The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-12-28
MestinS Of Citizens

An Immensely large meeting Of citizens was
held Mt the African Church last night, to take
into consideration the condition of the ma
tor al afaire.
The mseiin organized by electing WYATT
M. ELLIOTT, Esq President fifteen Vice Pre-
sidents, aud five Secretaries.
A Committee on Business, composed of Geo.
W Randolph, Esq. and twenty. five other
gen tiemsn, TO prepare and report business for
the meeting, was appointed.
Alter settIen,snt, mir. Randolph reported the
following preamble and resolutions, which
were discussed al length, and finally adopted :
Vi,Gnis haying manifested her appreciation of
the beneAts OF the Federal Union not only by her
aetiV. agency in its formation. her sacrifices TO
main tam 1t, and her answering hdeilty to the
endurance Of Long continued assress,on upon the
constitntI onal rights Of herself and her sister
iterate the declaration. often made, of her desire
TO maintain that Union, SO long as Its essential
conditions are fulfilled
A period has at length arrived. however, when
acCuIesceIce IN the existing condition OF fhiaes
ceases to be patriotic and sound conservatism de-
mands rev. sion OF the constitutional Ielatlons
OF Virginia with he sister states IF the Union, Tor
the pa rpose OF providing more erectuai suafan-
tees of her rights. ,
We recognise as the chief source of our evils
the ann slavery sentiment of the Norm, when
Territories; nulhss by legislative enactment,
the Fugitive Slave law poisons the schools, the
pu pit the press the literature. and, to some
te at, the administrator of justice in the North
ern States paralyzss the action OF Congress ior
all useful puF poses, and has at length. under me
form of Presidential election, Sc zed the eae-
raj Executive, with the avowed intention ol so
administering the Government as 10 circumsorloss
slavery. and to place IL where this Northern mi Ia
shall rest satisfied that it Is IN the course OF uiti
mate extinction. .,,
with the ssfety of this st tie OF the South TO en-
dure assaults though made under CONSTITUTIONAL
| forms which can only be checked by constltu-
tIonal guarantees so plain that they cannot DC
evaded. and IN default of obtaining such guaIan-
| tees in the Union, 1t behooyes this state ana tnS
South ia lock elsewhere for safety: therefore,
| resolved,
lst hat we approve of the call Of State Con-
vention. for the purpose of considering ana adopt
| ing such measures are necessar. to secure the
rights of the State in the existing Conederacy or
out OF it, and the event of the dissolution oil our
Union, to provIde for her assuming her just share
of the debts aud obligations and tor securing 70
her her lust of the property, privileges ana
muninents of the United States.
3D. That repTob ,te in the strongest terms, az
wholly unjustha"le, any attempt on the part oil
the Federal Government to coerce seeding
opinion, lead 10 war between the North and the
South. and entail unparalleled calamltes upon
| both.
81 That we deprecate the commencement of
hostiIItIes by any seeding state, the purpose
| of capturing forts IN her territory, before the
| form tlOn of q new ContedeFaCy, should one he
be adopted, unless in the opinion OF each State
such hostilItles be essential to her safety; and
hold that the question OF peace or var; lnvoiYinE,
as it does, the rights and safety Of all should g
committed 10 the General Government OF such
Confederacy; and that retention OF military
posts, for limited time, by the United states
Government, within the territory OF seeding
| State, no more staILs har honor than the cOntln-
| ued occupation Of British posts within our terri
lOrT, after the Revolution tarnIshed the honor OF
the Old Confederation.