The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-06
WEST ALEXANDER, PENN.
ABRIDGED.I

ABRIDGED.
WEST ALEXANDER WASHINGTON Co, Pa,
Nouem5sr IS, 1850.
Pursuant to previous notice given, the citizens
OF West Alexander and its vicinity met at that
place for the purpose, principally, Of taking into
consideration the Fugitive Slave Bill passed by
Congress at its last session, and to declare their
judgment and disposition in relation to that
measure. The meeting was opened with prayer
by Rev. J. Y. Ashenhust and, on motion, Joshua
Stoolfre was chosen President, and Alexander
Mccoy, Secretary.
On motion, committee was appointed to pre-
pare business for the meeting, and !. S. Buchanan,
J. Mccoy S. M. Scott, J. Y Ashenhust, and W.
Neil, were that committee
The committee having retired, some addresses
were delivered during their absence.
The committee having returned, after some re-
cess, presented the following report, which, upon
deliberate consideration, with appropriate re.
marks was unanimously adopted.
l. Pesolued That we view with extreme jeal-
ousy and alarming apprehension such insolent
and overbearing aggressions of Southern slave
holders the just hts and liberties of North
ern freemen, constituting as such despots do, but
a miserable minority Of our population.
9 Resolued also, That We highly disapprove of
the passive yielding and subservient conduct of
the representatives Of the free States in Congress-
who allowed themselves TO be 30 extensively
swayed by a few demagogues and their subordi-
mates, as to vote ultimately with them in the es-
adjustment of such partial and unrighteous
measures, at the expense of the counter-claims,
and to the degradation of their very numerous
constituents neither are we to be considered as
excusirg those who had shown themselves 80 far
recreant as to dodge these questions, lest they
should give offence to either party.
3 Resolusd, especially That we view, not only
with dsapprobation, but also with extreme sbhor-
renee, the late Fugitive Slave enactment, as re-
voting to humanity, whose claims are utterly
disregarded- opposed to the law Of
God, who will not allow his authority to be tram
pied upon with impunity--rspugnant 10 many
fundamental principles of the Constitution, hav-
ing bearing upon the interests and rights of far
more Of our citizens than the few tyrsnts whose
claims had extorted that neutrality-suspicious.
in the preciptste manner in which such persons
are ordered to be arrested and remanded to the
most miserable of conditions-corropting to the
new official functionaries created in virtue or It,
in allowing an additional remuneration in case
judicial decision be given in favor OF the csptor as
the only party present and allowing liberal
compensation to arresting officers for every indi.
vidual OF that description, or otherwise, forced
into their Observation-Disclosures in its penalties
some of which are ordered to be appropriated to
the use Of the STAKEHOLDER, thereby showing the
oppressveuess Of slave labor, and the wretched-
ness of their food and clothing, when slave-work-
ers can afford to give thousand dollars for each
of them, according to the language Of that enact
ment-iusulting to the free aud sovereign people
Of the non. saveholdiug States, in whose midst
such an army Of slave-catchers and their retain
ers are appointed to the disturbance Of the peace
of society-and prosecuting for righteousness
sake in arrogsntly commanding all good citizens,
standing by, 10 assist as posse comaafus, and do
what God aud conscience impera,ively forbid, or
they may expect to undergo penalties similar to
those expressed In that act should they refuse to
lend themselves as accessories to such rapacity.
4 ResolUsd also, That, whatever be the respect
which we owe to that law, for the authority
whereby II may be said to be sanctioned, we are
compelled to pronounce II Immoral in all its bear
ings and grossly inconsistent with the spirit Of
the sge in which we live, and therefore We cannot
couscentiously obey it, nor take any part in car
rying it into execution, as no human authority
can warrsntably interpose its claims between US
and our Maker.
3 Resolved, Also That we consider IL morally
and politically incumbent on W 70 use oil lawful