Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-03-27
UNION MEETING.


a large number of the citizens Of Augusta County
assembled in the Court House in Staunton, on Mon
day The 25th inst, to consider the subject OF se"u'
ing delegates to the Nashville Convention as re
commended by the Legislature Of Virginia. at us
late session. The meeting was organized oy 'ne
appointment of Col. JAMES CRAWFORD as Chair
man, and JOS A. WADpELL as Secretary
THos. j. Niche, Esq, moved that Commit
lee of five be appointed by the Chair to prepare re-
solutions. JAS H. Skinner, Esq, moved as an
amendment that the Committee be composed Of
nire members and be appointed from both the great
political parties. The amendment was accepted
by Mr. Niche, and the motion was adopted by
the meeting. The Chair then named the follow
! ing gentlemen as the Committee viz: Thomas J.
Niche, Alex H. H. Stuart, Shelton S. Abbey,
James II. Skinner, William II. Harman, John u.
Baldwin, Benz Crawford, Kenton Harper and Lyi-
Teton WaddeH.
The Committee retired for time and on return
ing reported the following preamble and resolutions
which were read by Col. BALDWIN:
The people of Augusta b,ieve that the time has ar.
rived when it becomes them publicly and solemnly to
declare their affection for that unity of government
which constitutes the United States of America one
people.
We verify believe it to be the main pillar in the edi-
flee our real independence, the support OF our tranquil
y at home peace abroad Of our safety OF our pros
perity of that very liberty which we so highly prze
We feel that at this crisis it is Of infinite moment
that should properly estimate the immense value Of
our national union to collective and individual hap
pness that should cherish a cordial habual and
immoyabc attachment to it, accustomihg ourselves to
think and speak Of it palladium OF oar political
safety and prospery watching for its preservation with
Jealous anxiety discountenancing whatever may sug-
gest suspicion that can in any event be abandoned
aud Indignantly frowning upon the first dawning oil ey-
cry attempt to ALLEVIATE any portion of our country from
the rest or to ehleebe the sacred ties which now Ink
together the yarioGs parts Be il therefore resolved
l. We rejoice in the assurance that the calm, steady
and prevailing of real public opinion beginning
to be heard above the noise aud strife oil political agta
tors; and we donb not that fanatics at the North, and
factionlsts the South will long learn the Important
truth that the Heart of the Nation is for the Unontor
the Union as Fathers formed it-for the Union as
it is. .
g Identified with the interests, deeply imbued with
the cengs-ayc even with the prejudiccs Of the South;
do expect cannot hope that brethren at the
North will think feel with us in regard to the Sec
tohal Questions which unfortunately divide u.s. But we
RELY with confidence the patriotism and the sense
Of Justice of the sobermhded and rejecting men OF the
North; and expect their and opera
ton in the settlement of all our differences, upon such
terms as friends may offer and brethren accept
3. We have disposition to recount the wrongs SUI
ered by the Souh-nor do we claim Tor her exemption
from all fault w would rather forgetting those things
which are behind or remembering them but for instr1c
ton ard warniug press prepared to cohcedc,
anxious to conciliate-resolved upon peace.
L. We know Of ey-we suffer no grioTttce, which
cannot be removed by fair aud just administration oil
our government according TO the Constitution we an
ticipate wrong for which dsunion would DC remedy
For the protection Of our rights, We look with conf
dence TO the authorities and tribunals established by the
Constitutions and sworn to support 1t. 1t will be soon c.
nough TO seek other safeguards when all OF these have
been tried in vain. =
s. For the settlement Of all questions affecting the
Union. we look TO the of the Union, assembled In
the councils of the Unionunder the Constitution OF the
Union. We have no confidence in-we dscialm all re-
lance upon, any assembly, however called wherever
held which does find its authority in the Constt-
tion and its highest object in the prescry Of the u
nou. More especially do dstrust any such assem-
bly, when it is avowedIy sectional in It's organization
and purposes, and expressly excludes from IT. oepera
tons the citizens of all other portions OF the Unon how
ever wise and patriotic they may be. We, therefore,
decline be represented in the Nashville Convention
, G. owe have taken our stand upon the platform Of
the general Constitution platform broad enough, and
FIRM enough uphold every interest the whole coun-
try. There will ever be found and no local policy
local feeling temporary impulse shall induce us 10
Weld our foothold the Constitution and the UnIon-
We will march under no banner not known TO the whole
American people, and to their Constitution and Laws
T. The gratitude of every friend Of the Union is due
70 Senators Clay, Cass, Webster and Dickinson for the
noble and ratrioc stand which they have taken IN sap
port of the Union. They have touched chord which
thrills throughout the land-carryng hope and conf,
dence 10 the reeide and the hearhstorc natIen shall
call them blessed-besscd are the peace makers
8 We disapproye of the action of the Virginia Leg
islature because we do not consider the SUBJECT to be
properly belonging to their jurisdiction and because
while they profess TO defer TO the wishes OF the people,
they have given occasion and opportunity for the as
sumption by faction of influence and authority which
is due only TO the deliberate opinions OF majority oil
| the community.
| Mr.. SKINNER offered the following report embc-
dying the views Of minority Of the Committee,
and moved its adoption by the meeting as substi-
tute for the report Of the majority
We,the people of Augusta County entertaining SIN
aud abiding attachment the Union of these States
and fully alive to the past gcres, the present proper
ty and future prospects ofths great Conedcracy would
deeply deploe the necessity which should force us to
sever the ties which bind as 10 it. Resolved, therefore
|. That we regard with unmingled apprehension the
efforts which have been and now being made by our
Northern brethren and their Representatives in Con-
gress assembled, abolish Slavery IN the District oil
Columbia and exclude it from the territories recently ac-
aured from Mexico which il carried into effect would
derogae both from rights under the Constitution and
our honor, and which freemen would feel bound
TO resist to the last extremity.
2. That cherish profound desire TO witness fl
nal settlement together and at of all the questions
growing out of the institution OF Slavery which now az
itate National Councils and tend 10 the dissolution
of the Union. . ~
g. That hold il incumbent on Congress and invoke
them to provide some means for the eecua recovery
offagtye Slaves We further regard as their duty to
provide Territorial governments for our recent acqusi-
tons from Mexico, without any provision whatever on
the subject Of Slavery-to decline any interference
whatever with Slavery il exists in the District CT
Columbia, and to admit Slave States according TO
the provisions of the joint resolutions annexing Texas 10
the Union. , -
L. That should Congress pursue the course we have in
dcated the preceding resoutonwe should be disposed
TO waive all objections the admission Of California into
the Union sovereign State under the Constitution
framed by her Convention and now before Congress.
s. "That regarding the Convention [of Delegates
from the Southern States] proposed TO be held Nash
yille on the first Monday in June next as intended TO
enable the people of the South take counsel together
the best anu most eectual means of resisting the
aggressions fthc North of enforcing compliance on
their part with their constitutional obligations and there
by OF preserving the union Of these States in immi
peril by reason of the pursued by the non
slaveholdng States and their representatives in Con-