Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-09-01

s.Eords. extreme concession. That resolution reads
thus:
q "l3 Rssolvsd That this Convention will not con.
ciude that Congress will adjourn without making an
adjustment of this controversy, and Ia the condi.
tlon sin which the Convention ends the questions
before Congress, Il does not feel liberty 70 dis
euss the methods suitable for resistance TO meass
sres not yet adopted which might involve a dis
honor 90 the Southern States" -- eas.-s--.,.
Other passages stl more striking might be taken
from the address voted BY the Convention, and IN.
tended TO explain lie views But ! shall not de
lain you by quoting them. ! refer simply to this
part Of the history of the Convention, that you
msy see how naturally its Tors in the beginning
destroyed its influence in the end. Still no good
would have been accomplished by opposition here
70 the suggestion Of the line Of SO deg. 80 min To
such opposition here and not TO Congress, would
the majority Of the Convention have attributed the
responsibility Of the failure OF that suggestion.
You see that the radical defect Of the reeommen-
dstiou Of the Convention before the psssag Of the
late act OF Congress, was the undsguised manifes-
istion OF lie reliance on eXtra-consututonAl rene
dies. Let US see nov what Il has recently done 10
cure this defect Before Congress had acted, Il
might have been thought by come that little brard-
do would have no bad n Ct on portion OF the mem.
bers OF Congress. After the action Of Congress
20 such excuse could be sc, up BrardSo could
not deprive California OF her State sovereignty
accepts the terms Of its adjustment Brdrodo Is
equally incompetent TO render null snd void the
other features Of those laws Is IL unfair then TO
say that the Convention did not expect nor wish to
see the line OF SO deg 80 min. sdoptedy Does IL
not look as il the menaces which / have quoted,
we're designed 10 provoke Congress and render
more difficult al adjustment Of the questions grow.
ing out OF the subject OF slavery
do not wish to be extreme in the Interpretation
4 De- Il 4
the speech OF Mr.. Cheves, who vas the speaker
for South CArolina the other day. and who has been
distinguished for the many high trusts he has held
both under the Federal and State Governments.
This speech may be taken as the mauitrsto Of bis
State, the we'll considered and maturey resolved
exhibition of the views Of the secessioNsts OF the
South. He says in substance that the Union 10
not onv dissolved, but that, il il we're not il ought
be without any reference to the late laws of Con
gress. Consider what is meant by the following
extracts from his speech: Is t..--r
''He would know that this great historical truth,
that no territory as large that Of The present
United States govrTrsd by any other goUsTn'
D1snt than despeism; that thus must DE al eternal
truth that every free government must feel the
pulse OF the heart at the extrentes and return its
pulsations, that there must be sympathetic and
responsive public sentiment between alls its parts
This can never exist in vast boundaries The ex-
Uenuee, uuuer one pOlLcA temperature, are al
icy cIOd; under another they become putrid and
rotten hsteVer name may be given TO the reg
me under which they slumber or sgonze, it must
be a corrupt, vice consular system. Instead Of
wishing the perpetuity OF any government over
such vast boundaries, the rational lover OF liberty
should wish for its speedy dissolution, rs danger.
to al just and free rule. Is not all this eIem
pi6ed in our own case9 IL nine MONTHS IN one
session Of Congress by great coup deGt, our cou-
L. IL ,byar
ed. Instead of well balanced government all powr
er is vested in section Of the country which is
in bitter hostility with the other And this is the
! glorious Union which we are TO support for whose
eternal duration are to pray, and before which
! the once proud Southron is to bow down. He
ought to perish ratheH
"rhe right OF pescesble secession on our part ia
-uneqniyocsl il the mere equity OF the be con
sdered. The Constitution Of the Union is nothing
more than grave and solemn treaty between the
States who were parties to it. The violation Of on
part of it Rnnus the whole; aud, as that viola
tiou, the part OF our opponents is most upques-
tionale. the South lie exonersted and the treaty
! null. The name Is nothing all compacts between
| soveTeigns are treaties. But as, between sover
| eigns, there is no umpire the States from which
| We secede may, however, capriciously or unjusty
say have violated the compact by secession and
make war upon US No such war; as has been
| shoEu how little sovereign power is embraced in
the general grants of the Constitution, that it re
quired special grant and power dispose OF the
public territory OF the Union. The great body Of
the internal sovereignty, which may be said to
stitute the real sovereignty of a nation, remains
| With the States. Any contest which may arise will
| be between equal sover igns, namely, the several
States, though it may perhaps be conducted one
/ side under the constitutional name of the Union.
hust avwiii in liar tha off
ton.
II have said they have made the appropriation
OF this territory instrument TO abolish the Con.
stituiion. There is no doubt that they have sbOl
/ ished the Constitution. The carcass NAV remain
but the spirit has LETT it. IL is now a fOetid mass
generating disease aud death 1t stnks IN our nos
trils"
This is the speech, which by the courtesy of the
cor vsnto was delivered when this gentleman offer
ed his resolutions, and when by previous rule Of
the body debate could take place. There was cour
tesy 20 hear this gross and indicate attack upon
every thing that has been hitherto deemed sacred
in Tennessee, but none 20 let Tennessean reply
to il. This is the speech which appeared the mex
morning In the American here, excluding all other
matter. When the Constitution, like Caesars body
the was thus PROSTATE before our feet, there wa
none so poor 30 do nreverence thereWas courtesy
only for she Anthony who preached its funeral--and
rstions 70 carry swiftly the Grafton 20 oil the loving
! people, to stir them up 20 mutiny and treason.
Are there any here who will say that this speech
lie only the excited language OF individual, and
must not be taken as the expression OF the con-
venton. II So | refer him to tho preamble
and resolutions adopted in all the phases winch
they presented-as fret offered by Mr. Clay Of Ala.
bama-accepted and reported by Mr. Gordon for
the general committeeman at last modified and
accepted by the committee. The doctrine OF seces
sion is maintained throughout with slme variation
20 the form Of expression, but substantially
efing the ground aud sancnoning all the logic OF "a
gentleman from South Carolina. The Constitution
is not made to lax in the resolutiOns bu the Cali
tornia, Texas and other wounds, all pointed at,
and We are comfoIted by the folloS ing solemn as,
sursnce THAT the Union OF these States is a
Union OF equal and independent sovereigntics and
that the exercise OF powers delegated to the Gene.
raj Government, can be resumed by the several
States whenever it may seem 70 them 70 be proper
and necessary"
The resolution for which the above is & substitute
was g. follows:
4. "Resolved, Thst as a sovereign psrty 10 the
Constitutional compact each State 10 the Union has
s. right 70 Judge of any nfraction OF the coustitu-
ion committed by their common agent the Gene
al Government or by their co partners in the con
sderacy--the other States Of the UniOn-and that
whenever, in the opinion Of any State, 1t Is eIpe'
lent that her conneIion with the other Stat, 9
hould be dissolved, she has right peaceably %
scede from the Union.
"ResoIred That any attempt on the part o.
ne deral Government, to course q seeding
Late into the Union, would be manifest interier-
nee with her reserved rights. and gross act Of
..nwarrantabe asurpaton and aggression, ineonsis'
ent with the plan terms of the constit uionAl com
act between the States And we recommend 70
lie Southern States distinctly to declare their de-
srmination 10 case OF any such interference, Il
apport the seeding State by ell the resources
siIhin their power"
And here let me remark, that 10 this form the re.
solutions expressed more accurately what the con