Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-12-25
TUT IHe OIanuar
MASS MEETING IN PERSON

MASS MEETING IN PERSON.
Pursuant to previous notice mass meeting of the
citizens OF Person county, irrespective of party was
held at the Courthouse in Roxboro, on Tuesday the
18th OF December. 1t was very largely attended by
citizens from every portion of the county.
On motion of Hon. John W. Cunningham, Dr. C.
ii. Jordan was elected President and Alexander
Walker j. j. Rogers, j. H. Clay and W. H. Smith,
Vice Presidents. Rev. W. R. Webb, B. H. Thaxton,
and W. P. Wilkins, appointed Secretaries. DR..
Jordan on taking the Chair explained the Object OF
the meeting.
On motion Hon. E. G. Reade, Hon. Jno W. Cum
ningham, Hon. C. S. Wnstead Hon. James Hole
man, and Dury Harris, were appointed a committee
to draft resolutions for the action of the meeting
During the absence of the committee W. p Will
kins being called for addressed the meeting in favor
of a national convention for the adjustment of the
existing difficulties.
| In short time the committee returned, and
| through their Chairman, Hon. E. G. Reade reported
| the following resolutions
We, the people Of Person county, irrespective of
party, in full convention on Tuesday of Court week,
in deliberaon upon the alarming state of the
| try, do resolve:
lst That we have always cherished the convic-
ton that we had the best country in the world in
extent and variety; in beauty and grandeur, in soil
and climate Attending, with just enough of labor to
keep from idleness all the necessaries and many
of the luxurieS of life the best people in the word
intelligent, vItuous, patriotic and religious the best
! government in the world, affording perfect liberty
! to do right, and absolute restrictions upon doing
wrong the pride of its subjects and the wonder Of
| the world and that to destroy such government
for any consideration but that of necessity were not
simply the greatest folly, BUT consummate wicked
! ness.
ID That, with all this in favor of our government
yet it is not perfect 1t has its evils every thug
| human must have. That among these evils is the
conflicting interests of different sections and classes
| from which no government in the world is can
be free That the only remedy for this evil is
pect for each others rights and interests Cancellation
and concession. That the evil itself is no cause for
the destruction of the government unless II is per-
sIstently used for oppression or dishonor.
Sd. That the slavery question is such evil is
too plain to doubt That the rights and interests Of
the South have not been respected by the North we
| do firmly maintain. But We concede that the evil
has hitherto been confined to party and sectional
action; that it has not yet taken possession Of the
government; but the contrary, the Legislative,
judicial and executive action Of the government has
| been in maintenance OF our rights.
4th. That therefore, to break up n government
which has maintained our rights, because there Is a
party in the country opposed to our rights, Is to
show ourselves wanting sense and wanting pa
! trlOtiSm.
9Th. That it is apparent, from the late Presiden-
tia election that this hostile party is not than
one-third Of the people; that it had only small
majority in the North, where alone it exists. And
we have reason to believe that very large majority
of those who voted with that party were msled as
to the designs of of Its leaders, and will now
Immediately abandon the party and unite themselves
with their conservative neghbors, who stood up so
nobly for the country.
9Th. That we offer assurance to the 100000
men who voted with US at the North, that we will
not desert them in their conflict with the enemies OF
the country, but will sustain them, and, with their
cooperation, we hope soon to cure the evil which
exists by peaceable and constitutional means; but
if We fail IN this and violence must come then we
should never do ourselves the great injustice to
abandon the government with all its organized
wealth and power, TO the enemy to be used against
us: but the great conservative and patriotic element
in the country North and South. should hold the
government and claim the flag of our country and
all that it covers, and land as belonging tC
| us who are in the right, and, with a firm reliance
upon the God of Justice, defend it as we have done
before, and drive off or conquer its enemies.
7th That upon these momentous questions we
think the State ought to deliberate in Convention
and therefore, advise representatives in the
General Assembly to favor any prudent measure
which may be before the Legislature to that end.
sth That we do not desire to forestall the delib
erations of that Convention but express a firm
conviction that for State to take any separate
action which would endanger our sister States
which have community OF interests with us, woulC
be to do TO SUc0 states the very WIICu VIZ
complain the North has done to us, to wit: to b'
indifferent to their feelings and reckless OF their IN
! terestS and would show to be rash and presump
| tuous; and therefore, we advise that nothing bt
done except upon agreement of all that have TIT
same interests.
9Th That in this great trial We commend ou
dear country, and all its interests to the keeping
Almighty God.
The resolutions being read, they were well sup
ported by Messrs. Winstead, Holeman. and Reade
Mr. Holeman made some very pertinent remarks
in regard to keeping slavery agitation out oil Con
gress and asking full and sufficient guarantees from
the North as to the execution of the Fugitive Slav
Law.
Hon. F. G. Reade made powerful appeal tor TIT
government under which We hive, and maintained tina
with all its defucts-and defects it had-it was still
the best government on earth. He admitted tina
the South had been wronged, not by the genera
government but by the people of some OF the North
ern States; but said the remedy was not to abandon
the government TO enemies, but by using tn
government against our enemies.
The remarks of all the speakers were well re
ceived The resolutions being then put were car
ried without dissenting voice.
On motion of Hon. E. e. Reade, the Secretarle
were requested to forward copies of these resolution
to our members in the Legislature, and 10 tnr ma
leigh Standard, Raleigh Register, and Milton ONT0"
icLe for publication. n.;au.
y E' H R. r %s1o Secretaries.