The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-06-14
MONDAY MORNING, JUNE 9, 1856.
Vindication Of Free Speech by
the People of Minnesota -!



THE MEETING OF FRIDAY EVENING.
One of the largest, if not the very larges
meeting ever held in st. Paul to considc
npon public matters not of local nature
assembled at the Court House on Friday
evening, in answer to the call for the vindi-
cation of the Freedom of Speech, and to de-
nounce the recent base act of Preston S
Brooks, of South Carolina.
The people commenced assembling early
and it happened very opportunely that Asa
Hutchinson was in the city, and being in
the city, of course was at the meeting to
cnlivcn it with some of his cheering songs
of Freedom. He sang several, while the
crowd was gathering.
TIE meeting was called to order by P. NJ
Nichols, Esq, when
On motion of P. w. Nichols, VIM. r.
MARSHALL, Esq, was appointed president
who, on taking the chair, made some peril
nent remarks.
j. P. Owens, Charles E. Mayo, Luke Mar
win, J. F. Bradley, Minneapolis; Geo. A.
Nourse, st. Anthony Asa Hutchinson, Of
Hutchinson, were chosen Vice Presidents.
Richard Marvin, and Henry E. Buel, were
appointed Secretaries.
On motion. Committee of three were ap-
pointed by the Chair to draft resolutions
The Chair appointed 7. NJ. Newson, j. P.
Owens and J. F. Bradley, as said Committee.
While the Committee were out, M. S. Will
llinson, ESQ.,, was called on and spoke for a
brief period, earnestly, eloquently and to the
point. He was for meeting the Southern
bulles with their own weapons At the
conclusion of his speech, the Committee re-
ported the following resolutions which were
unanimously adopted:
Whereas, on the 22d of May, 1856, mem
Der of the House of Representatives of the
United States Congress, entered the Senate
Chamber, and there proceeded, in the most
cowardly and brutal manner to assault the
person of Hon. Charles Sumner a Senator
representing the state of Massachusetts,
therefore,
Res, lved, That tue base and ruffianly out
rageabove setforth, perpetrated by PrestonS
Brooks, ofSOuth Carolina, and inwhich attack
he was aided & abetted by other crmembers ofthe
House & Senate has filled this community with
the deepest horror, and aroused feelings o
ind gnation in our midst which can only be
mtigated by the administration of the mos
summary punishment upon the offenders
known to the constitution and laws of thu
nation.
Resolved, That if it is the intention 0
Southern men to justify the act of Preston
S. Brooks, and encourage others to commit
like dastardly outrages, then it only re-
mains for Northern statesmen and Northern
people to consider wisely and early ths
course to be pursued to prevent repetition
of those deeds of violence which, unless
soon checked, will lead to events certainly
detrimental to the permanency of the
Union.
Resolved, That the Liberty of Speech il
guaranteed by the Constitution, and th'
seal of its inviolability is cemented by thu
blood of those patriots who fell in the strug
gle against the power of King George III
and that he who strikes down Member o
the National Congress for defending in hi
place those rights of Justice, Humanity ant
Liberty, lacks the true instincts of an Amer
ican patriot and gentleman, and should b.
expelled without the pale of society.
Resolved, That at all times and on all &C
casions, we will defend that liberty of speec
for which our fathers fought and died and
If need be, by other means than by appeal
to the reason, SO called, of horde of slave
driving tyrants and their supple tools.
Resolved, That Hon. Charles Sumner, tn
able and eloquent Senator from Massachu
sets, ha, our most cordial thanks for hi
manly defence of Freedom in the Senat
Chamber of the United States.
Resolved, That we extend to him on
sympathy, and pledge our aid in maintain
ing the liberty of speech, Peaceably if W
can-forcibly if we must"
Calls for song brought out Asa Hdtchir
son, who sang, in fine style, A Good Tim
Coming Boys, Good Time Coming" " whic
was loudly encored.
After the adoption of the Resolutions tn
meeting was addressed by G. A.. Nours
ESQ.,, of st. Anthony; T. M. Newson, Esq
of the st. Paul Times Hon. A. Goodrich
of st. Paul Hon. Messrs. Bradley and PHI
mer Of Minneapolis, and P. P. Bishop, ESQ
an old resident of St. Paul, who has recen
~ returned upon visit to his old friend
after an absence of five years.
All these gentlemen appeared inspire
with more than ordinary powers on this o,
..casion, which is not to be wondered
considering the provocation which calle
the meeting together. Messrs. Nour