The Rodney telegraph., 1840-05-23

published the proceedings OF large ana
respectable meeting, of both political par
ties. held at the courthouse in Jefferson
county, on the 9Th ult. for the purpose OF
adopting and enforcing the performance OF
sundry spirited resolutions, the objects oi
which were to prevent the sale OF property
when offered By the sheriff or marshal Tor
gold or silver, unless the same should bring
at public auction, two-thrds of IFS appraised
value. That the citizens of this county
should have deemed such meeting neces-
sary--that they should have felt themselves
called upon thus publicly, and in dehance
of law, to give their sanction to measures
that might, under some circumstances, have
led TO scenes of violence and bloodshed,
must ever be u source of heartfelt regret 10
those who are disposed TO regard the law as
paramount to all individual oppos ton, and
who are willing to abide lis decision, al
though in so doing their property and for
tune will be required 10 satisfy the demands
of Justice. If the laws were not created Tor
the purpose of protecting usln our rights
and liberties, better, far better for US would
it be, TO destroy the political BINDS of con-
nection by which we have for more than
half century been united in brotherhood,
and resolve the body polite at once into
state Of lawless anarchy, or primitive tree
dom-by which let me be understood as
meaning nothing more than freedom from
those restraints which law often imposes
but which to us has become necessary for
the safety Of our property and the we'll
being of society.
The time has not arrived, (at least in this
county, when it is imperative on the people
to resolve themselves into committee OF
The whole on the state of the Union. Suffi-
cient wealth and ample resources are st.ll in
store to relieve our citizens from all embar
rassment and that too, without having re-
course 10 meetings, and adopting resolutions
pledging that we will, sat all hazards" re-
sist the lust administration of the law, unless
the law should be such as would release us
from present distress, and guarantee the fu
ture peaceable possession of our property,
to the manifest detriment of the honest
creditor.
If the moral sense Of the community is
not sufficient TO prevent oppression-if we
are so lost to all feelings of humanity, and
dead to that sympathy which the sufferings
of fellow citizen should inspire in every
noble and generous breast, then indeed may
resort be had to those measures of violence
and injustice proposed by the resolutions
referred to-then may we frown down, or
intimdate by threats of chastisement, those
whose prudence and industry have placed
in their hands the means of buying, proba
bly, at a sacrifice, property which cost the
owner, in a promise to pay, large amount
Of money.
But how will these resolves sound abroad
v hat will be The credit of our citizens, and
what guarantee will those have for future
reimbursement, who may be actuated by
motives of kindness, or with view of gain
in extending accommodations to them, paya
BILE on time? Sir, our credit will be pros
trated, and the faith of IA Misslssippian's pro
mise will be bye-word in the mouth O
every man; and those who have claim
against us may put the I'm up TO the highes
bidder, and if not driven from the stand b,
threats, may possibly realize one-tenth c
the nominal value Of this "promse to pay.
Besides all this, look at the injury poss
bly, inflicted upon the innocent and unsus
pecting creditor-for it must be borne
mind, that we once enjoyed an almost vi
limited credit and confidence abroad. Fl
may be as deeply involved in embarras.
ment, and have the same horror Of banI
ruptcy and ruin, which now stares US in III
face, but be destitute of those means
avoiding the payment of his debts, whc
are found so convenient and necessary Wi
us. HIS debt must be pGid-and to US
looks for the means of satisfying his pres
ing demands. He has sold US his property
probably such articles of consumption as
may not be convenient nor profitable for
to produce, and has been assured that prom
payment would be made. Possibly, aft
the first failure to redeem that pledge,