The southern press., 1850-10-07

such indefensible and Immoral ground, and risk
its whole internal safety for the power Of cap
turing those escaped fnp1 tA bPpdage. But
sooner than have the streets Of our cities made
the hunting ground for the SLAYER, and the VIII
lage on our northern Nils laid open to the tra-
der in human beings, that he may tear from
them the men and the women who have made
themselves homes therc-the South might begin
its secession tomorrow. In a Union for such
robbery we will not have part. No such result
however, as we have said is to be anticipated
The law which has been enacted will remain
we are confident, substantially imperative. Ex-
cept in rare and isolated cases it will not be
executed. And while those who voted for its
passage are marked men henctorth in the poiiti-
cal world, and may have leisure to pursue their
studies at home, the law which they have assisted
to enact--disgraceful rs it is to the national
statute book-wil be mainly important as the
memorial of their shame"
| In another article in the same journal, still
more impassioned in its tone, the penalties en-
acted by the law against those " no afford hos
ptaity to the fugitive slave, are thus deted
with such solemn convictions, no law, i'm
pous, infdel to God and humanity, shall have
respect or observance at our hands. We desire
no collision with il. We shall not rashly dash
upon it. We shall not attempt rescue, Cor
interrupt the officers, if they do not interrupt us.
We prefer to labor peaceabiy for its early re-
! peal, meanwhile saving from its mercies jaws
as many victims as we can. But in those prov-
sions which respect ad to fugitives, may God
! do so to us, yea and more also, il we do not
| spurn it rs we would any other mandate of Sa-
tan.-lf, in Gods Providence fugitives ask
/ bread or shelter, raiment or conveyance, Mt our
hands, my own children shall lack bread before
they my own flesh shall sting with cold ere
they shall lack rament ] will both shelter
them, conceal them, or speed their flight and
while under my shelter, or under my convoy.
they shall be to me as my own flesh and blood;
and whatsoever defence would put forth for
my own children, that shall these poor, despised
and prosecuted creatures have in my house or
upon tie road.--The man who shall betray a
fellow creature to bondage, who shall obey this
law to the peril of his soul, and to the loss of
his manhood, were he brother, son, or father,
shall never polute my hand with grasp of hi
deous friendship, or east his swarthy shadow
across my threshold For such service to
those whose helplessness and poverty make
them peculiarly Gods children, shall cheerful
ly take the pains and penalties of this bill"
| For the Southern Press
DIENvILLE PARISH, La, Sept. II, 1850.
| Great gathering Of The people IN the cause Of
|
CounciI-moderate resolutions - frmness of
| Leir norers--lhe LddieS--fte crops, ,oeother,
dc. dc.
| GENTLEMEN AS matters of much moment
are transpiIng in this quarter of the State, use
the opportunity of the first mail, to send you an
account Of them.
Agreeable to call made by public meeting
at Mount Lebanon in this parish, on the Goth
of August, for public meeting and free barba.
c,ie the people assembled, without distinction o!
party, at that place, on the l4th OF September, to
take council upon the questions which now agi.
tate the country. Union, Ouachita, Jackson
Bossicr, Caddo, and Claiborne parishes were
represented the numbers in attendance being
variously estimated at from 1000 to 1000.
Unscrupulous and active opposition was made
to the meeting, from its first suggestion, unit
its final close, by certain persons who aspire t.
lead the public mind, by keeping it in ignorance
Every artifice and argument which ingenuity
could command, were put in requisition, and
false statements, as to the objects and designs OF
the projectors of the measure, industrioussy cir.
culated throughout the country, and used rs 4
means for preventing the people coming together
Gentlemen who had been invited to address the
meeting, instead of responding to the letters OF
invitation sent by the committee appointed fo
that purpose, placed themselves in association
with individuals who had opposed the meeting
from its inception, and who were not in the cor
idencc nor informed Of the designs of its sup
porters, and came prepared TO oppose resolutions
which they imagined were to be offered. Wher
the meeting had assembled, efforts were made
to prevent its organization, unless in the hands
of the opposition.
The meeting having at length organized by
calling MATTHIAS ARDS, esq. to preside, and ap
| md
Poets, Vice Presidents, and William j. Black
burn, esq, Secretary, a motion was made for Tho
appointment of a committee to report resolutions
to the meeting. Even this was opposed, on tht
ground that they could never agree upon any
resolutions whic would be acceptable to tht
meeting. Those who had gotten up the meeting
kept their council and maintained their position
with much frmness and at the stage of proceed
inys now reached, offered series of resolutions
which had been prepared to be submitted to the
proposed committee, (tbe same which were ul;i-
mately adopted and copy of which is herewith
despatched) These resolutions were under de-
bate until late in the day, and finally adopted
unanimously.
The time was principally occupied by the OPP
position. Only two speeches VERY short oDes)
were made in favor of the resolutions. One OF
the submisSionia speakers went so far as to say
Government, in every event. He owed no ale
glance to Lousiana-his allegiance was due TO
the Federal Government, only!
| Nothing could change the sentiments of the
people there assembled. They were prepared
to receive much stronger resolutions than were
offered but the leading men in this movement
deemed those adopted sufficiently strong This
was the first move of the kind in this State and
it was designed that the ball should receive its
first impulse from a single force-that unani-
nous vote should put forth the first note of the
summons to resist.
| have heard of similar meetings talked of in
Jackson and Bossier parishes, and no doubt but
that other parishes will roll or the ball.
| | must not omit to mention the ladies who
Graced the occasion, of whom there were near
| two hundred in attendance; nor the excellent
and abundant repast, served upon the occasion.
| Mans breast may sometimes, alas harbor n era
vensoul; but such find no sympathy in the women
of Louisiana. Their smiles are only bestowed
| upon the brave who dare TO be free.
Tho .oft<,u crau viI bo ahout 1 10 I eborf