The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-10-20
DECLARATION OF THE FREE DEMOCRACY

On the 23d day of Sept. 1853, at the Glade
Meeting House in Madison county, KY there
was large and enthusiastic meeting of the yeo-
many of Rockcastle and Madison counties ia
vorablo to liberty of speech, tho press, con-
science and the Bible.
On motion of l. d. Lane, Esq, DR.. Curtis
Knight was called to act as President, and A.
c. McWlliams Thos Tatum, Juo Burnam
Esqs., and Col. John Kinnard, of Madison, and
r. d. Cook, Perry Bates Charles King and
Samuel Wllilord, Esqs., of Rockcastle, we're
made Vice Presidents, and J. Harris and Silas
K. Cook, Secretaries.
{. NJ. Clay, by invitation made an earnest
address, which, on motion of Peter West, ESQ.,,
was requested to be written out and published
The following resolutions were then offered
by Esquire VIM. Stapp and James Kinnard
Esq, and passed unanimously by accamation !:
|. Resolved, That we have read with alarm
and indignation the resolutions of the citizens
of Rockcastc, of the 9th of August, 1853.
2. Resolued, That we avow our allegiance TO
the Constitution of Kentucky and the United
States, and our loyalty to all laws enacted by
their. authority.
3. Resolved That in those constitutions, WAYS
are laid down for their change, whenever a
majority of the legal voters will it; and all
laws made under them arc subject to the same
change by the same will
a. Resolved That Slavery is the creature of
law; and any property in slaves is of no high
or invioiablhty than any other property and
the declaration Of the Shareholders that they
will not allow it TO be discussed, written about,
or made the subject of law, is an arbitrary
assumption of power at war with Republi-
canism, subversive of all constitutional Govern
ment, and incompatible with civil and political
liberty
s. Resolved, That Slavery violates natural
right and good conscience, and the fundament-
al principle upon which all Governments are
based, the protection of the weak against the
strong that it subverts the authority by which
they appeal to our obedience, that we yield up
portion of our rights, which belong to all in "a
state OF nature, to secure the remainder; that
1t gives the lie to our Declaration Of Independ-
enoe, and especially saps the foundation of re.
publleanism, that all political power can come
only from the consent Of the governed. We
are but following in the footsteps Of our fathers
OF l776 "in completing the revolution which
they had but partly achieved when we avow
our purpose to make upon it an uncompromi-
sing war.
8. RESOLVED, That If in these our natural and
constitutional rights, We arc opposed by illegal
and arbitrary force, we will resist it by all the
means God has given ms for defence for the
avowal Of the shareholders of Rockcastle, that
they will put down all "intermediling" with
Slavery "pedceabiy # re can, tore'bly if ire
must Is a proclamation of revolution and civil
war to which, if carried into act, none but
slaves can submit
I. RESOLVED, That these resolutions Of the
"citlzens of Rockcastle " are but feeble echo
OF those Of Lexington in lsi5, which we're de-.
nounced and put down by an overwhelming
majority of the people Of Kentucky, and by
the Judicial tribunals of the State.
8. Resolved, That the case Of A. G.. w. Par
ker, accused of attempting 10 induce slave to
leave his master, whether. guilty or not, is a
bailaole one; and any attempt to deny him
that right by intimidation or denunciatlon, is
Illegal, and subversice of the liberty OF the citi.
zen.
9. Resolved That we stand by our fellow.
citizen {. NJ. Clay, in his defence of the liber.
ties of the people. Battling ever for the inter.
ests, safety, and honor Of the Commonwealth,
at home and abroad, he has ever stood firm
when the rights Of the citizen were endanger.
ed, unterrifed by the assaults Of power, and
unseduced by hattery, or place of honor or
profit, The censures Of the enemies Of jus.
tee and freedom can never lower him in tho