Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-24
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sunposed to be connected with this. The
testimony however was not competent in
Maryland Court, though quite convincing to
those who obtained it.
1t had therefore, been determined by some
respectable citizens of the county, as no legal
remedy could be had for an evil severely con-
demned by the laws; and most injurious and
fatal 10 the property of the county. that they
would take measures to expel Bowers from
their midst He had been permitted 10 ayow
himself an Observation-Disclosures without molesta-
ton. but it was no longer to be borne that be
should remain in the midst OF community
whose prosperity and security he was believed
to be constantly endangering and impairing.
He was, therefore, by these gentlemen IN
duced to leave his home at night, was taken,
TO the woods, tarred and directed to leave the
county. The least possible violence was
used. No violence or disrespect was shown
to his wife. as has been falsely stated-no
personal injury done to her. The party were
sober men, not stimulated by liquor, hut
quietly resolved to abate nuisance so dan
gerous TO them and all others. Mr.. Pearce
showed the mutual dependence of all classes
in the community upon each other, aud how
impossible it was to strike down the prosper
ity of one class. particularly the largest,
without affecting injuriously all Others
While he admitted readily the breach of law,
he showed how in all cases the facts and cir
character as to justify and demand that the
offended majesty of the law should be APP
peased by a slight atonement and that where
there was no moral condemnation attaching
| to an act the penalties of the law were made
as nearly nominal could be. and that in
| such cases public sentiment always justified
such a sentence. But in this case it was said
! that certain parties in the county, not remark
able as law abiding people, had become so in
| dignant on behalf of Bowers and the viola
! tiOn of law on his person, that they talked OF
the propriety of lynching those who were en-
! gagged in this proceeding, and had threatened
with violence many pcaceable persons who
! had no connection with the affair, but were
supposed not to disapprove It, On one occa-
| sion one young gentleman had been assaulted
| and knocked down because his father was
| supposed to be one Of the party who tarred
| Bowers. Another, equally uncOncerned, was
| violently beaten, and unusual threats had
| been made against others. These people were
| but few in numbers not. as he believed. one
twentieth of the adults of the county. TWAS
| to be hoped that their indignation would
evaporate with their liquor, and that when
| free from the influence of John Barly Corn,
! they would come to their senses. But if they
! persisted in their course of violence they
| would be met by viClcI ce, and the contest
would not be doubtful-tEey would be crush
ed completely. promptly; and if they were
| not, it was time for conservative people to
sell their lands to Northern men for what
tn could get, and look for homes where con-
| stitutiunal aud legal rights were respected
! and enforced, and where it was not permitted
! that the corruptOr of slaves-the emissary OF
the abolitionists and the secret seducer. should
| iind immunity i'll the practice of his Infamous
! employ.
This is not pretended to be even correct
! outline of the speech, but 1t is the best the
reporter Could get.
The resolution by Mr.. Pearce to appoint
committee of 9, to prepare series of rcsou-
| lions, to which the Chairman was to be added
was adopted.
| The Chair named Hon. J. A. Pearce. Geo.
| B. Wcstcolt. DR.. F. c. Kennard, for the
middle district; VIM. F. Smyth, John NJ.
! Comegys, George w. spencer Esqs., for the
upper district; and Hon. j. b. Ricaud, John
S. Constable. Esq, and Major wilkins, for the
lower district.
The Committee retired to an adjoining room
during which time b. w. Ringgold, Esq. at
the request of the chairman, occupied the
chair in the course of short time the COM
mittee 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 mschiev-
Gus and evil disposed persons, who have Sc
our slaves to abscond, and in some instances
to aid them in escaping, and it is known that
there are others who give cOuntenance to
such evil doors by using denunciatlOns and in
some instances to advise If not use. violence
to those who have made an effort to remove
from our midst one of those evil doers.-We,
therefore, citizens of the county, in mass
meeting assembled. and representing in per-
son or 10y proxy a very large proportion of
tn male adult population of the county, do
deem it proper to express our most unqualified
condemnation of all and every species of in
reference with our slave population, and also
of every thing that can have the effect to
| countenance ar encourage those who do thus
wickedly interfere. We do therefore resolve
LIST. That while we concede to every man
| the privilege to form whatever opinion his
| education. his reason, or his fancy, may lead
| him to adopt, we do not admit the right OF
| any person enjoying the protection of our
! laws 10 commit any act, or give publicity to
| language in direct violation of the laws of the
! State, especially of those laws on the observ
ance of which our social and pecuniary in
| terests mainly depend.
! 2ud That we regard any man who open
! ", publicly, and habitually proclams hos
| tilty to slavery, and willingness to per-
! suade encourage or assist our slaves TO alb
! scuud, as IA person who ought not longer to
! be permitted to enjoy either the ordinary
| Inequalities of our people, or the protection
! of the laws.
| 3rd. That whilst we would not encourage,
| as we cannot i'll any case approve, any I'M
! necessary violence or harshness, yet we can
| not but regard such pestilent and dangerous
persons rs public nuisances, whose removal is
| "a plain measure of defence, and who should
therefore be advised of the necessity of leav-
| ing the county.
| 4th That in the event of the removal of
any such person thus assailing our rights of
| property, by word or deed, if any of their
| sympathiZers abrttors, or defenders, shall
| venture to visit the author of the movement
= with punishment or violence, we hereby
| pledge ourselves to make common cause
against such sympathlzers, abettors, or de-
tenders
! 9Th. That in such contest there can be no
neutrality: he that is not for must be re-
! garded a. against us, and we therefore deem
! il proper-and we pledge ourselves according
| ly-not To traffic or deal with any man in the
country, who will not openly and plainly,
without limitation or modification, express
his detcstaton of everything like tamper-
| ing with our slaves to assist or induce them
! to abscond, nor with any one who shall ex-
press 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
aud explained each one mnutely, as il was
repeatedly voted on, aud each resolution was
carried without one dissenting voice
Ii 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 Wa done by the officers of
the meeting and others named for the pur-
pose, 80 far, at least, as related TO those who
then remained. many persons having left as
soon u the resolutions were passed.