The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1860-12-19
Public Meeting

and O. L. Ellis elected Secretary.
On motion it was resolved that the chair
man appoint committee Of five, to draft
resolutions expressive Of the sense OF the
meeting. The Chairman appointed Maj st.
John r. Liddell, Maj. VIM. Beard, Col John
w. Stone, Mr.. Jas. w. Metcalf and Mr..
Noah Reddick.
On motion, the chairman was added 10
the committee.
| During the retirement Of the committee
| Mr.. C. Z. Wheeler was loudly called for.
who arose and made few very appropriate
remarks, counseing the South to stand up
boldly in defense Of her rights.
The committee on their return reported
the following preamble and resolutions which
were unanimously adopted as fellows, viz
Preamble Whereas, it is plain to the
comprehension Of every Southern man, that
the election of Abraham lincoln to the
Presidency, by Northern fanatical people,
with their unappeasab!e and avowed hostility
to the South, proclaimed before and since
the election, confirmed too by Mr.. Lincoln's
| late refusal to come out and acknow ledge
himself without reserve, national and CON
evidence, beyond peradventure OF the neces-
sty for the South to now stand up, if erfr,
! har Il af., 10 :.
fcnatcal government encfoachment upon
her rights, but against the license, that said
Lincoln's election will give to abolitionisis
and disaifected persons in our midsts, attempt
ing to nciie to incsndiarisn,.s and servle IN
surrection:
Therefore, resolved, That as tie govern.
ment established by the immortal Washing
ton, was good enough for our ancestors, i:
is good enough for ourselves and our posieli-
ty. but that sectional Northern people
have recklessly broken the Nasiona! com
pact made by him for our Union and safety.
Nevertheless as the deceudants Of true
Anglo Americans We will maintain the
principles of equal rights il. the Union if "e
can out oft five must, and will acknowledge
no superior and no "higher law" than that
given US by God and the Constitution.
> FL. That we have broken no national law,
as ten of the Northern States have doae,
even at the expense of Southern life, with
property, aud that hence our cause is just
asd lawful whether we go or stay in the Tn.
ion) aud will and shall be sustained.
3rd. That We will sustain the action of
our State and pledge our lives end our for
tunes On the result, and that we further APP
prove the action Of Governor Moore in con-
vening the Legislature for the purpose Of
calling convention Of the people to decide
what course our State will pursue in the
present crisis in political affairs.
4th. That we style ourselves the Trinity
Vigillant Association and will meet here
once in every month list Saturday, IA ma.
jority Of the members being present, consti7 /
.uting a quorum for bus'ness) until our
troubles are settled in fall accordance with
the rights and safety Of our State, property
and people.
5th. That we will organize corps a
minute men, ready for any emergency at the
call Of our State authorities, for which pur-
pose, we will open subscriptions for enroll
ment Of men above the age Of Is. And that
VIM E. GauIden, St. John R. Liddell and
Alex Mason be appointed to open books and
to enroll men agreeably to this resolution.
9th. That President be elected for this
association, whose duty will be to call meet
ings and preside the:eat, and that he will
appoint a secretary to record all proceedings,
and that we proceed at once to his election.
7th. That an executive committee of
three good citizens be elected to attend to
the management OF the affairs Of this associa.
stion, and to keep correspondence with other
like associations in this State, that co-opsrsr
5COu WIN Jul osotOs P"tiShSo stiaft} Oc cifcCteQ
for the accomplishment of our objects, and
for Union and saety.
9Th. That we will constitute oursevesa
committee Of Vigilance in mass to ketp
and enforce order among the slave popuh
ton and to take cognisance Of, aud bring 10
prompt punishment, all public disturbefspf
the peace and suspicious persons, such as
aboIitionists incendiaries and the ike, wherev.
er and whenever found in our borders.
9th. That in the execution Of these,ob-
jects, we will neither tolerate Or CRAFTY
private malice, norwiil We sustain any as,-
ton not in compliance with the willsof a
majority Of the association fully expresssdan
all cases brought under their consideration.
The vote was then taken fol Presi1spsk
which resulted in the elcctioa of Maj. 81.
John h. Liddell, Robert Wilkinson, jos.
Benjamin and O.. t. Ellis were elected as the
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