The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1859-04-09
southern Convention ct vtehsnn,s.


TO THE rtorLE OF THE sLArE-HoIDisG STATES
Fatem Ctiaeas.-A committee eglsI
j. II. b. DeBow. of Louisiana -.n A.
Quitman, of Mississippi Hon. Guy Bryan, o.
Texas Hon. ". L" Yancey, Of Alabama, and
! Major w. II. Chase, Of Florida, was appointed
at the late. Southern Convention in Mont
gomery, to invite the people Of the Southern
States to be represented at an adjourned meet
ing Of the Convention in Ficksburg, Miss, on
the 9th daJ Of May next.
The iamented decease Of Gen. Quitman
created, soon after, a vacancy in the Commit,
tee, which was filed with the name Of Gen. j.
j. McRae.
The Committee can not believe that an
argument is necessary to demonstrate to The
people Of the slaye1,olding States the impor'
lance Of union among themselves, and Of MI
tual good understanding in the originafion and
discussion Of questions essential to their sccuri-
ty aud repOSe.
or this nature are the questions which come
annually before the Convention, and whatever
diversity of opinion exists IN regard to some ol
them, it can not be doubted that the light
which the discussions elicit, aud the conflict Of
mind and mind which they induce, exercise an
influence most sanitary, ard keep alive a spirit
favorable to patriotism.
The presence annually at the Convcution oi
a large humber of men Of position aud charae.
ter from every section Of the South, and Of a
large representation from the masses of the
people not under the restraints of party. ard
in no wise obligated TO do its behesis. and the
free interchange Of opinion which takes place
among them, is itself an important felture Of
the Convention, and, in the absence OF every
other, sheuld insure its perpetuity.
1t is only from such assemiblagcs that, IN
periods Of great pubic peril. The hopes of the
patriot can be reaIi2ed-as the colonial history
of The country evinced.
There is no name honored in the councils, or
revered III the hearts Of the South, from the
earliest period Gifts history to the present, that
may not be claimed as authority for everything
that is sought by the Convention. From such
patriotic sources hayeco warnings OF dangers
against which the Convention would provide,
aud appeals for action to which The Convention
would respond and if any Of these are now to
be found IN conflict with it, or its temporary
Encouragement, commonplace, yet sincere men,
may find it difficult to understand The peculiar
influence in establishing the security and re-
pose OF the South, which has been exercised
by The recent frtunpts Of Black Republication
in every free State Of The NORTH, and its SEEM
'agfy secnrcd n7ajoritles IN the Electoral Col
lege,
fellow Citizens Of the South, let us not be
lulled into sleep and dreams of security, which
experience teaches can only prove to be il
lusory, 'fnr opposition 10 slavery has entered
into the head and heart Of the people Of the
North, and can alone be met by wisdom and
fD Tho ma nj IF I'M, Ga,,th
The power which threatened rs in its infancy
and weakness, unless met and rebuked, is not
likely to take a step backward in the honr of
its highest triempbs, Whatever to the contrary
1T may be the interest or the want Of nerve in
politicians to teach.
There is much for the Convention, however,
10 DO beyond the discussion Of political ques-
tlens, important as are these, for within its
comes everything that relates to the
intellectual, moral, educational and industrial
development of the South. 10 create opinion
is to create things.
The Executives Of the several States and
the various municipal bodies of The South are
earnestly requested to send such delegates as
Will best represent the opinions of the body Of
the people.
The ninth day of May viii be a favorable
time to visit Vieksbnrg, and the citizens Of
that hosnitable community invite to the waters
Of the Mississippi the people Of the Atlantic
States ND Of the Gulf.
Delegates to recent conventions are invited
to this,
J. d. 3. DERow, of Louisiana.
JoHN J. McRaE, Of Mississippi.
Guy BRYAN, of Texas.
W. L. YANcEY, of Alabama.
w. II. CHASE, Of Florida.
NelgO Orleans, March 81. 1859. .-