Demoine courier., 1854-07-27
PEOPLES MEETING,

A Mass Meeting of the voters of WapelI.
county was held atthe Court House in Ottum
wa, July 22d, A. ID. 1854. Geo. RevnoId
Esq. was called 10 the Chair, and Walter Glen
ent appointed Secretary.
By request the object of the meeting wa,
briefly stated by II. d. Ives Esq. when
4 committee OF six was appointed 10 repor
resolutions expressive of the sense Of the meet.
ing. consisting Of Messrs.J. w. Hedrick. I
Adams, b. A. Spaulding, VIM. II. DunIap. G.
Gleason, and DR.. J. c. Johnson. The com.
mittee retired and after a shor. absence reportpf
the following preamble and resolutions by Rev
Is. A. S~paulding.
Whereas, The Free Government under which
we live was secured 10 Us by a war waged in
defense of the seif-evident truths mThst All
men are created free and equal; that they are en-
doyyed bythcir Creator with certain inalienabIe
rights; that among these are life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness;7
And whereas, An Ordinance for the govern
ment OF The territory of the United States,
northwest of the river Ohio, established before
any one of the several States. ordained that
there should be neither slavery nor inyolunta-
~ seryitude in said Territory Otherwise than in
punishment for crimes whereof the party shall
have been duly convicted:
And Whereas, The trainers of the Constitn-
ton were careful TO exclude from il anv term
which would directly express the idea of slave
Ty, Mr.. Madison, thinking it wrong to admit
into the constitution The idea that there could be
property in man, and the Convention unani-
mously striking out the word "seryitude," and
inserting "service," the former being thought
10 express the condition Of slaves and the lat
ter the obligation of free persons
And whereas, At a later period by a solemn
act of Congress slavery was forerer prohibited
from The vest territories on our western frontier:
THEREFOR, Resoired, That the line of policy
thus indicated by the history Of our general
government ard the constitution of our coun-
Try meets our most heartfelt approval, and we
will stand by it at the polls and elsewhere with
tae first and last argument that good citizens
have a right to use.
Resolred, That in the language of our Rep
resentatlVe IN Congress we +" regret the existence
OF slavery" and as we have no legal authority
10 interfere with it in the several States where
II exists, aoe regret stu more that the virgin soil
IN the heart of this continent has been thrown
open to plant il where it did not erist, or exist
cd only In violation of law.
Resoired, That the theory Of our government
recognizes the people as sovereign and their
elected rulers only as agents to execute their
sovereign will, and that these agents. in repeal
ing the restrictions against slavery on our wes-
tern frontier, have shamefully betrayed the con-
huSHSo 'SPosSu III Ny q generous people
and deserve our most indignant rebuke.
Resolred, That in the coming State and Con-
gresional elections we Will use our influence to
secure the election of such men only as are in
favor of combining slavery within its present
limits, and restoring the restrictions against
slavery in Kansas and Nebraska which have
been recently removed.
The preamble and resolutions were consider
ed and adopted unanimously.
The meeting was then addressed by Mr.. j.
Ii. d. Street, Mr.. Tinsley, recently from Kan
sas and Rev. j. Il. Cook.
On motion OF r. IL. Warden,
Rssolced, That this meeting recommend s.
W. Summers Esq. 10 the voters of Wapeilo
county as a suitable candidate for Prosecuting
Attorney.
MIR. Earl offered the following resolution
which was adopted.
Resolved, That we will vote for no man who
will vote for electing A.. c. Dodge 10 the U. S.
Senate. or any other man who is IN favor of the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and we
viii require candidates asking our votes thus
80 pledge themselves.
R%esoired, That the proceedings Of this
meeting be furnished the papers published in
Wapello county with a request TO publish the
same. GEO. REYNOLDS, Pres.
w. CLEMENT, Sec'y.