Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-01-15
PUBLIC MEETING.
Ph.a deihhiq, IoV.

r0uS and feSpcClaDlt lnecunS was uoiQ
IN the State House, in the same cham
- in which the Declaration Of indie
,endcnce was decided: the object v2s
nsiacr on ain application to congress,
:. .4ss. ii extension Of human slavery
N the ncw states that arc ABOUT to be, or
may hereafter be, added to this confcdc-
ration.
Jared MgerSoU, Esq. was called to
the chair, ard Ro5ert Ra!ston, ESQ. Sc
erctary.
The business Of the meeting was
opened BY Mr.. Horace Rinney, in very
perspcuous and eloquent speech, III
which he most ably and clearly developed
the inhnmanity, impolicy, and Injustice
of slavery generally; its pernicious ten
dency on human society, and its incom
patibility With republican institutions,
with the spit of ONT revo.ution and con-
stitutions, ard with human and divine
laws. he also most clearly demoAstrat-
ed the power and obligation on congress,
to prohibit the cZrension of slavery to
new states. His argument on the con-
stitutional part Of ne question was so
explicit and perspicuo1s, as to place thc
point beyond the possibility Of contro-
version. The whole speech ought to
be published; had we been aware Of
such speech, we should have taken
care that it should not have gone of with
the delivery alone.
After Mr.. Binney had thus opened the
business, he offered a series of resou-
tons, which being read, were adopted
unanimously--and a committee Of COR
respondcnce appointed.
The following resolutions were ana
ntmousjy adohted, viz
Whereas it is a constitutional priyi-
legc guaranteed to the citizens of the
United States, peaccably to assemble and
espress thnir sentiments On subjects of
great public concern, and under some
circumstances the exercise Of that right
is urged by the most imperative dictates
Of reason, enIoined by the tendcrest du-
tics of benevolence, and, above all, sane
toned by the solemn obligations of re-
lieion. These combined motives are
awakened and necessarily prevail at a
moment when question is about to be
determined, which not only involves the
freedom of unborn generations, but is
inscparably connected with the security
and happiness of a great and growing
empire.
The slavery of the human species be-
ing congessedly one of the greatest evils
which exist in the United States--palpa-
bly, inconsistent with the principle upon
which the independence of this nation
was asserted, and justified before God,
and the world, as well as at variance with
the indestructahle doctrines of universal
liberty and right, upon which our con-
stitution is erected, it unavoidably follows,
that pcrsonal bondage beyond those states
which were originally parties to the con-
federation must be deprecated, and
should be prevented by an exertion Of
the legitimate power of congress
Therefore, ResQtped, That in the
opinion Of this meeting, it will be incon-
sstent in principle, unwiss in policy, and
ungencrous in power, to allow states
hereafter to be created members of the
American union, to establish or tolerate
slavery within their jurisdiction, and that
every lawful means should be employed
TO prevent SO great moral and political
transgression.
Resolved, That this meeting will
adopt memorial, to be signed by our
fellow citizens, imploring the congress
of the United States to exert all their
constitutional power for the prevention
Of slavery in states hereafter to be adj
rnitted into the union.
RESOLVED, That committee of cor
rcspohdcnce, consisting of twenty-five,
be appointed; that they be requested to
circulate these proceedings throughout
the state of Pennsylvania, and be further
authorized to make such publications in
support of the opinions of this meeting
as they may deem proper.
The following gentlemen were APP
pointed the committee of correspon-
dence, viz:
Jared Ingersoll, Charles Chsuncey,
James C. Fisher, VIM. Rawle, p. s.
Duponceau, James N. Barker, Horace
Binney, William SAMSON, Benz. r. Nor
gan, Robert Ralston, Manuel Eyre, John
Hallowell, Thomas Leiper, Joseph P
Norris, John w. Thompson, Robert
Walsh, if. Roberts Vaux, George Lati-
mer, Caleb North, Moses Levy, John
Connolly, DR.. George Logan, Samuel
Brock, Timothy Paxson, Gen. John
2tna'e.