Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1860-11-29
ERfERsON CouNEY MEETING
THE CRISIS. II

quarters Lot the county OF Jetsrson, held nj the
Court HOUSE On Monday January 81 / sJ3 for the
purpose Of obtaining some expression of the
public sentiment on the subject OF ,hs prc-rnt
in,eeetns s,isi- in The political existence Of IN.
United States:
Coi. Gao. W. HrsrHSErs was called II the
! Char. and JeSEra I. DArGuElrrr aud ASpRrw
hrsssDr we're appoia,~,t sesre,aries
Oa motion the following named gentlemen
I were appointed = Connittso TO report R..olu-
lGnA- &c. TO Eit: Andrew Hunter, Henry i.
Turner. Edmund J, Ire, jr,. Or. john n Lewis.
William lillian Lnca-, John a. ThOmsoa, and z G.
The Committee retired Zoe a short time and
on their return. Andrew Hunter. their Chair
man reported the following Preamble aud Re-
| olutions
WHEREAS, the dominant party of the State Of
south tarolina,-Rctnaied by motives and prin.
( cipies' upon which IL ~ not decmed ht and prop
CT TO animadvert nj prc~cnt,-hAVe placed that
member OF tho Union in the attitude Of omen de-
\ nance Ia the Federal Constitution and the SUI
! preme laws Of The land, thereby rcsSlisng the
worst approximations Of those who revere our
admirable systsm Of government
/ And whereas in n crisis - pregnant with
danger 70 the highest interests of Republican
Liberty not only here hat throughout the world
u - the duty OF every good citizen 10 rouse Up
from the repcso Of long enjoyei security. and
unite, heart and hand. in indicating, by what
J ever means The emergency may demand. the in
tegrity OF the Union, AMI the inviOlability Of
those excellent political institutions from whence
| we DERIVE all that distinguishes a people
at once the frcest aud the most prosperous ON
earth And being deeply impressed with
sense " the just views and sound political wis
dom exhibitsd IN the late Proclamation Of the
lhiei Magistrate Of the Unitcd States and BE-
ievng that the voice Of patriotism demands OF
Us all he saorliee of party interests and polit-
J zeal differences, about matters OF secondary i'm
/ PoTtAnoc, upon the alter OF our common coun-
/ try's good BE IL Therefore
J. Resolved, That in the opinion Of this meet
1 ing the Constitution Of the United States L. "a
all intents aud purposes. "a CDrp Of gareTn-
"cHf and not a mere ieogHe or 1.if1ytce
/ Z Resolved, That the Constitution OF the
4 hiied states n paramount 10 the State cun-ti-
| tntions that laws u.adc in pursuance thereof
are paramount 20 state laws. and "a any acts
or ordinances of "A state convention tha, nS f,e-
corning To the theory and genius OF republican
government the coEsfifufionoitfy Of n Sl1fe kr,r
y To be tested by the Judiciary OF the State 80
the eonsututionality Of a law OF toe general gov
eminent is To be TESTED by the Judiciary of that
government That % avoid n law % sanction
Ell, thcre are but tive modes, peaceful and con
stiutional lst- An appeal by the people, 20
the ballot boxes. discarling those rcprcseuta.
yves who may have passed an obnoxious law
and eleeting others who will abrogate the same.
IDLY The calling of a convention OF the states.
according IN the constitution Wben thre, fourths
OF the States, by way of AIMS ndment TO III, satac
may effect the desired purpose.
3. Resolved, That the doctrine Of nnIIifca.
non ~ Will and pestilent political herusv,
I tTanght with dlsOrgRnizatiGn and dixunion that
the doctrine ct secession, howcve. disguised by
the devices OF ingenuity, Is equally dangerous
ana sn6versiye of our government contrary 20
[ Ms autf. ..rl. = -
whilst thus uleeting explicitly nccocnizes the
right OF revolution IA inalieBable and sacred ii
! cannot iitil 60 perceive that should the opinion
} become familiar apd popular that State NAV
seeede or 60 ou' Of the Union az pleasure and
that IN ~ doing, IL would violate no political OBJ
legations incurred under the constitution Of the
Onted States, and such a. that government
might enforce by coercion, II necessary in such
cas- The government must speedily come to its
downfall.
