Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-01-14
Important Letter from Coy. Ellis.

"eare indebted to the courtesy of His Excellency
1ov Ellis, for the following proceedings of meet
ing OF the citizens of Chatham County, together
with his reply, on the subject of called session of
the Legislature. Whatever difference of opinion
may exist among citizens on the subject all will
concede to the Governor integrity of purpose and
firm determination to omit nothing which, in his
Judgment, may be necessary to protect the vital
interests of the State
For The Standard.
PUBLIC MEETING IN CHATHAM COUNTY.
public meeting was held in the Court House in
PittSboro, Chatham county, on Wednesday, 2Sth
December, 1859. j. j. jackson, ESQ.,, arose and
explained the OBJECT of the meeting to be- that the
Governor of the State be requested to convene the
Legislature, with view to such legislative action
as was necessary to put the State IN such posture
OF military defence as the crisis demands and in ex-
PLANTATION of his views, read the letter of the Gov
ernOr to Mr. Alternately, of Lincolnton published
in the last Standard
Mr.. j. then moved, for the organization of the
meeting, that DR.. John A. Hanks be called to the
Chair, and that Dr. ID. S. Wadde be appointed Sec
Rotary; which motions were unanimously adopted.
\ committee of three persons, viz: Hugh Wad-
dell, j. j. jackson and n. \. Ramsay, EsqS. was
appointed to present Resolutions expressive of the
sense of the meeting, who retired, and after short
time offered, through their chairman the following
resolutions, to wit:
WHEREAS, recent and startling events have taught
the Southern States the imperative necessity of be-
ing thoroughly prepared to defend at every hazard,
their fireSides and their affairs; and whereas by
recent letter from his EXccllency the Governor to
Mr.. Alternately, OF Lnconton, it appears that there
arc not only no arms of the latest and best kind in
possession OF the State, but that militia system
IS so defective that there are not even officers in
! commission in Sundry parts of the State, to whom
orders could be issued in of emergency, thus
! exposing the utter defcnccessncSS of our people:
and Whereas by the said letter of his EXcellency it
is confessed that without legislative provision it is
| not in the power of the Executive to make the
| ccSSary preparation for defence: be it therefore
ResOlred, That in view of the dangers threat
ening the saveholdng States, it is the part of wis
| dom, no less than of true courage, to place such
States in the attitude of full military defence in as
| short time possible.
Rc~olrcd, That reluctant to believe her people
would ever be called on TO meet such emergency
is now upon us, and law-abi ling herself, North
Carolina has conlidCd in the loyalty of her sister
States, and made preparations for intestine ardr
for the that ancient Rome provided no
! punishment for the crime of P,nricde
ReS0irGd, That though unprepared with the nut
nitions of war, the spirit and gaantry Of her pco-
! pie in defence of her ri htS are not unworthy of
their ancestors whose voice first heard to call
1.-The embattled" armies of America to the field.
ResolreI, That in placing our beloved State in a
posture of military defence it is necessary that there
should be immediate Legislative action, and we,
therefore most respectfully request that the EXccu-
tive of the State will take the c:>Sary steps to
convene the Legislature at as early period pos
Slbr.
R6so1red, That the Chairman appoint Commit
tee of three persons, who shall transmit to His EX-
cccncy, the Governor, the foregoing resolutions,
accompanied by letter respectfully urging the pro-
prety and necessity of immediate convocation OF
/ the General Assembly of this State.
All which resolutions were unanimously passed
by the meeting The Chairman subsequently, ap,
pointed AEeSSrS II. Waddell, j. j. jackson, and "
\. Ramsey the Committee under the 9TH resolution
The meeting, on motion, then adjourned.
j. y. HANKS, Chairman.
D. S WADDELL, Secretary.