South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-11-21

the people OF Utica against their max
ing our city the theatre Of their opera
tons, for them to persist in forcing
themselves upon us, is an outrage
that is very hard to bear. Yet we
are orderly and peaceabIe citizens
Let US not be moved into passion by
the injury. At such time as this, for
them TO push on in their infammatory
designs, tends directly and unqualified
ly to the disruption of our loved and
glorious Union. But let us not be
thrown off our guard by it. Let us do
nothing unworthy of our character as
orderly and peaceable citizens of Uti-
ca. Ii they have any apology to make
for their conduct, let US hear it. For
my part, l should like to hear what a.
pology can be made for proceeds
ings, which we know, and they know,
are intended TO be used by designing
politicians to exasperate the members
of this Union at each other. They
profess to come here on an errand of
religion, while under the guise Of reli-
gion they are hypocritically plotting
the dissolution of the Union. They
have been warned before hand. and
borne with unexampled patience, and
if they now refuse, and any unpleasant
consequences should follow, we will
not be responsible. Let them yield to
the wishes Of the good and peaceabla
citizens of Utica and dissolve their
Convention. II they refuse, then the
fault will be theirs. They claim right,
as free citizens, to pursue their inaam-
matory discussions, however perni-
cious and destructive they may be.
And l suppose we must bear it. IN
this land Of freedom, we must submit.
Let us hear their justification for this
outrage upon our feeling, if they have
any. We can bear it and we will hear
il. "No, we won't bear it." now
burst out from the crowd, tive WON'T
hear them, let them go home, let them
ask our forgiveness and we will let
them go."]
"Other members of the committee
loudly and authoriiativsly demanded
that the convention should dissolve.--
They would not have committee,
they would not allow any further pro.
ceedings. Those who followed them
into the house were still more violent.
They were evidently inflamed, both
with passion and strong drink, to the
pitch ofmadness. They seemed to be
under the control Of their leaders, and
to COMO further than they were per-
mitted. One ofthe crowd said, Let them
say the word, and / am ready to tear
the rascals in pieces" Loud threats
Of personal violence, and tearing the
house down were reiterated, with yells
that must be heard to be known. The
contrast between the ssincendiary"
members Of the convention, sitting
calmly on their seats, and the Horder.
ly and peaceable" throng that filled
the aisles, belching forth blasphemies,
and foaming like the troubled sea, or
like guilty conscience, was very inn
pressive."
CALVIN STEWART, Esq, highly
respectable lawyer, long citizen of
Utica, attempted to speak, but they
cried out, "We won't hear hi@, he
shan't speak, he's crazy, he's a fanai-
ic." Our honorable chairman, who
has seen more than his three score
years attempted to make some remarks,
when he was told by one ofthe COM
mittee "Hold your tongue, old man."
1t is impossible to report the mingled
cries and imprecations, threats and
blasphemies, that ensued. At length
it became evident, that it would be i'm.
possible TO transact any further bnsi-
ness there, and that the crowd had
been sharpensd for violence, and would
soon be let loose from their leash by
those who held them in. And mas
much as the main object ofthe conven-
ton had been attained, by our assem-
bling peaceabIy in Utica and forming
a State Society, and the rest of the bu-
siness could be done in some other
place, it was thought best to dissolve
the convention and accordingly, on
motion, it was adjourned, sine die.n
The account then goes on to say
that the leading members of the "com-
mittee of twenty-five" proclaimed the
result to the multitude in the aisles, and (
begged that the convention might quiel-
ly depsrt--that most Of the members re-
tired unmolested. yet some were violent.
ly hustled out, and one or two were slight
ly injured land an effort made to rescue
the papers from the Secretary -bu., they
having been nut in the possession of the 4