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When you hear I have been to the great “Nashville
Convention,” I fear me you will have no more to do with
me. It was curiosity that tempted me, and, being a
“Yankee Girl,” I felt the greatest desire to be present
at a meeting which was drawing the attention of the
whole Union, if not of the whole world. The colonel
is a true Southern man in interests as well as feeling,
and, at breakfast table on the morning of the 3d inst.,
he said, in his badinage manner:

“Kate, what say you to going to the Convention?”

“The Nashville Convention, sir?” I exclaimed, with a
start of innate horror.

“Yes; it begins its session to-day. It is but three
hours' drive into town, and I am going in to see what
they are going to do. Isabel is desirous of being present,
as ladies are especially invited to grace the assemblage.”

“I thought they were to meet with closed doors, colonel,”
I said, in my innocence, having the ghost of the
Hartford Convention before my eyes.

“No; they will do all open and fearlessly, Kate. If
you can overcome your scruples enough to be of the
party, we should be delighted to have you go.”

After a few moments' reflection, I concluded to

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consent, though I must confess with some compunctions of
conscience, Mr.—, for I religiously believed the Convention
to be traitorous in its spirit, in its views, and in
its tendencies.

The carriage was at the door as soon as breakfast was
over, and, after three hours' drive, we entered Nashville,
a city, as I have before remarked, presenting the most
charming aspect to the approacher of any inland town in
the Union. The tall, Egyptian towers of the Presbyterain
church, the Gothic battlements of the Episcopalian,
and the pointed turrets of the Baptist, the fortress-like
outline of the half-finished Capitol, and the dome of the
Court house, with the numerous cupolas, galleries,
groves, and bridges, together form a coup d'œil that
enchants the eye. On our road, we had overtaken an
open traveling barouche, containing two South Carolinians,
on their way to the Convention. One of them
being known and recognized by the colonel, we had quite
an animated conversation, as we rode side by side.

Arrived in town, we stopped at an elegant mansion,
the abode of a relation of the colonel, where we were
made as much at home as we could have been at the
Park. We found the city thronged with strangers from
all the Southern states, and the houses of the best families
were hospitably opened to entertain them. Upon
expressing my surprise to an eminent whig jurist opposed
to the Convention, that he should have thrown open the
largest and best rooms of his house to the members of it,
he remarked that “he could never forget the laws of
hospitality, and that it was his opinion that strangers
visiting the city should be received with kindness and

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civility.” I honored the venerable gentleman for this
specimen of old Roman feeling.

The Convention at first convened in the Odd Fellows'
Hall, a large and beautiful edifice, but not being found
convenient for the accommodation of spectators, especially
the ladies, the McKendree Church, which is the
most spacious in the city, was offered to it and accepted.
As we entered the vestibule, which was thronged with
gentlemen, I noticed a placard, reading in large letters
as follows: “The pews on each side of the church on the
floor, reserved for ladies; and no gentleman without a
lady to be admitted on the floor unless he is a member.
This rule will be strictly enforced.”

Upon entering, we found the house filled, the members
occupying the body of the church, the ladies,
like borders of flowers, (that is a gallant delegate's
figure of speech,) enclosing them on each side, and the
galleries packed with lookers-on and lookers-down, some
of them with their hats on their heads, for there are
some men that don't know when they ought to keep their
hats off. Through the politeness of General—, a gentleman
as distinguished for his patriotism as for his
politeness, we were escorted to an advantageous seat near
the platform, although we did not turn any gentleman
out of his seat in order to get places for ourselves.

I know of nothing more uncivil or worthy of being rebuked,
than that rudeness so common among ladies, which
leads them to make a gentleman sacrifice to them a seat,
which, perhaps, he has with much difficulty obtained for
himself. It is the duty of every man coming into a
crowded room with ladies, to find places for them without
discommoding other men. I saw two “ladies” come in and

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stand before a pew, and look steadily at an elderly gentleman
in it, as if they were resolved to look him out of
his seat, though his wife and daughters were with him in
the pew; but the height of impertinence is for a man
with females under escort, to ask another gentleman to
rise and give his seat to the ladies; yet, during the session
of the Convention, I saw this thing done repeatedly.
Madame de Stael says, in her admirable “Corinne:”
“l'idée que les grands seigneurs de Rome ont de l'honneur
et du devoir, c'est dé ne pas quitter d'un pas ni
d'un instant leur dame.” I fully subscribe to this law
of manners in its application to the present purpose.

