ALTO, KING GEORGE [COUNTY, Va.], April 5, 1851.
MY DEAR SIR: The subject of a Southern Convention, has become a topic of
very great excitement in our County; and owing to the unfair report of the
proceedings of our second, joint meeting (which has been charged on the
chairman) a good deal of angry and desultory discussion has ensued. The
question has, unfortunately, assumed a party character here, and an effort is
being made to stifle the independent action of the friends of a convention, on
the ground, that we ought to submit to an accidental majority against us. We do
not feel the force of any such obligation, either morally or politically, and
do not intend to yield. Although we shall be too late to unite with the
district convention to assemble at Tappahannock on the 10th, yet we can confirm
the action of that meeting. We shall call a meeting for our general muster, and
I will be greatly obliged to you, if in your power and not subjecting you to
too much trouble, to fortify me with documents to sustain our position. I want
evidence to show how many Southern States have recommended the Convention; and
to controvert the assertion if I can, that six of them have, in their
legislative capacities, gone against it, that Tennessee, herself, has refused
to allow it to meet within her borders. If these States have done so, of which
I have seen no evidence, I would be glad to be informed what is the ground of
their opposition, and whether they are not Whig States? I want moreover to show
what portion of the people of Tennessee are opposed to its assembling in
Nashville. I have to contend singly and alone against my brother, who is a
practiced speaker, and Col[onel] Taylor who is a loud talker, but our party
[will] go for it, with great unanimity. Fitzhugh spoke at our last court, but
not in good taste, and with little effect. Newton is warm for it, and I learn
is open in his denunciations of the administration; so are Washington and
Garnett of the same county, and I am looking forward to no distant day, when
Westmoreland will become a member of the Democratic family of Counties. I
sincerely wish the meeting of the Convention were not so near; the people are
just beginning to wake up to the importance of the question. I would give a great
deal to have you among us for a short time; we want some potent voice and lofty
spirits to rouse the sleeping energies of the South to a sense of their danger.
If we can not see you personally, I should be glad to have a letter from you,
of such a character as you may deem prudent and politic to read at our meeting.
I am sure it would do a great deal of good; but if you think otherwise, of
course no use will be made of any communications, you may honor me with.
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