The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-16
From the Jacksonville Gala Republican.

..a. ..... Id. .s.. OXFORD, Is. {. ALA.
Pursuant to previous notice, n portion of the
citizens of Benton and Talladega counties as
sembled Mt Oxford, in Benton county, on Satur-
day the 9Th day Of October, for the purpose of
taking into consideration the late action of Con-
gress in relation to the subject of slavery: VIM.
Cunningham, esq. was called to preside over the
meeting, and +. 5. Simmons appointed Secre-
tary. The Chairman, in brief, though very
forcible manner, explained the objects of the
meeting, after which, on motion, Samuel Me-
Clerkin, J. l.. NJ. Curry and T. g. Mattison We're
appointed Committee to prepare resolutions
for the meeting; who, (hating retired n short
time) presented TO the meeting the following
resolutions:
Resoieed, That in the present state of public
affairs, it becon!es the imperative duty OF every
citizen freely and frankly to avow his opinions,
that his friends may know what he is prepared
to approve, ard our enemies, what he is prepared
TO resist.
Resoircd, That the recent settlement by Con-
gross of the agitating questions connected with
the institution of slavery, evinces determination
and settled purpose on the part of a Northern
Abolition majority, to impose burdens and evils,
as long as they will be borne by the South.
ResOlred, That the admission of California is
a fragrant outrage upon our rights and pro-
perty-a bold attempt to acquire political
power-subversive of the rights of the South
ern States, and a practical but indirect and
odious adoption of the principles and objects Of
the Wimot Proyiso.
Resolped That the votes Of the Northern
Representatives against the Fugitive Slave
biIl"-the only measure of the mis- called com
promise that affected shoao of justice to the
South; the increasing efforts to abolish sla.
very MS well as the sale of slaves in the District
of Columbia, and acts Of like significance, are
evidence conclusive, that there is no disposition
OIL the part of our Northern brethren to relax
their aggressions or cease their wrongs. -.
Res0leed, That this Government was origi-
naly Contederary Of equal States-that this
Union, existing, only in and through the Con
stitution, was designed for the equal protection
Of all the States and when that equality is lost
or that protection withheld, it becomes the duty
Of every State to decide for hel self upon the
mode and measure of redress. s.
Resolred That we are citizens Of this Gov
ernmcnt only by virtue Of our citizenship in
Alabama that our first allegiance is due to the
State of Alabama, and whatever course she
pursues or policy she adopts, we are bound by
her laws and obedieht to her requests.
Resolred, That we regard that degradation,
insult, inequality, injury, outrage and aggression
as an infinitely greater evil than the dissolution
of this Union.
Resotred, That the cause of the South is our
cause the preservation of our property is para
mount to party :scendcncy or party triumph,
and we are willing in future to know no party,
which does not seek to restore to the South her
lost rights and wounded honor.
Resolued, That the Southern States should
foster and encourage direct trade between their
own and foreign ports instead of being depen-
dent upon the North for carrying the articles
which are consumed among us.
ReSolred, That we recommend the . Southern
Press" published at Washington city, to the
public patronage, as an able and Independent
advocate of the constitutional rights Of the
South.
J. L. NJ Curry, esq, addressed the meeting in
favor of the resolutions. We would like ve"y
much 20 present Mr. Currys speech, entire, to
the public but are not able to do so. We came
TO the conclusion, that any man who, having
heard this speech, would still cry "pcncc! be
STILL "put down agitation" must have been
born in a colder cline than this. He took up
the subject of Northern aggression upon the
rights Of the South and traced it from its com
mencemcnt down to the present time, showing
n firm, fixed and settled determination on the part
of the Northern States to abolish the institution
of negro slavery throughout the United States.
He then portrayed with a master hand, the cen
sequences that must inevitably result to the
South (and especially to the poor Iaborng class)
from the accomplishment of this nefarious design
The resolutions were then rut to vote separately
ard each and every one Of them unanimously
adopted.
On motion, IL tcas resolrod, That the proceed
ings of the meeting be signed by the chairman
and secretary, and published in the Jacksonville
Republican,, with a request to the T"llad"gH
Wntchtower, Southern Press at Washington
and other papers friendly to the cause Of the
South, to publish.
On motion, the meeting adjourned.
WIN. CUNNINGHAM, Chairman.
E. S. SIMMONS, SecretdTy.
E The New York Tribune explains tho
recent elections in Ohio in the article we sub