Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-12-25
DOMESTIC.
MEETING TO OPPOSE SLAVERY.
NEW-YoRK, NOV. |

SAND, was nelQ at the Assembly Room
in the City Hotel, for the purpose of ex-
pressing their sentiments on the danger
to be apprehended for the safety of this
republic, if congress should not prohibit
the federation of slavery in any new states
or territory that may be hereafter admit
ted into the union. Matthew Clarkson,
Esq. was called to the chair, and John
I. Irving appointed secretary. The
meeting being thus organized, Peter A.
Jay, ESQ. rose and addressed those pre-
sent, in a neat and impressive speech,
pointing out, in feeling manner, the
cruelties of slavery, and the evils which
would ultimately result to this country
if not prohibited and concluded by Of
fering set of resolutions. He was
followed by John T. Irving, Esq. on the
same side, in speech which did him
great credit. No one rose in opposition,
and after the resolutions and an address
to the American people were read, the
meeting adjourned.
The following are the resolutions and
address adopted by the meeting:
The existence of slavery in the Uni
ted States, being, in the opinion of this
meeting, a great political, as we'll as
moral evil, derogatory to the character of
the nation, dangerous to the safety of its
inhabitants, and opposed to the benign
spirit and principles of the Christian re-
ligion, they consider it the solemn duty
of the national government, presiding
over people protesting high regard
for freedom and the just rights of men,
to prevent, by all constitutional means,
the further extension of such an evil in
the United States 1t is thereupon
Resolved, That, in the opinion of this
meeting, congress possess the clear and
indisputable power, by the constitution
of the United States, to prohibit the adj
mission of slavery into any state or terri
tory hereafter to be formed and admitted
into the union.
RESOLVED, That, in the opinion Of this
meeting, the admission of slavery into
any such state or territory, would be
contrary to the spirit of our free and ex-
cellent constitution, and injurious to the
highest interests of the nation.
RESOLVED, That the thanks of this
meeting are due to the members of the
late congress who opposed the admission
of slavery Into the proposed state OF
Missouri.
Resofved, That the senators and re-
representatives. in the congress of the Uni
ted States from this state, be respectfully
and earnestly requested to use their most
jealous endeavors to prevent the further
extension of slavery in the United State.
RESOLVED, That Gen. Clarkson, John
I. Irving, VIM. Eayard, John B. Coles,
Henry Rutgers, Archibald Oracle, Rich
ard Varick, Walter Bovine, Robert b.
gardus, JonathanThompson, Henry Eek
ford, Thomas Eddy, Thomas Adds
Emmett, George Newbold, Rensselaer,
Ravens, John Griscom, Isaac M. Ely,
Adm. Bloodgood, VIM. Irving, VIM.
w. Woolsey, Isaac Carrow, Henry d.
Sedgwick, John Adams, Isaac G.. Pier
son, Jonathan Goodhue, Charles Wilkes,
and Samuel l.. Mitchill, be a commit
tee to correspond with individuals, and
public bodies in this and other states,
requesting their cooperation in sup
porting the principles of freedom, and
checking the progress of slavery in our
country.
ResoiDed, That the thanks of this
meeting be presented to the chairman
and secretary for the able discharge of
their official duties on this occasion.
Resolved, That the thanks of this
meeting be presented to MIR. Jennings
for the liberal and gratuitous offer of his
room for the accommodation of this
meeting.
Resoivsd, That the proceedings of this
meeting be signed by the chairman and
secretary, and published i'll the several
newspapers Of this city.
At the last session of congress, bill
was introduced to authorize Missouri
to form constitutions" preliminary to
her admission into the union. A pro-
vision was, by amendment, inserted in
the bill, prohibiting the further introduce
ton of slavery. This amendment was
lost in the senate, but being retained by
the house of representatives, the bill was
defeated.
The principle involved in this pro-
vision, is SO intimately connected with the
interests, the character, and the union Of
our country, that the citizens of New
York, convened in general meeting,
deem itproper to convey to their fellow
citizens their sentiments on this impor-