The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-12-13

Eaneuil Hall for The purpose Of holding \
meeting Of citizens 10 express the senii-
meDts of Boston in relation 10 the Freedom
Of the Press and the Right of Discussion.
We are gratifed to learn that the second
application for the use Of the Hall for the
purpose specified, was granted by The mu-
nicipal authorities. On Friday morning
last one of the largest audiences, 1t is said,
erty" met agreeably to previous notice.
After the meeting wus organized DR..
Claiming rose and stated the object of the
meeting and his own connection with the
original call of it, and expressed his sur
prise and regret that the motives which
prompted the call had been so greatly mis-
apprehended, and msrepresented. He ex-
pressed hope that he was not out Of his
place in advocating priucipl on which the
whole framework of society rested, and
without which neither life nor property could
be safe. He thought the proceedings of
this meeting, coming from this place, sa-
cred to liberty, would not be without effect
upon the world.-It was not improbable
that they would cross the ocean, and form
a part of The enduring records of the city.
Mr.. B. +. Hallett then read set Of reso-
lutions, holding forth in strong but peril
nent language, the relation which all citi-
zens bear to the constitution and laws-the
rights which those instruments guarantee
as inalenable-and the duty of the whole
people to rally round and support them.
The resolutions were opposed by Gen.
James Il. Austin, the Attorney General of
the Commonwealth, on the ground that
there was no necessity Of passing them at
this time. He then plead false issue, by
dragging in the slavery question and mis-
stating the facts relative to the Alton trage-
dy, and by instituting odious comparisons.
His remarks are represented as calculated
to raise mob spirit, if there was any pres
ent, but happily there was not, or but very
little.
Gen. Austin was answered and the reso-
lutions advocated by several gentlemen, aud
they were passed by large majority-a
very few persons only voting in the mega
tive.
The Boston Times, from which we
have collected the above particulars, states
that the resolutions would probably have
passed without dissenting voice, if Gen.
Austin had withheld his remarks.
The following are the resolutions referred
to. They are undoubtedly from the pen
of DR.. Channiug.-
Resolved, That oar civil and religious
liberties, which have come down to Us from
our fathers, sealed with their blood, are u
most precious bequest, and that when liber-
ty is invaded, this consecrnted hall is the
chosen spot where its friends should meet
together to pledge themselves to its support.
Resolved, That we are assembled here
to assume the bad ge of no party, to mar.
row ourselves tn no local or temporary
interests, but to maintain the supremacy of
the laws and to give expression and supper,
to those universal principles of justice and
freedom on which popular institutions and
the hopes of philanthropy rest.
Resolved, That it has pleased God to
commit to ihls people, above all others, the
cause of human freedom that we are call
ed to the high office of manifestng the
power of free institutions to ennoble and
bless people and that in proving false to
this trust, we shall not only cast away our
own happiness, but shall betray the inter-
ests of the human race, and shall deserve
the coudomning sentence of all ages and Of
future times.
Resolved, That to offer violence to the
rights of the citizen in a free country, where
these rights are understood and recognised
and taken under the protection of the laws,
is a more heinous crime and of more fatal
influence, than the expressions of absolute
hereditary power.
Resolved, That among our rights, we
hold none more dear than the freedom of
speech and the press, that we look 10 this
as the guardian of all other rights, and the
chief spring of human improvements; so
that to wrest it from the citizen, by violence
aud murder, is to inf1ict the deepest wound
on the republic.
Resolved, That by the ordination OF
Providence we are passing through stage
of society, in which principles and institu-
tions are subjected to the severest scrutiny !;
and that, in such u period, earnest conflicts
of opinion cannot be escaped, and ought to
be cheerfully endured as inseperable from
the exercise of a privilege which is essen
tial to the progress and best interests of The
human race.
Resolved, That it is the fundamental
idea of the freedom of speech and the press
that the citizen shall be protected from vio-
lence, in uttering sentiments opposed to
those which prevail around him; that if