When we entered, Mr. Hammond, of South Carolina,
was addressing the chair, which was filled by a dignified,
Andrew Jackson-looking man, who, I learned from the
colonel, who knows almost everybody, was Judge Sharkey,
of Mississippi. Mr. Hammond's head struck me as very
fine. He is of a pale, intellectual aspect, with a high
forehead, white and polished; indeed, his whole face
was almost as colorless as alabaster, and seemed chiseled
out of marble. What he said was moderate and conservative,
and what particularly surprised me throughout
the nine days sitting of the Convention, was the calm,
dignified, and impassioned attitude taken and held by
the South Carolina delegation. They spoke little, giving
the lead to others rather than taking it themselves,
yet it was perhaps the most talented, Mississippi alone
excepted, delegation in the Convention. Barnwell Rhet,
of South Carolina, spoke during the day, and made a
favorable impression. He is a strong-minded man, with
a head something like late Attorney-General Legaré's,
and a manner highly courteous in debate; and this

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finished courtesy seems to me characteristic of these
Carolinian gentlemen. Mr. Barnwell (since chosen
United States Senator in place of Mr. Elmore) also
made a short reply to one of the delegates. He is a
strong man, and holds rank with the leading intellects
of the South. His intellectual weight will be felt in
the Senate. Mr. Cheves, of the same delegation, is a
hale, white-headed old gentleman, with a fine port-wine
tint to his florid cheek. He has a high reputation, I
believe, but during the session he said but little. The
most eloquent man of this delegation is Mr. Pickens.
He made a speech on the sixth day that surpassed any
thing in the way of forensic eloquence I ever imagined.
He has a face like one of the old Roman emperors, which
I have seen on a coin, Nerva, I think, and his oratory is
worthy of the Forum. By turns, calm and tempestuous,
gentle and strong, witty and withering, logical and imaginative;
at one moment, the audience would be startled
with the thunders of the rock-beating surges; and at
another, soothed by the soft zephyrs of a summer sea.
His rhetoric was profusely ornamented with figures and
metaphors, like an exquisite mosaic. Altogether, he is
one of the most finished orators it has been my good
fortune to listen to; and the colonel says, his speech on
this occasion was worthy to be compared to the most
noble efforts of Wirt and Patrick Henry. South Carolina,
in truth, sent her jewels here, and their talents have
won them golden opinions. Be assured, Mr. —, that
the sentiments of this state have been misrepresented.
Throughout the Convention, her sons were models of
conservatism and healthy patriotism. Seated near them
was the Mayor of Charleston, called “the handsome

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Mayor.” Mr. H—, a worthy descendant of Colonel
Hutchinson, of Cromwell's time, and of the Mrs. Hutchinson,
whose memoirs are so well known. He was
pointed out to me by a lady with: “Don't you think he
is the handsomest man in the house?” He is not a delegate,
but only a “looker-on in Venice.” He has been
to the Mammoth Cave, near here, within a few days
past, and his description of it to me I must give you, it
is so truthful: “The sensation,” said he, “on beholding
it when standing beneath the main dome is precisely like
that experienced in gazing upon Niagara; it is Niagara
in repose.”

The Virginia delegation took a very active part in all
the debates. It was, if possible, more ultra than any
of the rest. The Hon. Beverly Tucker, a half brother
of John Randolph, spoke often, but what he said did not
please me. He is, moreover, past his vigor, and entering
his dotage. His speech was exceedingly bitter, and
out of temper. It was the only one that was recriminating
against the North; for a spirit of forbearance in
this direction has peculiarly marked the whole body.
The North is alluded to as “our northern brethren,” or
“our sister states,” &c., and there is almost, as I have said,
a total absence of vituperation. Mr. Tucker, however,
something in the spirit and something in the manner of
Randolph, of Roanoke, let out his bitterness, and was
sometimes forgetful that ladies were present. He is a
venerable and gentlemanly-looking man, and bears a high
reputation, I believe, but it is rather for what he has
been. The most able and patriotic member of the Virginia
delegation was Mr. Gordon, who spoke always well,
and to the purpose. He has something of the

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massiveness of Webster in his manner of speaking, and was
always listened to with deep interest. The several delegations
from the several states, (nine states in all,) were
seated each by itself. The two places of honor, the
front pews on each side of the broad aisle, directly in front
of the President's chair, were given to South Carolina
and Mississippi; on the right of the latter was Virginia,
occupying two pews; on the left of Carolina was Florida.
In the rear of South Carolina was Alabama, and in the
rear of Mississippi were placed the Georgians. The Tennessee
delegates, among whom was General Pillow, in a
military white vest, and Major W. H. Polk, the late President's
brother, occupied the side pew on the left of the
pulpit. In front of the pulpit is a carpeted platform,
within the chancel-railing, on which a dozen little green
tables were placed for editors and reporters.