T. Resolved. That we heartily respond to the
sentiment The Union must BE- preserved that
We regari u a. the sheet anchor Of our highest
hopes Of continued Republican Liberty; and b
ing fully convinced that the secession OF a ssn-
gle state VIII necessarily operate n dissolution
OF the whole that will not. IN any event con.
sent that thus, or IN any other manner, the
Union shall! be destroyed
D. Resolved, That the late ordinance Of the
South Carolina Convention and the proceed.
ings Of Der Legislature thercupon. are IN The hgh
est degree violent unconstitutional and revolt
u"nAry that this meeting approves the procla-
nation OF the President OF the United States IN
regard u the ordinance aud procecdingS and
that whilst u would deprecate and deplore the
SAL necessity Of compulsory measures towards
any member or portion OF the Uuion II regards
tina constitution Of the United states ~ indi,-
pensabie o. liberty, and is compelled Co proclaim
TINT at all hazards "thc Union must bc prescry.
ed"
O. Resolved, That W. deeply sympathize with
the Union party of South carolina ~ their
wrongs, and that w. view with feelings Of uH-
quaiihed ncprobAtiOn, the late attempt to iin.
pose upon them reasonable test oaths. with 9th
er such legaiiscd acts OF revolving oppression
q Resolved, That approve th. puiicy of
gradually reducing the Tariff " the Revenue
standard but in ~ doing. we ARE clearly of
opinion, that the duties laid for that purpose
sbould be imposed an E,lch articles ~ dotne-,i-
manufacture NJ Heod protection. And iurtlur.
that the standarf Of royenae should b. - tixe.l,
n 70 admit Of liberal patronage, On behalf of
the 6eucral 0oVernmcnt, towards internal inl.
proEcmenis 81 great national Importance
D Resolved, That cordially approve the
attitude Of meditation assumed by Virginia anil
the 0ther routhern States towards their erriug
brethren of South Carolina and that IL Wei
beoosnsa this Ssate--pcculiarly situated ~ shr
is--to employ, aud exhaust every resource Of
eopeiliauon and patriotic appeal ~ bring her
bsek 20 her allegiance. But We do here. for
ourselves deliberately and solemniy proelnim.
that u tbo worst comes to ti,e worst and blsesi
must how, will b. found lighting no wbers
hot under The broai folds Of that saun Star
Spangicd Banner which has ~ often. in our pact
history. guided ~ g. victory, to honor aml 90
National glory.
The presentation 81 tl,ess resolutions olie.ted
An earnest and eloquent Discussion Of tie ~ h1Ie
subject and hpHlly. iicy worc adopted, "a. r..
ported, by an almost unanimous vote
Go iaDtion 81 Mr.. Thomson it aAs
Resolved. That copies 81 these resolutions b.
torvar,icd ~ the President Of che niiod -tate..
~ our Senator and Delegates in IT, General
Assembly n orr Representative ih Congross.
and TO tbc frrsidsnt of Jhe Union Cooyentian
Of South EeFoliGn
Resolved, That tlg proceedings of thls meet
ing b. puhlishrd IN DE- Virginia u rea Pra-s sBd
otAeF papeFH ~ Virgins
gRO. " HUMPHREYS
hsFman.
. yosEIa y DAreuEaIT.l
/ AvnarU EEgsfuT. ( -tefstarifs
I IL following rtsJlHtions were dferef hF
Jobn liavsnpoft kel e ssbstitufs f,r thas-'
I frpnrtrd ~ fhr tufaniitf.1
,. Received, That ws o. attashfI f1 OH.
/ Constellation ~ Dr. United state aad o. d.
Cassstitttsn n FFpiHis sud iisat re aH ~