New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-03-28
Southern Convention n. vlcksburc.


| To the People Of the slaveholding States:
Felo,c- CitiSens-A committee. consisting of j. D.
B. DeBow Of Louisiana, Hon. John A. Quitman of
Mississippi, Hon. Guy n. Bryan of Texas, Hon. W.
L. Yancey, of Alabama, and Major W. H. Chase of
Florida, was appointed at the late Southern Conven.
ton in Montgomery, to invite the people of the
Southern States to lie represented at an adjourned
meeting of the Convention in Vicksburg Miss, on
the ninth day Of May next.
The lamented decease of Gen. Qntman, created,
soon after, vacancy in the committee which was
| filled with the name of Gen. J. J. McRae.
The committee cannot believe that an argument is
necessary to demonstrate to the people of the slave
holding States the Importance OF union among them.
selves, and OF mutual good in the org
nation and discussion OF questions essential to their
security and repose.
OF this nature are the questions which come an.
nuay before the Convention, and whatever diversity
OF opinion exists in regard to some of them it cam
not be doubted that the light which the discussions
elicit and the conflict of mind and mind which they
alive spirit favorable to patriotism.
The presence annually at the Convention of a
large number of men of position and character from
every section OF the South and of large representa-
ton from the masses OF the people, not under the
straints OF party and in wise obligated to do its
behests, and the free interchange of opinion which
takes place among them, is itself important fea-
ture OF the Convention and in the absence of every
other, should insure its perpetuity.
1t is only from such assemblages that, in periods
OF great public peril the hopes of the patriot can
be realized-as the colonial history of the country
evinced.
There is no name honored in the councils. or
reyered in the hearts of the South from the earliest
period of its history to the present. that may not be
claimed as authority for everything that is sought by
the Convention. From such patriotic sources have
come warnings Of danger, against which the Conven.
ton would provide, and appeals for action to which
the Convention would respond and if any of these
are now to be found in conflict with it, or interposing
discouragemens, commonplace, yet sincere men,
may find it difficult to understand the peculiar inH,-
ence in establishing the security and repose of the
south, which has been exercised by the recent tri
umphs Of Black Repubticanism in tuery free State
of the North, and its seemngiy secured ma iorties
| in the Electoral College.
Fellow-citizens of the South, let us not be ulled
into sleep and dreams of security which experience
teaches can only prove to be usory for opposition to
| slavery has entered into the head and heart of the
people of the North, and can alone be met by wisdom
and hrmness n the part of the South.
The power which threatened us in its infancy and
weakness, unless met and rebuked, is not likely to
take step backward in the hour of its highest tri.
umph whatever to the contrary it may be the inter
| est or the want OF nerve in politicians to teach
lhefe is much for the convention, however, to do
beyond the discussion of political questions impor
tant as are these, for within its puryiew comes every
thing that relates to the intellectual moral edura
tlona and industrial development of the South To
creste opinion is to create things.
The executives of the several States and the yar
GUS municipal bodies of the South are earnestly re-
quesed to send such delegates as will best represent
the opinions OF the body of the people.
The 9th day of May will be favorable time to
visit Vicksburg, and the citizens of that hosptable
community invite to the waters of the Mississippi
the people OF the Atlantic States and of the Gulf
Delegates to recent conventions are invited to this
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