Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-12-20
For the Standard.
: - - For the Standard.
UNION MEETING IN BERTHE COUNTY.

gentlemen, q large number of the most intelligent
and respectable citizens Of the county, assembled at
NE Courthouse in Windsor, on Saturday the sth
instant, for the purpose Of expressing their sen-
ments IN respect to the present distractions in the
country.
The meeting was organised by the appointment
of James l. Mitchell, as Chairman, and Thomas NJ
Garrett as Secretary. .s.a, ~ e
Lewis Thompson, Esq, one of the gentlemen
joining in the call, being called upon, briefly ex-
planned the object of the meeting. s-f,s.s
Col. Saml B. Spruil moved for the appointment
of committee to draft resolutions for the action of
the meeting, and said, that as it was intended that
the action OF meeting should be entirely without
party distinction, suggested the appointment of the
following committee, viz: Messrs. DR.. Stark B.
Smith, James B. Jordan Lewis Thompson, James
Burden, William 7. Sutton, John Perry, Senr.,
Augustus Holley. James Duers, Thomas G. Watson,
and John B. Gillian. This motion and suggestion
were unanimously adopted.
Upon the retirement Of the committee, John Pool,
ESQ.,, was called outNap made a strong Union
speech. We will not attempt a report Of it, or
synopsis Of it, lest should do him injustice,
but it is enough to say that Twas marked by his
usual ability and was received throughout with Oft
repeated and rapturous applause. Mr.. Pool took
ground against secession as being unwarranted by
the Constitution resolving itself inevitably in
practice into revolution unmanly desertion OF
rights in the Union, and Of friends at the North,
who have manifested willingness to perform their
duty and accord us our rights. He especially con-
demned the movement of South Carolina, as AFRO
CANT in the extreme towards some of her sister
States as rash and precpitate in making no effort
any peaceabc solution Of present difficulties, and
as needless of the counsels and interests of other
States of the South, whosresimiary circnmstsnced
to slavery with herself anehe appealed to the cit-
Gems present not to yield their attachment to the
Union but to adhere to it until all possible peaceable
means should be exhausted for its safety. Mr.
rho,,t s,lao md
dispassonate, strong in argument and interspersed
with fervent patriotiosentiments
Col S. B. Spruil being called for arose and made
! short but very forcible speech, in which he de-
picted in feeling language the horrors of the civil
war and bloodshed which seemed to be so near at
hand. He Denounced the doctrines of the fanatics
at the North, aud the disunionists of the South
equally reasonable and argued that the best secur
ty for our liberties to be found in quiet and
orderly sbmisson to the Constitution and the law,
and hphighest duty and obligation Of the govern
| meptvas a firm and consistent execution of it.
| iNr Spruill and Mr. Pool both condemned the
scheme Of calling Convention in this State to CON-
<ier of secession, to encourage South Carolina in
her movement towards it. and from the applause
With which this sentiment was greeted, we should
Judge there was pretty unanimous opinion here
y against any such measure. The delivery of Mr..
4 Sprurs speech was cut short by the entrance of
the committee who submitted the following report:
/ We the citizens of BERTHE county, assembled with
out respect to party distction feeling great appre-
tension for the welfare of the country arising out of
the imminent dangers which seem to- be impending
it, deem it our duty to give expression to our
sentiments in regard to the course to be pursued to
ward off impending dangers. and for that purpose do
! adopt the following resolutions:
| Resoired That we are devotedy attached TO the
Union, and to the Constitution which is its bond
that we look upon them sacred, because they are
the handy-work of revolutionary fathers that
we regard them as the fruitful source Of the bless
ings Of liberty, and prosperity, and progress, which
. we have enjoyed as a nation and that we are as
ready now as ever ito dscountenance whatever may
suggest even a suspicion that they can in any event
| be abandoned"
! Resolred That we regard the Constitution Of the
| United States establishing. not merely compact
but a regular government Of limited powers, but su-
preme within the scope of its powers and that the
sanoio~s to its laws and authority directed to-
/ wards each individual citizen of the United States
/ and not merely to communities or States, and that
therefore each individual citizen is bound by his al
! legiance to respect and maintain its authority and
we do not believe that any State can rightfuy alb
| solve her citizens from this obligation.
ResoLred, That we regard any attempt at nullifi-
cation or secession revolutionary in its character,
of evil tendency, and as destructive to liberty
and happiness.
Resoired, That the States Of the North which
have attempted to nulfy the fugitive slave law, by
the passage of personal liberty bills and other kin
/ dred measures, and have by these encour-
/ aged moh-volence to be opposed to the execution of
the law. have committed gross violation of their
Constitutional obligations that such measures have
tendency to ALLEVIATE the affections of the people Of
the great sections Of the country. to create mu
tual dstrus. and to the seeds of dssension and
disunion that hope q returning sense of justice
will induce the people Of these States to repeal these
| laws and thus remove this of danger to the
Republic, but if not, we hope the General Govern
nert will all its powers to put down resistance
49, IL .ntho in those States and
Constitutional obligation to he observed and we be-
lerc that large majority Of the people of Ill sec
tons will sustain the Government in the perform
dmce of this necessary duty, even if she shall be
compelled to resort to the force Of arms.
Res61ced, That we cannot regard secession or dis
union is remedy for any of the evils under which
we arc laboring; that the act of secession in our
! opinion cannot be iconsummated upon the part of
any State wthoutinvolving the country IN the hor-
rors Of civil war and bloodshed in which all that
hold dear, our lives our liberties, our property, our
peace and happiness as nation will be involved in
one common ruin ; that we are not prepared in mind
or heart to embrace these consequences of revolu-
ton, and we therefore hope that the members of
the present Legislature ofNorth Carolina will resist
with all the powers at their command, any scheme
set on foot to commit North Carolinato an attempt
at secession or any scheme calculated to encourage
such attempt upon the part of OF the Con-
federacy.
~ Resotred, That we canno. sesgthe necessity Of
calling Convention in this consider OF Sc
cesson or dlsunion, and We DO hereby instruct the
members of the Legislators representing this county
to vote against this and every kindred measure.
Resoloed That we deeply regret the success of a
sectional party in the LATE Presidential election, and
believe that 1t should niake us watchful Of our
Constitutional rights and justiiies immediate prePar-
alton to resist by force any aggtession upon them
and that while we do not think the eecton Of Abram
Lincoln a sufficient cause for dissolution of the
Union, we are ready to resist any encroachments
upon our rights which may be attempted under his
! administration.
Resoleed, That believing the Interests of North
Carolina as much identified with the institution Of
slavery as those of any Other Southern State, and
that her interests are more Exposed than those o
the States south OF her. we bold that any important
action on their part il the present crisis without