In the centre, before the desk, sat Judge Sharkey and
the vice-president, Gov. McDonald of Georgia, supported
by their secretaries. What, with the vast assemblage
before them, and the reflections upon the important subject
which had convened such a House, the whole scene
was imposing and solemn in the extreme. Perhaps
since the meeting of the Signers of the Declaration of
our priceless Independence, no Convention has been assembled
in the Union, so fraught with profound and
sober interest as this. It was no assemblage of young
politicians, ambitious for notoriety. Everywhere, as I
looked over the house, my eyes fell on gray heads venerable
by wisdom. The majority of the members were
men whose names are known to the world with distinction,—
men who are the pride, and glory, and honor of
the South. Governors, Judges, ex-members of Congress,

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eminent jurists, and distinguished orators, composed the
assembly. Dignified in its character, calm, and deliberate
in its debates,—as if impressed with the solemnity
of their combined attitude before the country and
the world,—they struck me as forming, for the time
being, the true Congress of the country; for the constitutional
assemblies at Washington seemed to be suspended
in action while this one was in session, as if waiting
for the result of its deliberations. And there is little
doubt but there was as much talent in this Congress
as in that. All its proceedings were marked by the
severest parliamentary etiquette; and I heard gentlemen,
who dined at the house where we were guests, say that
the whole tone and temper of the proceedings and
discussions were not unworthy of the United States
Senate. You see I am getting to be quite a Southerner
in feeling. But I must describe as I saw, and write as
I feel. Opposed as I was to the Convention, I cannot
withhold justice where it is due. At first the citizens
of Nashville were opposed to it; but day-by-day, as its
sessions advanced, it grew into favor. The galleries
(the people sovereign) thundered applause, and the ladies
smiled approbation.

The members beguiled the tedium of the reading of
the resolutions in going from pew to pew, chatting with
the beautiful women, and the sessions were thus varied
by some interesting flirtations on the part of the handsome
widowers, and married men, too, to say nothing of
bachelors, who seem to live single in order to flirt.
Brilliant parties had been given nearly every evening to
the delegates, and dinner parties were the order of the
day. The whole city, all the time of the session, was in

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delightful excitement; and fair widows and beautiful
girls reigned in all their splendor and power. Many a
heart was lost,—and some of the most firm disunionists
brought over to the opinion that one kind of union is
at least very desirable. Probably Nashville has never
seen so gay a fortnight as that during the sitting of this
brilliant Convention.

The most talented and active member of the Mississippi
delegation was a Mr. McRea, a young man, but who
has made himself a man of mark, by the display of his
talents for debate on this occasion. The most exciting
speech made, was by the Hon. Mr. Colquitt of Georgia.
He is athletic, short, compact, and iron-looking, with a
large intellectual head, thick with wiry, gray hair, growing
erect all over it; a jutting, black brow, and a firm
mouth, the whole man and the whole face being stamped
with a rough, fiery energy. He rose to reply to some
moderate member, against the Compromise, I believe,—
and growing excited, he jumped from his pew into the
broad aisle, to have more space. Here he spoke with
perfect abandonment! His voice rung like a bugle! He
would rapidly advance, sometimes five or six steps, as if
about to leap the chancel railing at a bound, and then
stopping full, terribly stamp, stamp his right foot, and
discharge his artillery-like thoughts, which seemed
bursting for more vehemence than he could give them;
(and never man had more;) at another time he would retreat
step by step, speaking slowly in whispering irony,
half down the aisle, when suddenly leaping into the air,
his voice would explode like a shell, and electrify us all.
Now he would turn round and appeal to this delegate—
now face an opposite one; now he would advance like a

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skirmisher, and utter hoarse, denunciatory whispers to
the President in the chair, as if for his especial ear. In
a word, he made a most extraordinary speech, in which
the manner of all the best orators of the land was mixed
up with that of some of the worst. It was in oratory,
what a medley would be in song! It was wild, fierce,
terrible, dreadful, mad—yet most wonderful to listen to.
It was eloquence tied to the back of a wild horse, Mazeppa-like!

