Newbern weekly progress., 1860-12-18
GUILFORD CO1JNTt

whereas the peace and repose Of o,,rz zrho,
country nave been greatly disturbed bv ~.
friendly and unconstitutional Lepislgt;o,, - III
peratng newspaper discussions irr;to4;S ns1n-
speecnes, and unscr1ptural sermons IN rtsn,I g
the Northern States of this Confederacv a.y.;,Nt VI
the people ana institutions ofits Southern mem
bers to counteract which violent rueaerroe, n
redress and retaliation have been Threatened l1l
the people OF the South, whose rights have hoo,
invaded, and nasty and inconsiderate steps have
been taken by. some to dismember the Govorr
ment and break up the Union of these States
under which we have enjoyed prosperity un,
known TO any other people, and reached a no.
Sitloh OF power and greatness unsurpassed bv
any other nation: And whereas. persistent and
unwarrantable provocation on one side anS
rash and hasty measurers of retaliation n,1
the other, are we'll calculated to bring 1fnon tbo
whole country, all the horrors of c5vy v.r
bloodshed and bankruptcy ending in the da
structlon of the government and the ru;r or
the people And, whereas, it is eminontl
proper IN such an alarming state of affairs fo;r.
the people to assemble and consult together in
regard TO the Pubhc danger and to express
their opinions freely as to such measures S 90
will most likely ensure to the public safotI,
and promote the general welfare Of the COM
try, Therefore,
l. Resotted, That the Constitution of tbo
United States is the work of pure patriots and
SagaclouS @tateS1nen, that it is by far the hest
model OF civil government which human wis
dom and virtue have ever devised that it has
rendered our country great prosperous and
powerful; that 1t has many checks and balan
ces, many wise salutarv and conservative nro-
VISIONS, emnentiy calculated to guard against
the encroachments Of power, to prevent op
preston, and to shield the rights of the mi
norlty; and that in any crisis which may
arlse, all constitutional remedies ought to be
fairly tried and exhausted before resort
should be had to extreme measures, likely to
terminate in civil strife and to convert our
hourishing and happy country into a scene of
havoc and dess olation.
2. ReS0Ired That we do not regard the mere
election OF sectional candidate to the Presidcn-
cy, achieved as it has been over disunited CON
Servative parties, sufficient cause in itself for
q dissolution of the Union; yet we view this
sectional triumph with anxiety and apprehen-
sion. 1t imposes US the duty of uniting
as one man III making preparations to maintain
our honor and our vital interests against any
assaults that may be made upon them.
3. Reso5red, That North Carolina is attach
ed to the Union according to the Constitution
aud will be faithful to it as long as the Const-
tuition is respected and maintained no 1on-
ger If the Constitution shall be violated. or if
any attempt shsh be made by dominant sec
tional majority, to administer the government
on principles inimical to the rights, the equali-
ty, or the safety of the Slayeholding States
North Carolina will set her face against Union
which will thus have lost its vitality and virtue
and will make common. cause with her South
ern sisters against such Il Union, holding her
self free to remain an independent Republic or
to unite her de:tinics with other slavc-h holding
States in new Confederation
+. Reso1ced, That the legislation of those
States which have in effect nullified the Fugi-
tive Slave Law is ininical to our Constitutional
rights, and in opposition to that spirit of frater
nifty, and friendship which should characterzc
the action of towards another. of mem
bers Of a common Union. That as citizens
of North Carolina we insist upon repeal cE
all such obnoxious statutes and that we CON
slider it the duty of the General Assembly, now
in session, to enact suchla if in their power.
as will lead to repeal of these statutes.
.. RrS0iTef That our militia system should
be carefully reEiscd and our militia thoroughly
organized anfl that measures should be adopted
to equip and arm with the best weapons ali
the volunteer companies now in existence ly
the State or that may hereafter be formed.
&. I'em-{ccd That the members of the Lcgs-
laturc from the county of Gultord, in their re-
Spectivc bodies, he requested to present these
resolutions to the consideration Of the General
Assembly,
SUrry County.
The following which find i'll the Stnndarf
is the proceedings of meeting recently held III
Suwy:
IN pursuance to previons notice portion of tho
people of Surry county, Irrespective of party dis
tuctonS heretofore existing met at Mount Airy
take into consideration the measures proper tc
be pursued, in order to ward off '-the impending
crisis and maintain our constitutional rights.
The meeting was organ zed by appointing Gen.
y Graves. Chairman, m }.
retary.
On motion, a committee of FIVE was appointed,
consisting of J. +. Graves. II. s. Gimer r. Il.
Galloway, Hugh Gwyn and James S. Hill The
committee appointed TO draft suitable resolutions
for the action of the meeting retired. and during
their absence the meeting was addressed by
Granville H Booker and DR.. VIM. o. Reid
The committee reported the following resolu-
tions:
lst Rcsolred, That all rightf1l government de-
rives its power from the consent of the governed
that our Federal Union is Union by the
sent of the States which compose it.
2d ReS0tred. That " hile we condemn the &C
ton of the Northern Sta ties in their unfriendly
legislation, we as citizens of North Carolina
still attached to the Federal Union and
willing for existing causes to sever connec-
ton with it, until all peaceful efforts have
failed to redress our grievances and reproVe
wrongs
2nd Resolred That in order to secure our rights,
and obtain redress for injuries, the Legisla-
ture ought TO provide by law Tor a convention OF
the people, composed of delegates chosen the
federal basis, to be held at the Capitol at ear
ly day, to take into consideration the proper
course for the State of North Carolina to pursue
pledging ourselves as we owe allegiance first to
North CorJna 10 abide the determination OF the
Convention.
Att. Resolrcd, That in the settlement of our ex
isting difficulties, desire the union of at the
Southern States. aud to this end she State Con-
vention ought to appoint delegates to meet dele
gates from the other Southern States in conven
ton to consult the existing difficulties, and to
settle them peaceahly if possible.
5A. Resolred, Tha: if it becomes necessary to
confer with the other Southern States before the
meeting of the convention then the Legislature
ought to institute measures for a conference with
our sister States of the South, and that such dele
gates as the Legislature may appoint to confer
with other States, be instructed to all peaceful
means to procure satisfactory settlement of our
existing difficulties, and use their influence to
prevent any State from acting precipitately and
involving the whole country in isreparabe injury.
The resolutions were then voted upon seperate-
ly the first and second were adopted unani-
mously without alteration. The third was amen
ded by striking out after the word pursue, and
then adopted by an almost Unanimous vote. there
being only few dissenting voices. The fourth