The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-07-15

Anniversary Celebration at
Greemmamville, CT.
To the Editors of the Literary Echo -
1t may not be amiss to give your
readers a very brief account of the cele-
bration on Sunday, the 4th inst, at
Greenmanville, Ct. 10 ~
At 10 o'clock A. M. the citizens Of
that place and vicinity assembled in the
Seventh-day Baptist Church. The
meeting was organized by the choice of
w. E. Maxson for President, and I. w.
Utter for Secretary. The Declaration
of Independence was read by ED. s. s.
Griswold. Prayer was offered by Ed.
A. B. Burdick, of Westerly.
On motion of Ed. Griswold, Ed. L.
Crandall, Of Plain6eld, N. j., was form
ally invited to address the audience af-
ter which the privilege should be extend
ed to all who should wish, to give free
express of opinion. ED. Crandall's
theme was-Gorermment-its appropri-
ate duties, extent of power, obligation
to the governed, sc.
AT the close of the Grafton, Ed.
Burdick remarked briefly upon some of
the humiliating features of our own gov
ernment and its probable destiny.
On motion, The following gentlemen
were appointed, by the Chair, Commit
tee to draft resolutions for the consid-
Grafton Of the meeting at its evening
session, viz. Ed. A. B. Burdick, Ed.
L. Crandall, aud T. S. Greenman.
On motion, The meeting adjourned
to meet at 7 o'clock, p. M.
Bencdiction by Ed. Crandall.
Evening Session.
Met agreeable to adjournment Sing
ing by the choir. Prayer by Ed. L.
Crandall.
The committee reported the following
resolutions
l. Resolved, That in the opinion of
this meeting, the Constitution of the
United States, should be interpreted in
strict conformity to the .principles set
forth in theDeclaration of Independence
2. Resolved, That in our opinion, to
aid in the execution of the I" Fugitive
Slave Law" is violation of the De-
claration of Independence, the rights of
humanity, and the principles Of the
Gospel.
8. Resolred, That in our opinion, the
two great political parties of the nation
have identified themselves with Slavery,
by requiring of their candidates for the
Presidency pledge to support the Com
promise, or Fugitive Slave Law, as a
condition on which they are to receive
their support.
4. Resolred, That we cannot consist
emily, with our views Of duty as Christ
ians, give our support to either of the
present candidates of these parties for
the Presidency.
The first of these resolutions was sup
ported by Elds. Burdick and Griswold,
and adopted. The other three were
supported by Messrs. s. S. Griswold,
L. S. Greenman, G. Greenman, and A.
B. Burdick, and adopted.
The meeting adjourned to July 4,
1853.
1t is not possible for me to fur
nish anything like faithful sketch of
this truly interesting and unique cele-
bration. The Grafton and speeches
were of high moral tone, and bespoke
that purer and more exalted patriotism,
that needs not the Ginning of bells, nor
the booming of cannons, to call it into
exercise; but which burns with holy
and unextinguishable flame on the altar
of hearts, which know no government or
laws, but as secondary to the govern
ment and laws of Jehovah, and no rule
but in subserviency to right.
WESTERLY.
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