Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-12-19

| dents assembled in the chamber of Select
Council. They we're joined by the Judges o
the Courts, the presidents and members o
Council in general, and by large number
of Influential citizens. There were also pre-
sent numerous clergymen, and many of oul
prominent merchants and manufacturers.
The staging erected in Independence square
was very spacious, and was entirely occu-
pied by the officers of the meeting. In front
stretched, to use the trite phrase, sea Of
heads. No meeting so large has ever been
held in this city during the memory of the
present generation. When we say that
twelve thousand upturned faces surrounded
the stand of the speakers, we make small
estimate of the numbers in the thropg.
To this scene, the procession of orators
aud officers moved at the appointed hour
| First came the Mayor, arm in arm with Bish.
| Op Potter; next. the Presidents of City Coun-
ellis, then the Judges of the Courts, while the
officers of the meeting completed the line
The reserve corps enfiIaded in double rank
through the State House hall, and between
| them passed the line 10 the stage erected di-
| rectly in the rear of the building. The spec
| taele that met the eye was impressive, sol
| emR and unique. We have seen dense
| thrOngs of people during the excitement OF
political campaigns. we have seen large null
titudes assembled for various purposes, but
in the history of the country the meeting OF
yesterday. alike in It's objects and its numeri-
cal strength, stand alone. The proceedings
of the meeting were conducted amid a ST.
Ience that, in view of the multitude assem-
bled. was a sufficient commentary upon the
Importance of the occasion, and upon the
earnestness with which any approximation
| toward disunion is deprecated by the people
| of Philadelphia
After prayer by Bishop POTTER, Mayor
/! HENRY vas called to the chair.
There were together several hundred Vice
Presidents and Secretaries, representing the
leading parties. Their names having been
read, Mr.. J. B. MYERS offered the following
resolutions
The people of the city of Philadelphia
having Assem- oIed in cheerful obedience to the
proclamation of the Mayor, issued by request
of their Councils. for the purpose of testify
ing their love for the Union and their deyo-
ton to its perpetuatiOn, and to The strength
ening Of those bonds which hold US together,
whether of the north or the south. the east
or the west, as one great and united people,
do resolve
First. With one voice and united hearts.
We proclaim our attachment to and reverence
for the Constitution oTthe United States, and
our earnest and enduring love for that great
Union which ii creates and pTOtects-a love
which is not sectional but national and that
greets our brother from whatever State be
comes, as a partaker with us in that nobIest
of all inherilanees, the title of a citizen of
the United States.
Res0IUaf 2, That the usefulness and the en-
duranee of the Union both depend upon a
faithful observance, by the people of all the
States, Of all the requirements of that sacred
instrument which the wisdom and the patriot
ism of our fathers framed, and under whose
provisions we have become great and happy
people, prosperous and renowned among the
nations OF the earth.
Res0lUei, s. That we do, therefore, most
deeply deplore the fact that some of the
States of this Union have placed upon their
statute books enactments which eyade or de-
feat provisions which the trainers of the Con-
stitutiOn wisely inserted for the protection of
valuable rights OF citizens of other States;
and that we pronounce all such acts to be
violations of the solemn compact by which
we are made one people, and that we earnest
IL appeal to our brethren of those States in
stantly to repeal all such enactments.
Res0EUed, 4, That the people of Philadelphia
hereby pledge themselves to their brethren of
the other States, that the statute books of
Pennsylvania shall be carefully searched by
their representatives at the approaching ses-
sion of the Legislature, and that every stat
ute. If any such there be, which in the least
degree inYades the constitutional rights of a
sister State. will be at once repealed, and
that Pennsylvania, ever loyal to the Union
and liberal in constituting her obligations to
it, will be faithful always in her obedience to
its requirements.
ReSolOed, D. That we recognize the obliga-
lions of the Act of Congress of 1850, com
monty known as the Fugitive Slave law, and
submit cheerfully TO its faithful enforcement;
aud hat we point with pride and satisfac-
ton to the recent conviction and punish
ment, in the City of Philadelphia, of those
who had broken its provisions, by aiding 10
the attempted rescue of slave, as proof that
Philadelphia is faithful in her obedience TO
the law: and furthermore, that we recon-
mend to the Legislature of our own State.
the passage of law which shall give COM
pensatiOn in case of the rescue Of slave by
the county in which such rescue occurs, pre-
cisely as is now done by existing laws in case
of destruction of property by the violence of
mobs. -l
ResoIusd, s. That as to the question Of the
recognition of slaves as property. and as to
the question OF the rights of sIaSeowners in
the territories OF the United States, the peo-
pie of Philadelphia submit themselves ODE
diently and cheerfuIly to the decisions of the
Supreme Court of the United States, wheth-
er now made or hereafter TO be made, and
they pledge themselves faithfully to observe
the Constitution in these respects, as the
same has been or may be expOuRded by that
august tribunal And further; they recon-
mend that whatever points Of doubt exist
touching these subjects, be in some amicable
aud lawful way forthwith submitted to the
consideration of said Court, and that its
opinion be acceDtedias the 6nal land authoIita-
tive solution of all doubts as TO the meaning
Of the Constitution in controverted points
Rss0lrsd, Z. That all denunciations of slsye-
~, as existing in the United States, and of
our fellow citizens who maintain that institu-
ton and who hold slaves under 1t, are incou-
sistent with that spirit Of brotherhood and
kindness which ought 20 animate all who
live under and profess 10 support the Cousti-
tuition of the American Union.
Res0lred, 8. That we cordially approve the
suggestion that Convention, or Congress of
Delegates from the States contemplating Sc
cession, be held for the purpose of consulta-
ton upon the causes that induce them TO med
itate such step, and of suggesting such
remedies as they would propose; and that il
is the firm conviction of the citizens of Phil
adelphia that the propositions made by such
convention would be received by the people
of the other States in fFaternal and coucil-
iatory spirit, and with an earnest desire to
remove all grounds of just complaint.
ResOlred, finally, That We appeal to our
brethren of South Carolina. of Georgia, of
Alabama, of Mississippi, Of Florida, and of
such other States as are considering the