St. Mary's beacon., 1858-07-22

Meeting Of Shareholders On tha Eastern
Shore OF Maryland
CHEsrERTowS, Kent county. Nd,
July n, 1868. {
A meeting Of The citizens of Kent county
was held here to-day, at which citizens of the
adjoining counties were also present, 70 take
into consideration the proper measures to b.
adopted to promote the better security If their
slave property, &c. The particular circum-
stance which led b the meeting are fully de-
tailed in the remarks of the vaFicus speakers
The meeting was numerously attended hj
lea,ling citizens and the subject discussed was
Of course, Of q very exciiipsaE. eharacter.A
antt Dr. r. c. Kennari, app0intea see chair
! SPcgTfgs were made 10y J0ige Chambers
Senator Pearce, and Col. JAS. B. Ricaud.
Senator Pearce offered resolution that q
committee of pine BE- appointed to prepare :
series Of resolutions, ~ which the Chairman
was to be added, was adopted.
The Chair named Hon. J. A. Pearcc, Geo
ID. Wescott, DIR. 7. c. kennard, Esq, for the
middle district; VIM. F. Smyth, John II
Comegys, Geo W. Spencer, Esqs., for the up
per district; Hon. J. Ii. Ricaud, John s. Con.
stable, Esq, and Major Wilkins, for the lower
district.
The committee retired tn an adjoining room,
during which time II. W. Ringgold, Esq at
the request Of the chairman, occupied the cI air.
Ia the course Of a short time the committee
reported the following resolutions as having
been unanimously agreed upon by them:
Whereas late events have disclosed the fact
that there are in our midst some few mis-
chievous and evil disposed persons. who have
earnestly and clandestinely operRsed to induce
our slaves to abscond, and in some instances TO
aid them in escaping, and it is known that
there are others who give countenaace to such
evil doors by their denunciations and threats,
and in some instances, advise, if not use,
violence to those who have made an effort to
remove from our midst one Of those evil doors.
We, therefore, citizens of the county, in mass
meeting assembled, and representing in person
or by proxy very large proportion of the
male adult population of the county, do deem
itproper toexpress our most unqualilied condem-
nation of all and every species of interference
with our slave population, and also Of every
thing that can have the effect TO countcnauce
OF encourage those who do thus wickedly in
tcrferc. We do, therefore, resolve.
list. That while we concetle to every man
the privilege to form whatever opinion his
education, his reason or his fancy may lead
person enjoying the protection of our laws to
commit any act, or give publicity to language
in direct violation of the laws of the State. es-
pecially of those laws on the observance of
which our social and pecuniary inteeests main
ly depend:
I'd. That we regard any man who OPENLY.
publicly, aud habitually proclains hostility to
slavery, and willingness to persuade, encuur-
age or assist our slaves to abscond. As n person
who ought not longer to be permitted to enjoy
either the ordinary Inequalities of our people.
or the protection Of the laws.
Sd. That whilst we wUtild not encourage. as
we connot in any case approve, any unneces-
sary violence or harshEess, vet we cannot but
regard such pestilent and dangerous persons as
public nuisaLces, whose removal Is plain mea-
sure Of defence, and who should therefore be
advised Of the necessity of leaving the county
4tE. That in the event of the removal of
any such persons thhs assailing ouf rights of
property, by word or deed if any of their
sympathizers abettors OF defenders shall VEN
ture to visit the author Of the movement with
punishment or violence, we hereby pledge our
selves to make common cause against such
sympathlzerS, abettors or defenders.
9th. That In such contest there can be
no neutrality; he that is not for us must be re-
garded as against US, and we therefore deem it
proper-and we pledge ourselves accordingly
not to traffic or deal with any man in the
county who will not openly and plainly, with
ont limitation or modification, express his de-
teStaiion Of everything like a tampering with
our slaves, to assist or induce them to abscond.
nor with any one who shall express desire or
Willingness TO see violence committed on those
who assist in causing such offenders to leave
the county.
The chairman then read the resolutions and
each one infinitely, as IL was repeat
eddy voted on, and each resolution was carried
without one dissenting voice.
1t was afterwards suggested that the names
of those present, as also Of absentees who had
authorized their friends to act for them. be
taken down, which was done BY the officers of
the meeting and Others named for the purpose,
so Ear, at least, as related, to those who then
remained. many persons having left az soon as
the resolutions were passed.
The Chairman then suggested The propriety
Of naming . committee, which should be au-
thorizcd to convene another county meeting.
if anything should occur making It, in their
opinion, uecesary-and on mctiun- the COM
mittee which had reported the resolutions
were vested with that authority. The meeting
then adjourned. Hsr