Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-09-08
PUBLIC MEETING ATEDGEFIELD
COURT HOUSE,

COU1I 1OUSE,
According TO previous notice given 10
the Advertiser, a large number Of The CHI
zens Of this District, met in the Court
| House, when on motion the Hon, N. l..
GRIFFIN, was called TO the chair. and w.
". Adams and Geo. A. addison, were
requested to act as Secretaries.
The Chairman then in few brief and
pertinent remarks explained the object o!
the meeting, after which F. II. Wardlaw,
Esq, moved that committee Of twenty
one be appointed by the chair, 10 prepare
a report and resolutions for the copslde.
ration Of the meeting,
The Chairmen then appointed f. III.
Wardaw, Daniel Holland, Benjamin G.
Yancey. A. b. Addison, Oliver Towles,
Arthur Simkins, J, P. Carol, Charles
Hammond, NJ. Gray, Geo. Boswell, Jno,
.2Holmes, Abram Jones, Tilman Wat.
sou, James Sheppard, James Tompkins,
Wyatt Hulmes, LII. Mundy, John o.
Nicholson, AlbcrtJ. Rambo, Henry ii.
Hill and Julius Day. The Commitlee
then retired, and Col: a. p. Aldrich, ,-or
Bnrnwell, who was present, by request,
was called on to address The meeting, and
responded lin a very able and eloquent
|Emanner,s in a detail of Interesting facts,
showing -tilesunionEof!the abolilionisls. and
dhe ultimate object of the WlLMOT
PEs0YISO ~;
T he Committee OF twenty -one, through
their Chairman, then submitted the follow:
ing Report and Resolutions.
Within the last few months, there has
been exhibited, among the non slave
holding States Of this contederacy settled
hostility to the institutions of the slave.
holding States, well calculated TO alarm
them for their safety and security, and lo
arrest the serious attention of patriotic cit
izens, from every section of the country,
who feel sincere desire fur the harmony
of the States and the stability Of the
UNION. This sentiment of hostility has
not been confined, as for long time it
seemed to be, to the violent expressions of
irresponsible popular meetings, for the
single, but wicked purpose Of agitation (,
nor 10 the free and offensive publications
from presses established by blind and
restless fanatics. 1t has assumed IA more
deliberate and determined form, evincing
tile design of sovereign commonwealths,
and Of Congress itself, to interfere with
the Institution of slavery as ii was recog-
nized and secured under the guarantees Of
the federal compact, or as 1t has been, FOR
long time allowed 10 exist under AMIGA
BILE compromises, that were though ht, al the
time they were enlered into, 10 be sacred
and inviolable.
Ten sovereign States, in the space of
one month, and in rapid succession, sent TO
Congress, through their Senators and Rep.
resentatives, resolutions OF, one uniform and
apparently concerted import, to wit :stig-
rnaliziag slavery as sin and a blishting
political evil, at.d urging upon Congress
the duty ot arresiing its progress, by ex-
c!riiag ;he saysholding community from
al payUcira,ioa u the occupation aud, en-
igyWcnl of ,he public domain. hearafter 10
be acqaIret by treaty or otherwise.
These resolutions, were no doubt in
sa...s measure, uggesled by the Wilmot
Proviso, asis is termed, and are TO be re-
garted as solemn approvals of its policy
The proposition involved in that proviso,
is nothing more nor less Than this, that all
the lerri!orythat may be acquired unter
treaty with Mexico, and which it is as
sumed will be acquired at The termination
of the war, is TO be set apart for the use
and settlement Of the uon-slaveholdius
portion Of the conleleracy. TO The exclusion
of the South. In other terms, that terri
tory that shall be Obtained by joint exer.
,inns aud contributions, is 10 be parcelled
OFF TO one sci ofinhabilants to the exclusion
of another class. This discrimination
evinces preference for one class by pre-
supposiug rhe degradation Of The other.
How has Congress met the proposition :!
The facr tha, it has received the sanction
of one branch of the Federal Legislature
by settled majority. who are likely 10
perseyere in their determination, is a fear.
full answer to the question. 1t tisa distinct
and alarming advertisement Of coming
events. These are not The only evidences
of growing hostility 10 southern inslltu'
lions. Pennsylvania has, by a statute,
deprived owners of Slaves, within the linn
its Of her territory Of all the advantages Of
one oflhe articles of The, Federal Consli-
tuition. II is expressly provided in that
instrument that a person held to service III
one State escaping into another State,