Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1860-12-20
PUBLIC MEETING.

- N-NN W '"S Nhthft And Il. y. HkkRiNG-
ToS aud W. W. b. GALLAnkR, appointed
Secretaries
Dr. WN. +. ALEXANDER, submitted the
following Preamble aud Resolutions:
We, the People Of Jefferson county, in gen.
cral meeting assembled, 10 here make hi,
exposition Of our views pertaining 90 matters
Of public Interest, 10 serve at once as an expla-
nation Of our opinions aud our determinations.
aud as an intimation 60 those who represent
US in the Legislature OF the State, As 10 what
We conceive 10 be their duty in the ful6llueu,
Of the trust conhded To them.
We here declare that our 6rst and most
earnest desire 20 u preserve and To perpetuate
that Union which va. formed by our Father.
and which We would transmit to our poSter;ty.
II NC can do - without the sacrifice of our
iateresi' aud our honor. But whilst ws en-.
certain and cherish this wish in our hearts IL
would be useless 20 close our eyes % the fact
that our rights have been disresar,led. and
our domestic institutions threatened with de.
strnction, by our confedorates living in the
Free States. They have assisted our slaves
In escaping from their masters, aud imprison-
ell our citizens who have entered their boun-
daries for the recovery Of their lawful nron,.r-
ty. In their " Personal Liberty Laws" they
have set at defiance the provisions of IN. C,,n.
s,itution, and have nulli6ed the law, of Con.
gress. la their Pulpits, and in the Public
Press, they have preached and laugh, doc
trines destructive to our interests, aud cndau.
gerng our peace. They would pass laws IA
exclude our property from the public Terrific
ries They have invaded our soil with bo.til.
bands-captured our citizens at midnight
nave committed murder, and by base and in.
famous efforts 10 abolish the institution of
slavery, have sought TO iniict upon "A. ire
parable wrong. And lastly, in the election
OF PRESIDENT, p'tefyeR to the support Of the
doctrines contained ia the Chicago Platform
they have committed gross insult upon the
south, and given thereby intimation of an
intention to carry ON and persist in the mea.
sures OF a sectional party, at war with our
interests
In thus enumerating our wrongs. We have
no purpose OF widening the breach which IA.
haticlsm and misguided philanthropy have
established between the North and the South
We would say TO the people of the Northern
States, that on the subject Of slavery a, /, on.
lists, our minds arc made up. To rs. il il n
Hooessity. Its prJpriety, or its imprunr;e,v
admits of no debate-and we demand for !,
at all hands, perfect and complete non-intcrfer.
ence. There can be no terms of compromise
on tins subject There is no middle ground
on which VIC can meet To this issue they
me-" eome-our Constitutional rights mast be
recognised-their obnoxious aud unconstitu
uonal acts must be repealed, or the Union
VIII have come TO an iuglorious termination
aud the last hope of Humanity, in the exam
pie Of free and selEgoyerning People, be
Jorerey overthrow.
As means Of arriving at some mode Of
solving the difficulties which surround us We
look with hope 10 the action Of the Ieyisla.
ture 50 soon to assemble. Should il be deem.
ed by the Legislature absolutely necessary to
hold Convention Of the people of the State.
We give to the measure our assent a. an ar
rangement which would tend to ascertain the
views and wishes Of the people in this time
OF public eIigeaey. And should il be daem-
cd expedient by the Legislature. or by such
state Convention when assembled. 10 nronose
a Convention If the Southern O. Slay.holding
States, We will ia like manner yisld our be,r,S
aoquiesceneo. But IL through the -;,b;.nc.
sluon OF Any one or more Of our Southern
Slayeholding States TO enter upon such a,
arrangement, should this end of n .S,ytL,,.
Convention prove 10 be unattAinablc. then do
We with one accord, aud oBors aR exhort the
l'egislature-the Convention Of the State
indeed the I1opi~ hem,elces-to look "a
they would Ia the sheet anchor Of their
saiety-the last the only hope Of our Union
tod Co"UeHt'OH If ME Border .SIryedoEl;s,,
Std'e', delaware, Maryland Kentucky. Ten
nessee and Mis~Osri,) and any other slave.
holding States, who might accept our offer Of
conference and attempted Cancellation. In
such Convention OF the Border aud other
states as here proposed or in a .S,.fL,ya
convention n u can be held terms Of COM
promise with the ROH-slayeholding State.
might be proposed, aud an uLis,afsm de.
manded Of the North, which. IL yielded and
acccded 10, may give 10 our country the bless.
ing Of continued peace aud 10 our heart. and
our homes, feeling Of rcpose and security
The terms Of arrangement here de.ignat.d
h'shi' when agreed upon, be presented ~
'hc basis oi permanent and lasting agree
men' 70 the Hoa-slayeholdiog States ia Ike
manner IN Convention assembled or If deem.
ed more oxpedient, they might be proposed
10 zoe Legislatures u such States. a. the de.
m1hds Of the South and il consented 20. In
q H'Asroi c.'AsSnfioH ~ I'll the Ststss a. ,.s,u
a. Po-siblc the Constitution may hs 80 amend.
ed, ~ 10 grant and secure a. the .layeholdipg
S'@'e'l the guarantees which justice inrera-
lively demands ln thus entrusting 10 the
Legislature the exercise ola dos5,Tid power
that OF advising and assembling Convention
o. the state without submitting tl.a question
GSa 20 vote u the pcople-we submit to
an iniungcmehf ~ our reserved rights which
nothing but the e1igcncy and peril Of the
Times could justify iSres,sfpbk- current
Of ersas leagcs a. too littLs time Cor wopted
precautions but &c demand that any act
authorizing tbe assembling ony Convention.
shall 'f~cialiy provide that is ultimate de-
csioD'i when arrived a. shall b. submitted
T. vote Of the people for their approval or
rejection Jeoiyus 81 our liberties aud our
rghtr, Ee retain De- our eva hand. tbs gasi
arbiiramcnt ~ all such stupendous and inn.
lsortani Interests Guardians u ngr own de-.
TIMES and orr liberty ths Gual result .hali b.
determined BY ourselves -Ly Hr pesfk
In imsHefiafs -Seecssion. from, a.. f,iso
~ declare that We csn zee 90 t1s.iile r.ms.
dy Tor any evil which We have o. sod..s
and We anticipate from IL. no repair of ibe
grievances oi whieh 80 e0uphio Wo lo,,k
upon it only a. surrender of al our right.
ani 100 iuglrripus submission io an ss-yre.si,e
&C. w. Secession We give an our sisir.
ur0u the Fubiic Domain. and iss,. n q 49,
o. Free Suilers We Lsavs us.....i..i 49,.