General Pillow also spoke several times, and spoke
well. I had the greatest curiosity to see him, having
heard so much of him. He lives in elegant and opulent
retirement, not far south of Nashville, and is very popular
in this state, and may be the next governor. All those
foolish stories told about him by the papers, have been
proved to have no foundation, and ought to be dismissed
from the public mind. He is in the prime of life, decidedly
a handsome man, with a marked military air.
There is a smile in his eyes, and which generally plays
about his finely shaped firm mouth, that renders the expression
of his countenance singularly pleasing. He
looks like a gallant and chivalrous gentleman, and his
speeches were all patriotic and to the point. This distinguished
man has been called vain, because some suppose
he wrote a self-commending account of the battle in
which he had fought so well.

There is classic authority for such a sentiment, which
I believe is not an unworthy part of human nature.
Pliny says, in his nineteenth letter, book ninth, to Rufo:
“In my opinion, every man who has acted a great, a
distinguished part, deserves not only to be excused, but
approved, if he endeavors to secure immortality to the

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fame he has merited, and to perpetuate an everlasting
remembrance of himself.” Frontinus forbade a monument
to be erected to him, saying, “The remembrance
of me will remain if my actions deserve it!” Some men
call this modest in Frontinus, but in my opinion it is the
perfection of vanity; for he is so impressed with the certainty
that his actions will be remembered, that he proclaims
it to the world. I think every man who performs
noble actions, should take pains that they are set right
for the eyes of posterity; and if such a course be vain,
then is Cæsar the vainest of men, as he was among the
bravest and wisest.

Why is it, Mr.—, (listening to the debates has led
me to the reflection,) that men talk to one or two persons,
but declaim to a hundred? You see the absurdity
of making a loud and oratorical harangue to a single
auditor, yet let another and another be added, till there
is an assembly, and the conversation is elevated to oratorical
declamation. Pliny, who is a great favorite with
me, speaking of the same subject, says:

“The reason I imagine to be, that there is, I know
not what dignity in the collective sentiments of a multitude,
and though separately their judgment is, perhaps,
of little weight, yet, when united, it becomes respectable.”

Major Wm. H. Polk spoke two or three times early
in the session. He has a remarkable voice, deep as a
volcano. He is a handsome man, but is bearded like
an Ottoman chief. His manner of delivery is striking,
from his emphatic enunciation. With every word, he
makes an energetic nod forward, and the vowels are all
enunciated with the precision of an elocutionist, in

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particular the terminations ion, which he pronounces
round and full in two distinct syllables, like a Spaniard
speaking his own sonorous tongue. He always spoke to
the purpose, and with great boldness.

To show you how little popular applause can be appealed
to as a criterion of opinions, I heard the galleries
one hour applaud a suggestion of “non-intercourse,” and
the next hour a defence of the Union. After passing
their series of resolutions and “Address to the Southern
States,” on the ninth day the Convention adjourned to
meet again at Nashville, where they have been so
agreeably entertained, the sixth Monday after the adjournment
of Congress, if the action of that body prove
hostile to Southern interests. Moderate men regard this
as an imprudent challenge, and perilous to be taken up.

After a few local resolutions, voting thanks to the
citizens of Nashville for their hospitality and to “the
ladies for their smiles,” the president made a neat farewell
speech, and the house adjourned. The gallant
Charleston delegation won high favor by making a present
to the church of a superb carpet to compensate for
the wear of that which covered the floor during the session.
These South Carolina gentlemen have a thoughtful
savoir faire way of doing just what ought to be done.

Now, Mr.—, I have given you a sketch of my impressions
of this famed Convention. I hope you will not deem
it treasonable to publish it. What the result and influence
of the action of this body will be, is not for a female
pen to venture to say, but I believe firmly that it
will have a tendency to consolidate the Union. The
whole temper and tone of the proceedings cannot fail to
command the respect of the North; and I hope and

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heartily pray that the end of this unhappy difference will
be to settle upon a firmer basis, the noble political institutions
which command the admiration and homage of the
nations of the earth.

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