Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-10-02
OCTOBER =, 1880.
EsD.as GiS'EsC
prom Me Hartford Times. }
GREAT MEETING.


citizens convened at Bedens New Hail. in State Street,
To consider and express their sentiments OH the
otto and criminal of conduct pursued by the Anti
Slavery Societies of the Middle and Northern States
Alter the organization OF the meeting, committee Of
hve was appointed to bring forward the business of the
evenings who retired for short tnc when Judge Niles,
as chairman reported TO the meeting the following Ibe
and patriotic preamble and resolutions which, after dis
cusson, were unanimously adopted Gen Johnson spoke
IN favor oil their passage and against the fanatca
dnctof the abolionists for thirty minutes, when
Judge Niles arose and went into explanaon Of the
views Of the committee generally and condemned in
we're anu caustc language not only the abolitionsts
themselves, but the conduct of lew dsunonsts ct
the South and their abettors in the non-slaveholdng
States whose chief object apparently has been
an excitcment in the South against the North, mat
ter by what meansthat would lead directly to the dis
solution oil this happy UEiono the overthrow of This
Government. He was followedby Elisha Phelps, ESQ.,
OH the side of the question. The loud and repeat
cd checngs to the sentiments advanced by the speak
good evidence of the feeling this question in
this community.
Alta meeting ofthe citizens of Hartford and the neigh
boring towns. holden at Beldcn's Hail. the evening
OF the 23d of September 1885, convened for the purpose
o! taking into consideration the violent measures and
proceedings ofthe aboonists Joseph Pratt Esq having
called tile meeting Ia order, Committee of five APP
pointed tn nominate officers for the evening; and upon
their report Isaac ToucEy, ESQ., appointed Presi-
dent-Esha Phelps Joseph Pratt Ephrairn Ishars end
Nathan johnson, Esqrs., Vicc Presidcnts- Charles
Shepard, Jeremiah Broica, Secretaries.
When, on motion, the following gentlemen APP
pointed committee Ia report resolutions for the
deration OF the meeting, viz: John NJ. Niles DR. Anna
riah Brigham, Elisha Harrington, Isaac Perkins, and
Jesse Savage, Esqrs.
Who, after taking the subject into consideration, re-
ported the following resolutions, which submitted
by the President TO the consideration of the meeting.
Upon which, Nathan johnson, John NJ. Niles, and Eli
sha Phelps, Esqrs each in delivered a very into
resting, eloquent, and powerful address in support OF
the resolutions after which they passed unani-
mousy.
WHEREAS certain persons in the middle and eastern
States have formed associations for the avowed object
eiectng the abolition of slavery in other States aud in
pursuance OF said design have established press from
which they issue several newspapers periodicals.
voted to The aforesaid object and filled with the in
temperate and intammatory matter well calculated to
arouse the passions and excite insurrecton among the
slave population And whereas said papers and pam
phets have been distributed through the mail and other
into every section of the Union aud particularly
into the savchoding States; which understandable pro
cecdnss, must have been forescon have accustomed
great excitement and alarm nj the South and obviously
tend to destroy the harmony and mutual confidence
which should prevail among the people OF the country,
whereby those sacred ties constituting the strength of
the bond OF our happy Union exposed be impaired
and the co3eder9cy endangered:
Regarding public opinion the essential element of
our government IT becomes not only the right but the
solemn duty OF the people deliberately express
promnlgaie their opinions in relation all questions
which may endaugcr the peace and prosperity of the
country, impair the moral force OF great pnci-
pies OF liberty and Union, to which indebted
Tor the nnexanplcd prosperity we have long en-
ReSoLeed, That we consider the first and paramount
duty OF the citizens of the several States originating
IRON their political relations to be fidelity TO Me Uaioa
ana scruPuous and sacred regard to its requirements
both positive and negative, defined in the Consti.,-
ton, which should be interpreted in the spirit of
compromise and Cancellation in which it framed
Fcso!rtd That the States in confederating retained
all their rights indie pendent Soyerepnties except
such as were expressly delegated to the Union; and
among the rights reserved those relating to all
matters of local and social nature private property
aud the security and relations of persons including
OF master and slaveor at that period, slavery
IN nearly ali the States, and was sanctioned by their
laws.
Resoioed That in view Of these obvious principles it
Isl violation OF the spirit of the Constitution for
OF one State to enter into combinations 10 give more
energy to their eorts for the avowed object of efccne
change in the Institutions laws or soeal relations OF
the people OF other States, who, regards all such
ters are as entirely independent communities, they
would have been had they not entered into the Conede-
racy.
RESOLVED, That the conduct of the Abotionist Socie-
ties IN publishing and distributing in the
States IN violation of their laws nc wspapers and pamph
es the natural and obvious tendency Of which is
cite nsubordnaton and nsurrection among the slaves
and expose the country To all the horrors of scrve
war, rs highly censurabc, and cannot fail of meeting the
rcProbation of every friend of his country Such pro.
ceedngs being violation of the spirit OF the constitu
tonal compact more hostile to the peace of those
States more Immediately affected by them than danger
Gus TO the general harmony and the preservation Of the
Union
Res0ired That it is the duty of all good citizens who
love Lcery and ycnerate happy institutions 10 dis
countcnance all inter ference by the citizens any State
IN the local interests and concerns of other States; that
such interference III the relations of master and slave
and te interests connected herewith is in eminent
degree reprehensble and dangerous. That we will use
all legal and proper means not incnpo.bls with our
rights ana those great principles Of liberty, freedom OF
speech and the press to rcpcss and prevent any such
interference, unwarrantabic in principle and 50 dan
g~rous IN its consequences
"Res0iced, That sec no good but much evil
from agtatmg the question in any form, in the States
not impcdalciy Interested and that should deprecnie
IN the District of Columbia and therefore disaproye oil
The FefHtoa which, understand is in circulation
among the People Of this State To be- presented TO the
next Congress, praying for the Abolition of Slavery in
the District Of Columbia.
heSofred That the of The department ofte Federal
government, by persons residing without the limits
any state TO convey into such State books pamphlets
tendency to excite insurrecon other offence against
the constitutional laws Of such STATE furnishes iusti.
hcdtOn or excuse 10 The authors or abetofs Of sucl
measures, but IS itself and fragrant abuse
which ought cccudly be reincdcd by The conslitut
ed authorities.
Resotrcd That regard the subject Of Slavery in tue
United states, solely civil and political question md
thcfcic cannot the prophecy Of lis being taken up
by FclgOus communities aud treated moral the
illogical question: and for the same reason have viewed
with regret and decided dsapprobaton the interference
OF some O tic Clergy aud especially those Of foreign
country ina matter involving such nomenous political
principles, and such important social rights
Oh motion made, Jesse Savage, John NJ Niles A. n.
Pomroy, Isaac Perkins and o. G. Phelps Jr, Esqrs,
appointed committee 10 draunhi and circulate for
the signatures Of The citizens, declaration against the
Of tie Abuliiioniss
Resotred. That the proceedings Of the meeting signed
by the presiding officers and Secretaries should be pub
Iisied 10 all the papers Of this city
ISAAC TOUCEY Esq, Prssiasnl
ELISHA PHELPS,
JOSEPH PRATT, r.. 70 O..
EPURAfM lSUAM, (''oe fFfs'dfHS.
NATHAN JOHNSON
frffr 60 ID