Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-12-18
Pph,,, ncetinr I'm Caroline County.

Public Meeting In Caroline County.
Al very large meeting Of the citizens Of
Caroline County, Irrespective Of party, heiu
! ut the Bowling Green, OH Monday the i0th
of December, 1860, .,
On motion, Francis ". Scott, Esq, vas call
ed to the Chair and DR.. Vim. d. QuiScnherr,y
Was appointed Secretary.
Edmund Il. Morris, Esp, offered the follow
inG preamble and resolutions, preiacing then
by sitting that they were the result ri an IN,
formal conference Just held between several
gentlemen of all parties.
The preamble and resolutions were seconded
by Picheeru Voolfolk, Esq. aud were Hnanl'
mousIy adopted, as follows:
majority Of the people Of the non slave
holrjnp States of this Union, at the recent
Presidential election, having, by their votes, de-
MED to the people Of the SsaSriio!G'ng States
the ,,,ht to extend tlI"ii domestic institutions
into the comnrun Territory al the Cnnicdciicy,
undhuving endorsed the ,~luct:lne ri the IRE
preside conflict between free and slave ID
Dor rs il exists ~ present u'Idrr THIS govern
me,t IN doctrine Us laiiaclOuS a. 1t Is dangerous
to ar ncacc and destructive I'll our rights
mi having also sanctioned the idea that 1t Is
Mi,. duty Ia put the institution vi domestic
-sl.yrrry in the Southern States lin the course
Of Intimate extinction" have, in addition 10
t;air past conduct, thereby demonstrated, rs
We conceive, a settled purpose on their part not
c,Iv 10 tlrny to us of the South that Justice
s,i domestic tranquility" III establish and
~ ,,Ire" which are rccitcd in the prcalnbir To
n. Constitution of tie United States Ms main
oLS,,ts in the formation uf this Union; but,
AZ 10 continue Il SYSTEM Of wanton and un-
irt,tiable interference in the ,%!yllieSlic Affairs
oil ne Southern States:
nd. whereas, in our opinion. the time has
am I'd for the people Of the SiaTcholding States
Id Ike such measures as are necessary anu
ntncr. 10 secure u themselves and their pos
inr V that protection !ur life aud property
With is the o. irc! Of all good government TO
adsd; Therefore,
Z. Resolved, That the rights OF the people
olhe Southern States are, in all respects, equal
tthosc Of the people Of the Northern States
rGer the Constitution Of the United States.
.. Resolved, That the property Of the reo,
c Of the Southern States is As fully protected
V the Constitution of The United States rs that
II the people Of the Northern States.
:. Resolved, That the slaves ri liir South.
lrn States arc recognized As property under
tho Constitution Of the United States, and are
entitled to be AS fully protected by 1t as any
description Of property whatever in the tn!tr';
States.
/. Resolved, That lIc Fugitive Slave law
has been decided by the Supreme Court OF the
United States to be constitutional and ought To
be executed, and any and all Stale laws intend
ed Or calculated 10 defeat i, Or prcVeat It's en-
ccution ought TO hc repealed.
5. Resolved, That the Territories Of the Uni.
ted States, acquired either by purchase, trca-
ty or conquest, are the common, property Of all
the States, and all are equally Interested there
in; and, therefore, the people Of n! the States
have an equal Iigh; 10 enter upon and occipr
them, anil 10 take with them their property
whatever 1t may be.
&. That in our opinion the Supreme Court
of the United States in the case vi Drcl Scott
correctly eXpouuded the rights Of tic inhabi.
tants OF the territories Of the United States,
and by that exposition neither Congress nor Il
Territorial Legislature has the RICH. 10 pass
any law discriminating between slaves and
any other property 10 the disadvantage or in
jury Of the rights Of the slavr-uwncr, nor 10
deny TO or withhold from him the PROPER rem.
ciics for the preservation, protection and r..
Of property.
:. TIA; the citizens uf every State nave the
right of peaceful transit viii: their property
every other State, and every attempt
to hinder or 10 prevent such transit, or to de-
privc them Of their property in the transit ur-
der any prctcncc whatever is an illegal and I'M
constitutional violation vi their rights.
s. That the Fugitive S!a:c Law. As it Row
stands OH the Statute Book, is constitutional
and ought 10 he enforced, and all State iaws
designed or having the effect to defeat Or multi
IS it arc uucolstitutioua and void, and ought
10 be repealed, and all persons acting under
laws where they are not repealed should
he punished by fine or Imprisonment. ar both.
y. Resolved, That tine Union Of these | ni:cd
States, based upon the principles set ont in
the foregoing resolutions, ought, in our opinion,
to he maintained and preserved. TN any other
principles the Onion is Void, a!.d Of mn hirling
Effect, and ought to hc rc>i,tcd-i,caceahIv II
can. forclhIy il We ,nns;.
lU. Resolved, That We deny to Tie fe'ic:al
Government any right to cocrrc Il State into
Union, if she thinks proper to Withdraw
Ihere(rom; and any attempt $" /" GEORGE n
Southern State will max, the cause "i that
State q comInC,i causc with lis.
II. Resolved, That we deem il 20 he the in.
duty Of our Legislature, ut its APP
Droaching called session, to take measures TO
convene the people of Virginia in their sovereign
immediately, so that they rnay con-
and determine what Is necessary and pro-
Ier 10 he done in the present emergency.
-. That Il copy Of this preamble and Of
.hese resolutions be- sent, ny the Secretary Of
meeting. To our Senator and Delegate in
he General Assembly Of Virginia, with the
'equcst that they will each present them to
heir respective Houses on tie first day of the
approaching session, and urge prompt action
II regard to calling T. Convention 81 the State.
On motion, Resolved, That the newspapers
# Richmond ard Fredericksburg he requested
0 publish the proceedings Of this meeting.
Ard then the meeting adjourned.
FRANCIS W. SCOTT, Ghi"'n
WV. d. QrIsESBEgIY, Secy.