Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-05-25
Thrilling Scene I'm the Vicksburg Com
Ventfon-Henry =. Foote Takes the
Efre-Eafers nv Sforrr,

Ventfon-Henry :. FOote Takes the
Ffre-Eaters by storm.
The New York HereId is giving complete
report of the Vicksburg Convention. The
scene of the Convention was that recorded
below. A Mr.. SPRATT, of South Carolina,
had made speech in favor of the re-opening
of the Slave Trade. Mr. DEBOw had COM
menced speech which had been interrupted
by a molten to adjourn, when a motion was
made to the effect that MFR. SPRATT, of South
Carolina, should be requested to furnish to the
Secretary. to be printed for the use of the
Convention, the speech with which he had fl-
vored them that morning. The HraEd's re-
porter says:
The motion was simple one enough. and
would ordinarily have passed without dispute
or question. But instantly ex-senator Henry
S. Foote, of Mississippi, started 10 his feet,
and in an excited manner declared that such
thing was unprecedented; and he went on
to pour out in a rapid manner his protesta-
tions against the adoption of any such propO-
sitiOn. At first, what with his impetuosity,
the shutting of feet and moving of chairs, as
the Convention was about breaking up; and
the surprise aud this unexpected incident, it
was impossible to hear distinctly what Mr..
Foote was saying. or trying to say. But then
there was general shout for him to take the
Standard with b iskness more in keeping
with the full thick head OF hair, and dark
well-trimmed beard. indicative of youthful
vigOr, which he now (thanks to peruquial
artists and inventors of hair dye) sports, than
with the thin locks and grey whiskers to
which they have succeeded-he mounted the
raised platform whereOn the Presd ent's chair
was placed and amid much vociferatioD on
the part of the audience, and violent gesticu-
lations on his own part, he delivered himself
of the following:
No one, sir, said he, listenec to that speech
(of Mr.. Spratt, of South Carolina,) with more
satisfaction than myself, so far as it was a
mere literary effort. / listened to it with
profound attention, and / carefully noted
every prominent feature of it. The PROPOSE
ton now before the body, however well in
tended-as it doubtless was--is very extra
ordinary one 1t is one that is unprecedented
on any occasion of this kind. 1t is of ma
ture calculated. if adopted without due DELHI
Grafton, to commit to some extent this whole
body to that immense mass of new. complex,
and, as l conceive, dangerous doctrines with
which that speech is fraught. For one | am
not willing, till | shall have had an Opportu-
nity of bordering over its contents more sol
EMMY and profoundly, TO give my assent in
any shape or form to the prOmulgat OF the
opinions contained in il, or to their diffusion
throughout the community stamped with the
official sanction of this high body. (Uproar
and confused cheers, laughter and great ex-
citement.) | charge, and | am prepared TO
establish it whenever | have an opportunity
of doing so. that that speech is fraught with
reasonable doctrines. | speak deliberately
| speak not as PARTISAN or sectiOnalIst.
belong to 40 political party under the sun.
No party is responsible for me- and | am re-
spOnsible for no party. | am affiliated with
no body of men on any politial question.
But | say deliberately that however hon est
and Conscientious that gentleman( Mr.. SpratD
may be. however high may be his character In
South Carolina, the speech he has delivered
here is fraught with reasonable matter; and
if put in practice by any body of men III the
manner proposed, they would each of them
be guilty OF high treason, and be SUBJECT, ana
deservedly subject to be hanged by the neck
until they are dead, dead, dead,
Mr.. Foot accompanied his words with geS-
ticulatiOn so appropriate and SO earnest that
be brought down loud vOciferatlOns, though
most of them were expressive rather OF ENJOY
ment of the scene than of sympathy with the
sentiments expressed. OF course every one
wasestanding. Those who could get on chairs
tables did so, and the rest crowded round
to get as near the stand possible. One
old gentleman got up 10 the stand and tried
some encouraging familiarity with the speaker
but the latter was too much In earnest TO
brook interruption. and he threw him off.
Some of the more prominent of the lire
eaters attempted to interrupt him by some
angry or insulting expressions; but bold.
fiery and impassioned be waved them all off,
and growing more animated as he proceeded,
he thus continued
This sir. is the land of law Thank God it
is a country that is yet replete with the spirit
of heroiSm that animated our heroic fnrefa-
theirs. Thank God there are yet numbers Of
men in this land who respect the constitution
and the Union, who reverence the sacred eX-
amples of their forefathers who have due
respect for these wise and noble institutions
under which we live, and who have too much
regard for the examples and teachings OF those
who preceded them in this republic to de-
grade themselves by practising such doctrines
as have been this day calmly and deliberately
proclaimed TO them.
Here the cxcitable gentleman, who had got
up to the platform, and who holds the rank
of Major in the Mississippi Fencibles, made
another effort to draw Mr.. Foote'S attention,
and appealed to him to let him say one word.
The appeal was frutleSs. My dear sir, said
FoOte-pushng back his friendly tormentOr
do sit down. The Major took the hint; but
could not refrain, as he got off the platform,
from shouting out his firm conviction that
Patrick Henry had never done better. The
W
applause. Mr.. Foote continued
The proposition that the Constitution of
the United States il no longer a valid aud
binding instrument-the proposition that the
sacred laws of the Union--enacted by wiser
men than now live, and wiser men, fear
than will ever live in the country again
(appreciatiye laughter and cheers) the pro-
position that these laws. marked with the
most profound wisdom, the object of admir-
alton to the most enlightened men of all ma
tions-that these laws are entitled to no res
pect. and that violation on violation of them
may be perpetrated on the high seas and on
the laAd of this glorious continent-that
these laws may be set at aught, and the
Government functionaries detied. and that
reliance may be confidently placed on the
juries of the country by perjury to acqut
telons, is one of the most monstrous aud vile
propositions that could be made in the hear
ing of an intelligent and high-mInded people.
Here the wincing among the ultra fire
eaters could no longer be concealed. Half a
dozen of them tried to edge in some sort of
denial, explanation or justification. They
were very much excited. Mr.Singleton, member
of Congress from Mississippi, made a nervous
advance towards the stand, accompanying il
with the words. "No, sir; no, sir" Mr.. Me-
Cardle, one of the Secretaries of the Conven-
ton, and editor of the Nicksburg Southron,
tried to getin a remark, requesting those who
felt hurt by the expression OF these sentiments
to keep silent for the present A delegate
from South Carolina asked the speaker to
allow him to put question to bin. but Foote
gave an unhesitating refusal, and in a most
sweeping style of oratory. which told with
wonderful effect on all who heard it, con-
tinued:
ask, said he, no applause. and : defy cen
sure. speak for the country, and take all
the responsibility of what say. / will meet
the whole band of Southern cbivalry at the
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