Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-05-21
The Southern Convention.

This body adjourned on the l4th, after a
session of five days. The most important
resolution adopted was that favoring the re-
peal of all laws, State or Federal, against the
African slave trade of which we have made
previous mention. Several members of the
Convention protested against the adoption of
the resolution, which was ruled out of order
by the presiding officer. This caused much
confusion, and though the action Of the chair
was sustained, the protest has found its way
to the public, and is as follows:
PROTEST AGAINST THE ACTION OF THE ''sOUTH-
ERN CONVENTION ON THE SLAVE TRADE
QUESTION.
The undersigned, members of the South
ern Convention" now in session in this city,
in view of the fact that vote has been taken
and decided in favor of repeating all laws
prohibiting the African slave trade, beg leave
TO enter our protest against the action of the
Convention, for the following reasons:
/. The resolution docs not embody the SEN
timent of the people of the eight Southern
States represented on this floor. The best
evidence of that sentiment is in the action of
the Conventions which framed their constitu-
tons, and the laws enacted by their State Lee
gislatures, and the failure or refusal of all
State Legisaturedup to this time to give their
sanction TO this policy-notwithstan in
many of them their attention has been direct
ly called to the subject, is priH,a facs evil
dence that the said body does not meet the
appreciation OF the people. 1t is fact well
known that there are now on the statute
books of at least ten of the Southern States,
many of them passed within the. last few
years-that of Mississippi as late as 1851
la,V tita ipt OF
slaves within their borders under heavy pen
allies
2. We deny that the delegates to this Con-
vention express the sentiment of the people
Of the States which they assume 10 represent
on this floor. The circumstances connected
with the appointment of the members of this
body are generally of such character as to
give no assurance that the said members
either represent the sentiment of the States,
or that ihey enjoyed favorable opportunity
Of aseertaining what that sentiment is.
5. We regard 10 rs in the highest degree
impolitic that so small u body OF individuals
as compose this assemblage, consisting for
;he most part OF individuals who, however
respectable in private life. have not the most
enlarged experience in the management of
public concerns, should undertake to origin
ate a scheme OF policy vitality affecting the
domestic interests aud safety Of the Whols
South. in the absence OF all representation
from the great slave States OF Virginia,
Kentucky, Missouri aud North Carolina
4. We Furthermore protest against said ac-
ton because We believe, lodging from the ar
gumcnts used on this floor ia support of said
resolution, that IL owes its origin 10 Influences
hostile To the peace and perpetaity OF the
Union. antagonistlc ID the Constitution aud
laws Of the land, and unpropitiOns To the fa-
,are happiness aud prosperity OF the Republic.
IL has been mainly sustained ia this body by
avowed dlsunionlsis, aud the leading speeches
made Ia support Of IL have been replete with
dsanion sentiments. denuneiatoFy OF the gov
| ernment and laws Of the Union, aud counsel
ing the South 10 armed aud bleody opposition
to the constituted authorities of the nation,
and the staying OF the ministerial fancfionaries
OF The federal law, If any attempt shoald be
made TO enforce the existing attachments, pro-
limiting the slave trade.
D. Because the agitation Of the question h
not likely 10 result in any practical good; II
certain 90 lead 10 undue excitement among as;
VIII be sure 70 awaken hostility 10 US and oai
Institutions In the Northsrn section OF the