The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1840-07-02
Afr. BrOwn-


1fr. Bromn-
There appeared in your paper of the
23d ultimo, over the signature of ''Euca
Justice" communication in regard to a
meeting held by the citizens of this county,
on the 9th of April last. As it relates to
the people generally, 1t probably deserves a
passing notice from them. The writer ad-
mits in the outset, that the meeting was
large and respectable, and composed of
both political parties. Such was the fact /;
and it is a matter of congratulation that no
dscordant notes mingled in their delibera-
tons;- "a chord had been touched which
aroused their sympathies as one man. But
one sentiment animated their breasts, and
that was the most indignant feeling of alb
horrence and detestation for the heartless
individual who, under the plea that the lar
sanctioned it, would, in times like these, ex-
tort from his unfortunate, but perhaps honest
debtor, gold and silver-and that too IN pay
ment for debts contracted under an inflated
and redundant paper currency. The writer
goes on to express his opinion that ''it must
ever be source of heartfelt regret to those
who are disposed to regard the law as para
mount to all opposition, that they should
have felt themselves called upon thus pub
llciy, in defiance of law, to give their sane
ton to measures, which under some clrcum-
stances, might have led to violence and
bloodshed." If he only means to advance
the idea that the necessity which prompted
the people to act as they did, is to be regret
ted, then we agree with him; for certainly
it is much to be lamented and deprecated
that such an exigency should ever arise.
But If the writer means to intimate that the
meeting, or those who composed it, acted
unworthily of themselves or of the occasion,
then he does them great injustice; for their
course has received not only the approval Of
their own ''sober second thought" but has
been confirmed by all whom we have seen
that were absent at the time.
We wish it borne in mind that this meet
ing was gotten up without concert or previ-
Gus understanding. 1t being the day upon
which our Police and Probate Courts were
IN session, many were in attendance on
these accounts-some probably had come
on other business, disconnected with either.
Be this as it may, we have rarely seen as
many assembled from any combination of
circumstances rs were on that day, entering
into conversation freely with each other
upon the all-absorbing topic of the day, to-
wit: the unreasonable and unjust demands
and exactions of foreign creditors unon our
citizens for gold and silver. They discov-
cred that large portion of them held in
private but one opinion. Satisfied of this,
they felt 1t their prerogative, in fact their
duty, to give public expression to that opin-
ion. They did not pretend to defend their
proceedings upon the ground of their strict
conformity to the aUritten letter of the lac,
but urged their propriety upon the immuta-
BILE and no less imperative obligations of
justice and humanity. No attempt whatev-
er was made to produce excitement-no
popular declaimer sought, by an eloquent
appeal to their sympathies, to inflame the
public mind. 1t is true the resolutions were
spirited. They could not be otherwise
They were however submitted without com
ment, and adopted unanimously-and we
would here assert the belief that they
breathe the spirit of nearly every man who
feels that he possesses an identity of inte-
rest with this community. Already have
the people tacitly adopted and endorsed
them as their own; and we have no doubt,
could a meeting be called tomorrow that
would congregate en- masse the citizens of
this county, that nine-tenths would give to
these resolutions their firm and unwavering
support.
The writer intends to be very witty when
he says that ssthe time has not arrived lat
least in this county, when it is imperative on