Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-12-26
Public Meeting in Roanoke

At q large and enthusiastic meeting OF the cit
liens Of Roanoke county, without respect to party,
hold at the Courthouse on Monday, tho 18th day
Of December, lSj9-that being Court day--on
motion of II. Il. Blair. DR.. John IL. Griffin was
called 10 the Chair, and on motion OF VIM. Watts,
DR.. q. W. Riddle was requested to act rs Secrc-
tary.
On motion Of William Watts the Chair appoint.
cd n ommitte oil thirteen To prepare resolutions
for the adoption OF the meeting. viz:
William Watts, John b. |. Logan, William b.
Preston, A. Hupp, II. w. DAWSON, William NJ.
Cook, Absalom Smith, John Trout, II. Il. Blair.
David Sloan, A. White. James McConkey, and ID.
G.. Kiser.
After retirement for a short time the Committee
returned and through thoir Chairman reported
the following preamble and resolutions, which
having been on motion, seted upon together
were unanimously adopted, the Chair desscnting
from o portion thereof in an earnest speech:
~Inasmuch as tho relations now existing between
the Northern non-slaveholding and tho southern
slavcholding States of this Contedcracy. characte-
rized by q deep-rooted hostility and enmity on the
part Of the people of tho former to tho people and
institutions Of the latter with the openly avowcd
purpose on their part of making war not only up
on our equal rights in the common property oil
tho Confectionery but upon our rights Of properly
ut home in our State, and Of taking possession by
their numerical majority Of tho general govern
ment in oil its branches, tho more successfully to
carry out their designs. clearly admonished us
that We may DO compelled at a day not far distant,
to fight for rights which we hold more valuable
and dearer than life itself. Therefore it is resolv-
cd, by tho people Of Roanoke county in general
meeting assemhled:
LIST. That while We arc now rs we have ever
been, loyal to tho Constitution and laws Of the
United States, and would regard the severance of
the bonds Of the Union which bind us together rs
one people, ~ q great calamity both to ourselves
a~l % Ia 49, .nA,la Of kha.A nib Stata.
and would rejoice to transmit that Union, its Con-
stitution and Laws with their manifold blessings
to our latest posterity. Yet, we arc willing and
ready to ut once withdraw from the Union. when
ever II is made manifest that our equal rights will
not be respected and enforced by tho Northern
people. If VIC cannot have peace and safety with
in, we will without the Union.
I'd. That while we rejoice in the belief that
there are many good and true citizens at the
North. who are still loyal to tho Constitution and
laws and rights Of the South. yet, We see little, if
my, hope, in the future for the institution Of that
ION cannot and ought not to exist, while the press
and pulpit are subsidized and polluted in the daily
abuse, slaDder and utilization of our people
while incendiary fanatics are permitted to preach
and teach Higher Law. treason. murder, arson and
rapine in the veiy heart of the Northern cities,
which have grown great and rich upon cur trade
and III and while the politics Of the entire
North are controlled by II party united but upon
one principle, bitter and implicablc war upon US
and our rights. and which impudently boast,
should we choose to resist its tyranny that it will
whip Us into subsection.
81. That in full and deliberate view Of the pro.
misses in all their bearings we do hereby declare
that We are confirmed and strengthened in our
full discrimination to MANAGE OURSELVES, and, il
the rost Of the South agree with US, THE WHOLE
SLAVERY QUESTION FOR OURSELVES unawed. uninti-
maidtsd, uninterrupted and unembarrassed by fa-
natiss or fanaticism whether born and propagated
in old England or of New England growth or man
~ufacture.
4th. That in view of this condition of things. il
is the imperative duty Of our General Assembly,
ut any amount Of expense and taxation to prepare
Virginia for the contest with which we are threat
sned, by organizing and arming her militia by
encouraging and fostering her volunteer compa-
MES Of our young men. and providing all the i'm
plemeuts and munitions of war Of the best quality
and character.
9th. That it 10 equally the duty of the General
Assembly Tor the purpose Of building up the trade
and commerce Of Virginia, to pass laws encoura.
ging home manufactures and direct importation
20 our harbors of such articles from abroad as we
may need and cannot produce at home, that it
should discriminate by taxation, in favor of our
merchants and traders who deal in articles and
commodities made at the South imported directly