Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-12-04
For the Standard.
Great oon.ti,u,iops, Union Meeting ne

fsr -. r
Great Constitutionai Union Meeting.
The friends of the Union met in the Court House
in Raleigh, at O'Clock, P. NJ, on Friday night the
30th ultimo. - ,..sze - q ~ y 49, q 8 II
= On motion of Mr.. Thompson, Everard Hall, Esq.
was appointed President = ,'T,s 81 - 8
On motion, .Messfs F. l.. Wilson, G.. W. Haywood
and Sas Burns were appointed Vice, Presidents
- On motion of Mr.. Syme, Mr.. w. H. Finch was
appointed Secretary, ss a'7ts 81 ''.vit@
After the organization of the meeting, loud calls
were made for Hon. z. b. Vance, who mounted the
stand and delivered most conclusive patriotic and
eloquent argument and appeal for the Union, which
received with bursts of enthusiastic applause by
the very large audience. gss-.
On motion of Mr.. Syme, committee Of seven
was appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the
sense of this meeting to be reported at meeting to-
morrow, Saturday night at Z o'clock. At Mr..
Syme's request nc was not appointed on the CON-
mttce. The Chairman appointed The following
gentlemen on the committee, viz: w. W. Holden,
d. G. Fowle, DR.. c. E. johnson, Hon. S. Fl. Rogers,
DR.. l.. D. Hogg, Major G. III. Wilder and G. W.
Norwood. Three times three cheers were given for
the Union andthe meeting then adjourned to Satur-
day night.
E. HALL, President
pa W. H. FNcu Secretary. ~'. sf ..--r
On Saturday evening the LIST instant, large
number of the friends of Constitutional Union,
OF party, cOnVeDeQ IN lDe commons
Hall of the Capitol at Raleigh The floor and the
lobby were densely packed with brave men,"
while " fair women" like the arc of a magnificent
wreath, semicircled the gallery.
The meeting was organized by the appointment
of the following officers: -- .l.-lt
President-Quentin Busbee.
Vice residents-Henry j. Brown, George 7.
Cooke, j. j. Terrell and jeff Fisher
iSecretaries-Frank Wilson and VIM. H. Finch.
On taking the Chair Mr.. Busbee made a few ap-
propriate remarks returning thanks Tor the honor
conferred upon him, and stating the object of the
meeting to be to hear the report of the committee
of seven, appointed at an improvsed meeting on
the previous evening. 81
Whereupon, W. W. Holden, Esq, as Chairman
of said committee, reported the following:
/. Resolced That the Constitution of the United
States is the work of pure patriots and sagacious
statesmen; that it is by far the best model of civil
government which human wisdom and virtue have
devised; that it has rendered country great
prosperous and powerful; that it has many checks
and balances wise, htary and conservative
provisions emineny calculated to guard against the
entertainments OF power, to prevent oppression and
to shield the rights of the minority and that in any
crisis which may arise, all constitutional remedies
ought to be fairly tried and exhausted, before
sort should be had to extreme measures, likely to
terminate in civil strife and to convert our flourish
ing and happy country into scene of havoc and
desolaton.
9. Resolred That we do not regard the mere cleo
ton of sectional candidate TO the Presidency,
achieved as it has been dsunited conservative
parties, sufficient cause in itself for dissolution
Of the Union; yet we view this sectional triumph
with anxiety and apprehension. 1t imposes on us
the duty of uniting as one man in making prepare
tons to maintain honor and our vital interests
against any assaults that may be made upon them.
3. Resolced, That North Carolina is attached to
the Union according to the Constitution and will be
10 no o. ad
and maintained-but no longer. If the Constitution
shall be violated, or if any attempt shall be made
by dominant sectional majority, to administer the
government principles inimical to the rights the
equality or the safety of the slaveholding States
North Carolina will set her face against Union
which will thus have lost its vitality and virtue
and will make common cause with her Southern Sis
tiers against such Union holding herself free to
main an independent Republic, or to unite her des-
TIMES with other slaveholding States in new Con-
federation.
4. Resolred, That the legislation of those States
which have in effect nu6ed the fugtive-slave law
is inimcal to Constitutional rights and in op-
position to that spirit of fraternity and friendship
which should characterize tho action of towards
another Of members of common Union {: that as
citizens of North Carolina we insist upon a repeal
of all such obnoxious statutes; and that we con-
slider it the duty of the General Assembly, now in
session, to enact such laws, If in their power, as
will lead to a repeal of these statutes.
5. Resolred That our militia system should be
carefully revised and militia thoroughly organ
lzed and that measures should be adopted to equip
and arm with the best weapons all the volunteer
companies now in existence in this State, or that
may hereafter be formed zs-
6. Resolred, That the members of the Legislature
from the county of Wake in their respective bodies,
be requested to present these resolutions to the
sideration of the General Assembly.
The reading of the resolutions interrupted by
frequent applause. Mr. Holden briefly addressed
the meeting amid repeated cheering.
Loud calls were then made for Henry W. Miller,
Esq, who responded in an eloquent and thrilling
speech Of more than hours length. Though he
spoke without preparation, his effort was worthy Of
the man and the occasion. 1t was replete with
sound reasoning, convincing argument and incon-
trovertible facts spiccd with irony, sarcasm, wit,
humor and ridicule. Those who heard his speech
will long remember it.
At the conclusion of Mr. Miller's speech the reso-
lutions were put and unanimously adopted. Such
an "Ayel" as went forth in approval of them
might well make secession withdraw and unhinge
disunion.
The Chairman here announced that he had re-
ceived a communication, with a request that he
would read it to the meeting He held in his hand
a large and handsomely arranged bouquet decorated
with ribon to which the following note was at
tached:
From the Young Ladies Of Raleigh,
To THE Hon. T. B. VANCE,
The gallant defender of the oss honor well all the
Constitutional Rights Of our fathers, mothers
our brothers, and Of our '+lovers.'
At this point the Secretaries beg to be excused
from attempting to particularize. Each must imagine
the scene for himself or herself Canes ratified and
hama fho h.,r hooE hald