the Nashville Convention. TIE overthrow of the Govern
rnent and the formation of Southern Conedeacy, APP
prehensons which seized upon the popular feeling and while
representatives MedgeSile working each other
up into perfect phrenzy the people at home quietly
condenng all their acts if aot wrong in motire, at least
naischievous in effect. '.... ..."
The Mississippi Convention, which first recommended that
at Nashville in their address hed the following very gn-
cant language .... ;% w..
Besides and beyond popular Convention of the South.
States with the view and hope ofaresng the of
aggression and if practicable then concentrate the
South in WILL understanding, and action the Convention Of
Mississippi suggested the psssibe ultimate resort, the
call by the Legislatures Of the saied States Of still
solemn conventions such should be regularly elected by
the people of those States deliberate, speak, and with
~ of ho tho
such Conventions be called and meet they may lead to
like regularly constituted Convention Of all the assaled
States provide in the last for their separate well
fare by the formation Of compact and union that ,rA
| afford protection to their liberties and rights
The of this language somewhat obscured by the
arts Of the rhetorcan, but the plain English is tina, the
Nashville Convention to arrest the of aggression,
and if not, then the action and the feelings of
the South. The State Legislatures TO call State Con-
venons, and each State through its Convention, to with
draw from the Unon and this to lead general Con-
vention to form Southern Confederacy .....
Our Legislature seemed determined act up the very
letter of the Mississippi address. They did all in their power
to perfect the plan Of dson Swallowed forth in the scheme
of that irresponsible cabal. ...,..~
They recommended the sending of delegates the Nash
vile Convention and seeming to fear lest the action of that
body might assist the course of aggression" they would
break up the Government they invited the people to
in State Convention stake into consideration the mode
and of redress and made Of the preters for
this Of revolution the admission by Congress Of the peo
pie of California the right Of segovernment under the
Constitution
And to eyince fully the inconsistency and want of
loyalty in the last Legislature, they made the prohibition Of
slavery hereafter by Congress- in any of the Territories Of
the United States another ground for dssolvng the Unop
and appropriated thirty thousand dollars for the pay Of State
Con enton withdraw Georgia from the Union At the
same time Congress had passed law prohibiting slavery in
Oregon which had received the sanction of President Polk
and word of cast this act
by the last Legislature lit unconstitutional to prohi-
bit slavery in California New Mexico aud such act
deserve break up this Government, what is the
the constitutional Oregon, and deserved
be acguesced in, Every man knows there is difference
between the they dentcally the same-the
Inconsistency of the two acts points to the motive which has
prompted the course pursued ......
The first this drama has been submitted to the people
and condemned almost unanimous yhe next the assembling
of the dsnion Convention Miedgevle, through whose
action Georgia withdraw from the Union will fnd itself
without friends or apoloeists.
With these facts before hem it is wonder that the
people should condemn the Nashville Convention. II had
common parenage with the dsunion State Convention, and
believed be designed prepare their minds for this
other final and fatal step.
The question ofen asked, if the Legislature designed
this body merely advisory one, why pass the last
coul be