The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-02-28
PIJBLIC MEETING.

I'm pursiauce of previous nniicr, a PnnHc
meeting was held al the Court House, Tor the
p,,rpuse Of taking some action. in ret"renc" 10
the abolition movements IN Congress and IN"
Northern States of this Union.
On motion, Col. Wm. B. Parker was ca lrd
., ,b,. Chair, and Geo. ". Fish ami James VI.
Green n;;:.::ointrd Secretaries.
Col. Chapprl! then, al tn" request ~ '"t
Chairman. mad, an eruo>itina Of the "hrcts "t
III. meeting and ct the necessity of a concerto"
and energetic acinn hy the Southern STATES !"
reference to the dangers that now thr'a'e"
their most important interests and the coHt'nn'
anc. of the Union itself.
The following Preamble and krs"iu'i"ns
were then reported by WIN. II. Anderson
Eso.. chairman of the subcommittee, OF the
committee of 10, appointed by the previous
meeting.
Whereas, Il is, and has, long been the prac.
tice OF a portion of our Northern b'e'h'en' u"
aid in the escape and final emancipation ot tu-
oi,;ve slaves, and To refuse to deliver UP such
slaves, when demanded hy the owner. but, on
the contrary, to preven, their recovery, in direct
con,raven,ion Of the express requirements OF
the constitution And whereas, an effort Will
be made during the present session OF Con
gress, to abolish slavery and the slave trade IN
the District of Columbia; And Whereas 1t is
the avowed purpose of North 'rn MAJORITY To
prevent by restrictive laws, the emigration o'
southern shareholders, with their property, in'o
Territory which is the common property "l the
no,nle of all the States; all which measures
we hold to he illegal and unjust. threatening the
peace and harmony Of the conlederacy, and
even menacing the existence OF our cherished
Union itself, il pressed to their consu'nma'I""'
Now therefore. we the people of Blhh county,
| IMPRESSED with deep sense oi the Importance
of temperate and wise. hut firm and decided
co,lnsels in the emergency, do Resolve
1t. That any and all laws. enacted ny The
non sIaveholding States, the object or effect, OF
which is to prevent the recovery OF l'igI'ive
slaves by their righlGil owners, are Palpan'e
violation of The constitutional compact OF Union
between these States.
2nd. That any interference ny Congress-,
either directly or indirectly, with the institution
of slavery, either in the District of Columbia or
in any of the States of this Coniedcracy. is un'
constitutional and ought to be resisted.
3d. That the government of the Territories
was committed 10 Congress, by the C"ntt'tn.
lion. as agent or trustee for the benefit OF all
the States, whose common property they are
and that Congress has no right to manag" the
trust. subject for the benefit OF onr party in M
trrest To- the dctrirnent Of another The pas
sage therefore, of any law by the general 90
vernment by which slavery shall be in'erd'c''d'
in any Territory now belonging or which may
hereafter, belong to the United States. we df.
nounce ms an unjust discrimination in favor o
one norton Of The conf.drracy and against
another, as a fragrant usurpa'i"n OF power and
wan,on abuse of the trust confled' to 't'
charge.
4,h. That we feel deep abiding and devoted
attachment to the union of the States ot Tins
Confaderacy. and cherish the confident hope
iba, the moderate and conservative and patriotic
of all parties and all sections, will unite the''
efforts with ours to arrest the fell spirit OF ia
ua,ieism and folly, which would rend it asun
der. We can, therefore, only consent to '''
dissolution when its expressions shall become
too great for redress and too grievous tor sui
ferance. ., axis.
5,h. That if in disregard of every principle
Of Justice, of constitutional righ, and of irater
nal feeling. the fearful iss''r shall he forced
upon the country, which must result from th'
Iadoption by Congress of the "iIm0t PF0s''o