Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-02-22
PUBLIC MEETING IN ELIZABETH CITY coUN


PUBLIC MEETING IN ELIZABETH CITY CoUN-
TY.
Alta large and respectable meeting Of The peo-
ple OF Elizabeth county, Virginia, held puISndn!
10 public notice, in Hampton on The lO.h oi FED
ruaIy;
Booker Esq, was called 10 Inc Cnaif, ana Ar
drew B. MCLEAN, Esq. appointed secretary.
On motion Of John B. Cary E,q, Commit
nee Of FIVE was appointed by The chair 10 report
resolutions expressive OF the sense Of The meeting.
The Committee consisting OF the Hon. Fran
els Mallory, John B. Cary, Kennon Whiting,
jos. Phillips and Jefferson Z. Phillips, having
retired Tor a short time returned and reported
through their chairman, The Hon. Francis Mallo-
r. The following resolutions which were unani-
mously adopted:
/ Resolved, That inasmuch as large num-
her 81 the Southern Delegates in Congress have
| adnouished their constituents IN "ihe most I'M
| ofessiyc and solemn torn, that Northern agsrts-
sion and rncroachment have reached a point
where a regard tor our peace and safely Will mol
hermit them 10 remain longer sIienl ana mas
mpcb as the Lesi>lalureo Virginia has declared
!, 10 Re lhc du.y Of the citizens oil The slavehold.
! inc States lc lake nrm, uncd AID concerted ac-
non in this emergency:" We, portion oi The
| southern people, have assembled here 10 respond
| 10 hess appeals, and TO express our feelings and
onnions in relation TO his vita subject
| 2. Thai composed as this mecnlng is, OF oo'h
ma rlies il is unnecessary 10 tisclam any lnien-
lion on our part 10 ag ale the question OF slavery,
with view 10 political effect, here or ELSEWHERE.
2 That we condemn the effor o. certain par
| iran ed;tots in he Stat. III convert Inc events
growing GU, oil this movement ol our representa-
lives. into political capital for their respective
par,ie.: and that SUCH course IS calculated, we
briieyr. to do more injury 10 our cause man inc
| combined attacks OF al The abo!iionisls OF every
hue and grade, throughout The broad limits ofthis
| Union.
4. Tina! We cordially approve Tie resolutions ion
| .dor,ed Nv The Virginia Legislature, 81 The 2uth
nj January iasl; and pledge ourselves 10 take
| whatever ac;Dn may b. necessary TO su'iain me
co.,rion. ,lrIcjn assumed in relation u his mat
Ter.
5. Tha, VIC regard the CONDUIT OF The non
siayeholcing States IN defeating the provision OF
he Constitution TOR he recovery oil lusi'iVe
slaves, as mosi aaerant breach oil aiIh ana vlo-
alon OF one Of the so.ern pledges "hich inJG'-
81 he Southern States 10 become members oi lie
Fedora Government
s Tha, The passage q. ac's 10y Virginia anc
other SUuhera States t. project Their ci1ztns y.
violating he revenue laws OF Congress, ~oul!
Il. no greater Outrage on Northern interests or q
more reckless breach oil pIelscs gwen by tnem
10 the other members OF The Union, IN forming
our Fe:era compact, than IS 10 I've iouna IN me
tacr mat there exist in New York, Massacnr-
sens Vermont. PENNSYLVANIA, and other North
ern SAFES, lesis alive enacimen's Gesigne: 10 rem
der abofIye all Efforts on he part II The Southern
| people to regain their fugitive slaves-enact-
mems, which The highest Judicial tribunals 81
| he country, speaking through Northern JUICES,
have denounced, a. being al WIZ win tns !etef
and Shirt OF the Constitution, and III corflci win
| hose COMPROMISES referred 10 by Hamilton,
Ames, Pinckney and Randolph, as forming The
very corner stone OF The Union"
7 That whether this faithtuness on their part,
be the result OF legislative enaetmen, or not, the
practical mischief 10 US is the samej and that
sin &C they do not uphold our rights thus guaran-
tied in the Constitution OF the uni.ed oiaies they
canno, complain il we make them responsible
ter The acs II Inc fanatics within their DoToels.
| $. "That The passage by Congress, oil any ac'
abolishIns slavery or the slave lrade IN me DIS
| ricr OF Columbia or any &C. which should di
! recty or indirectly prevent the citizens oi any
| Stale from emisratine with their slaves INTO The
territory OF New Mexico and California, VIII be
direct attack On The institutions OF The South
which ,re riL resist a. all hazards and II The last
ezt,cm3ty.'
9. That il is because we love the Union and
Justly appreciate lis value. that we ale ANXIOUS 70
see the North pause in lis career, anc ahop'
! line OF policy ina, may lead 10 an amicaoie and
| inst settlement OF this unhappy conflict; ou
should other counsels prevail, and the Soutnern
PEOPLE be called upon 10 stand form as The guar
dams OF their properly and sale'y, we taHe occa
sion 10 say 10 the citizens oil Inc NORM, MAJ Us
are ready and ecl fully allie, Snaaded and alone
| 10 defend ourselves, in any and every emergency
m
| eo.aIitv OF other States as members OF The con
;ederacy, no earthly consideration, lei The con:e
4 ouepces b. what they may, can induce su5'nis
sion on our part to The political degradation hello
out 10 us By Northern Representatives, ia lhei
I late proceedings in Congress.
IL. That we fully appreciate The advantage:
| OF The Union and mean 10 continue the oosei'
vance of that good faith towards our sister States
| which has hitherto characterized our conduct; bu
we beg The citizens oil the North 10 lei US and oul
pecuIar institutions alone; and 10 bear in mind
that the law of seli-preseIyation the frst law
! OF nature" England presumed TOO much on ID,
forbearance Of the colonies; and the North, sohe'
lis too ia,c may discover that patience, unde
repea,ed injury and iosult will be no longer prac
Used by the Southern people.
These resolutions were ably sustained by DR.
| Mallory and adopted without dissenting voice
On motion of Dr.. Mallory, j; was
Resolved, That these proceedings &c puolisnet
in the Norfolk and Richmond papers, friendly L
| Southern interests.
| On motion Of John B. Cary, ii was
Resolved, That copy OF these resolutions D
torwardedto our Representatives IN Congress an'
the Legislature of Virginia.
On motion. he meeting adjourned.
GEORGE BOOKER, Chairman.
1 A. B, MCLEAN, Secretary.