Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-11-29
crco. Un,on Mee,,n. IN I.n,lad.lphla.

Philadelphia Museum The Pennsylvania est
mates the number present at ten thousand The
call for the meeting signed by GEORGE M. DAL-
LAS, and from the list of signatures should judge
that all the "rest of mankind" had followed his
example. The meeting organized by appointing
JOHN SERGEANT President, and Gen. r. M. PATTER-
SON Vice President The resolutions were presented
by Mr.. DALLAS, who prefaced them with some elo-
quent remarks He alluded to the benefits conferred
by the Union-to the rapid growth of the country,
and its vast increase in population, wealth. and ter
ritory-reviewed the acts of the late Congress-de-
Tended the justice and constitutionaly of the fugi-
tive slave law and the necessity of enforcing its pro-
visions in good faith. Upon this point Mr. DALLAS
says al believe, fellow-citzens as firmly that
am standing in your presence that upon the faith
full adherence to the obligations of the constitution
upon this great point depends either the Union or
peace of America know, and we all know, the
power of numbers to enforce the Union but Heaven
defend us from so terrible resort as that-Heaven
defend us from enforcing it with consciousness of
wrong in our breast against injured fellow-cit-
zens under the same government The resolutions
are as follows:
81. Resolved, That the constitution of the United
States, which wisely framed for the purpose eff
establishing a more perfect union and to
the blessings of liberty to unborn generations has
fulfilled the objects of the patriots who assembled in
convention in the and on behalf of the people
of the United States, and is entitled to the
ton and support of their 'posterity'
80. ResolUed, That in succeeding to the guardian
ship of liberty and the Union, which achieved
by the blood of our fathers, we have inherited an
obligation to preserve them unSarnished together;
and it would be equally base to forfeit the national
independence and to fail in allegiance to the nation
al Union.
"3 Resolred, That the care of the Union is
sanctifed trust and ought to be dear every Amer
lean; but those citizens especially its guardians
who, standing the spot where independence was
declared, where the constitution framed, and
where the Union was rendered more perfect
stimulated to it's preservation and find additional
motives for the exercise of that pious duty in
rounding memorials of the past and here on the
very ground upon which heroic ancestors devot-
ed themselves to their country, to the
same cause the pledges which they once gave and
gloriOusy redeemed of our lives, fortur g, and
our sacred honor
a Resolred That the constitution provides that
persons held service labor in State, under
the laws thereof escaping into another shall be de-
ivered up claim of the party to whom such SER
vice or labor may be DUE For many years State
legislation contributed to carry this constitu-
tional provision into effect When State legislation
was repealed, duty devolved upon Congress to sup
ply its place, and it has been discharged in contor
nifty to fundamental law and the enactments it
nation.
''5. Resolved, That our countrymen are law abid-
ing people. They delegate to chosen representatives
the Congress of the United States powers of legs
laton limited by the constitution; and they repose
confidence in the acts of majority commensurate
with the character of a republican government
When individuals array themselves against the exc
cution of laws thus enacted, and, by so DOING tram
pie upon the rights of the whole people, they
guilty of at least moral treason and it is the solemn
dntU of tho OnoDln In in their O1oIaStV and
by carrying out the regular proceedings of their rep
resentatives, TO vINDICATE THE SUPREMACY AND THE
SOVEREIGNTY OF THE LAW.
sc. RESOLVED, That so much of the act of assem-
bly, of Pennsylvania as forbids any officers of the
Commonwealth from giving effect to any act of Con-
gress respecting persons escaping from service in
other States and provides penalties for taking cog
nzance jurisdiction of the case of any such fug
tive ought to be at the earliest possible moment
pealed
81. Resolved, That further agitation of the sub
ect of slavery which has heretofore promoted Meth
er the welfare of the slave the of enamel
PATTON be productive of nothing but evil 1t has
been adjusted by Congress, and, with that adjust
ment, it should be permitted, in our estimation, to
rest.
49, RESOLVED, That the permancnce and stability
of the Union are endangered by the oicious inter
ference of anatica and disloyal spirits in
that do not belong to them.
go RESOLVED, That the series of statutes enacted
were passed in a spirit of patriotism and judicious
compromise; than they are in no respect adeparturt
from the constitution and that it is the obliga
ton SO it ought to be the desire Of every citizen
the republic manfully to sustain them"
The resolutions were received with loud and re
peated cheers.
Mr. JOSIAH RANDALL followed. He defended tn
fugitive slave law as being in accordance with tn
constitution and the law of nations. MIR. RANDALL
denounced the wilful harboring of slave g
grave offence, in morals as we'll as in law
JOSEPH r. INGERsoLL (Whig member of Congress
rdiculed secession and the complaints of the Sout
as idle and frivolous Still he thought the law ough
to be obeyed
Hon. RICHARD RUSH, and JAMES PAGE and IsAA
HAzLEHuRsT, Esqs., next addressed the meeting i
favor of the resolutions and urged obedience to til
constitution and its guarantees as the only mode
preserving the peace and Union of the country. Lei
tiers to the same effect were received from Hons Hen
I RY CLAY, DANIEL WEBSTER, DANIEL DICKINSON, JA
BUCHANAN, JAMES COOPER, and R. ]. WALKER, lat
8 Secretary of the Treasury. We make the followin
extract from the able and eloquent letter of MI
r BUCHANAN He says:
Let us then resolve to put down agitation at tt
North the slave question, by the force OF enlgh
ened public opinion, and faithfully execute the pr
<, visions of the fugitive slave law Should this
done, it will eventually extnguish those geograph
cal parties-so dangerous to the Union and so muC
dreaded by the Father of his cOuntry-whlch hay
.. sprung into existence it will amellorate the cond
ID tion of the slaves, by enabling their masters to
move the restrictions imposed upon them IN seit-d
ia fence, since the of the present tro
bes, and will restore the natural and constitution
~ progress of emancipation which has, in sever
o. States been arrested by the violence of the abO