The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-07
For the National Era.
PUBLIC MEETING.

! large and enthusiastic meeting Of citizens Of
Putnam county, Illinois, without distinction Of
party assembled, according to previous notice, at
Granville, June Both, to take into consideration
the Fugitive Slave Bill passed by Congress Sep
tember 18th, 1885, and to declare their opinions
in relation to said measure
The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev.
u. ID. Henderson, and on motion J. c. Hopkins
was called 10 the Chair, and H. B. Leeper, SEQ
rotary.
On motion, committee Of six was appointed 10
prepare business for the meeting
The committee having retired, some addresses
were delivered in their absence.
cess, presented the following report, which upon
deliberate consideration, with appropriate re-
marks by J. II. Dickey, Daniel Gilmer, G. D.
Henderson, and others was unanimously adopt
ed
1. We believe that God is the source Of authori-
| ty as well as Of being. That Civil Government
is his ordinance and therefore ought to be re-
spected aud obeyed. That IL Is the part Of all
good citizens 10 submit to every ordinance Of man
for the Lords sake. That the only limit 10 this
obedience is, when human enactments oontrsveue
those Of the higher power.
2. Believing the law Of Congress, known as the
Fugitive Slave Law, contains enactments opposed
TO the law Of God, in conformity with the above
asserted truth, We pledge ourselves not to obey
those enactments.
g. Believing the commands Of God make Il
binding upon US 10 feed the fugitive from oppres-
sion to shells . ~. Maid biz = ~ rs free
dom, we pledge ourselves to do So the enact
meats Of human Governments 10 the contrary not
! rfi,ns,alky~pS - ~ .,-ty...t.
4 We believe Il to be the duty Of men in ell
departments OF society, religious social and civil
TO use Al appropriate means to secure the abrogs-
- I'll Il AaNk IL
q dead letter, and seeking its repeal aud we
pledge ourselves as Christians and as members Of
civil society, to use our efforts TO secure this end
8. ReSoiUed, That we deem the Fugitive Slave
Bill unconstitutional and inhuman, disgrace TO
the country an outrage upon civil liberty deserv-
ing the reprobation Of every friend Of God and
man. and that il should be disobeyed by every
person who is not willing and does not deserve
to wear chain and submit 10 the lash Of des-
pots
g. ResOlped, That every man who has taken an
oath to support the Constitution Of the United
States, and who believes the Fugitive Slave Bill
to be unconstitutional, Is solemnly bound to OPP
pose this enactment; and that in the language Of
Judge Mclean, an unconstitutional act Of Con
gress imposes no obligation on State or the peo-
pie Of State, and may be resisted by an individual
or community.
T. Resolved, That we believe that the late act Of
Congress, for the recovery Of fugitive slaves,
makes demands upon individuals to which they
cannot yield obedience, without direct violation
Of the principles Of love, mercy and justice, given
by the Saviour TO his disciples and that those
professed ministers Of the gospel who teach ODE
dience to this law are false teachers, and unfaith
ful to the high and holy profession they have as
sumed.
J. G. Fee, Of Kentucky, being present, was
called to the stand and addressed the meeting
"~8n aha -sffects which slavery hes upon the NOR
anal els r speech .SA stakeholder, and the
Of their feelings
The following resolution, presented by Rev. q.
d. Henderson was adopted
ResOlUsd, That we have listened with unfeigned
pleasure TO an exposition Of the perniciOus infu-
enCe Of slavery on the pety Of the slave the slave
holder, and the non. STAKEHOLDER, by the Rev j.
G. Fee OF Kentucky, and we wish him Godspest
in his defence Of truth and opposition to slavery.
Meeting closed with prayer by Rev. John q.
Fee. JoHN c. HOPKINS, President
HARVEY b. LEEPER, Secretary.