The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-11-30
County Meeting.


Responsive to public notice, q large
number of the citizens OF McMinn coun-
ty met IN the Courthouse. in the town of
Athens, on the 9th instant, to give cx-
preston TO their views upon the alarming
condition of affairs now prevailing and
threatening the peace and pcrmanency of
the Union. Hon. T. Nixon VAN DYKE
was called TO the Chair, and explained the
object Of the meeting in few pertinent
and patriotic remarks. NJ. A. CAss and
Benz. WELLS were appointed Vice Prcsi-
dents, and c. ZIMMERMAN and JomN r.
SLOWER requested TO act rs Secretaries.
On motion, oommittc of five. consist
ing of the following named gentlemen.
was appointed TO draft preamble and
resolutions for the consideration of tho
meeting, to-wit; DR.. w. w. Alexander,
U. L. York, NJ. p. Jarnagin, Geo. w.
Bridges, and j. T. Lane, Esqrs.-which
committee, after short absence, report
cd the following, which was rcad
Regarding the past and prospective ac-
ton OF the legislatures and people of some
OF the Southern States as determining the
fact that some of them will abandon this
Union, we deem it to be our duty Mt this
| time, TO declare that we. MS citizens of
Tennessee, are satisfied with the form Of
| the Government Of the United States Of
America; and we believe unit the laws of
Congress, made in pursuance of the Con-
stlt'ltlon and now upon the statute book,
are ample to secure the rights of all. and
! that the various departments of the Gov.
eminent have full and sufficient legal
and constitutional authority TO enforce
them. In further announcement Of Tho
! views Of this meeting. the following rcso-
| buttons are submitted:
! |. RcsoIrcd, That, however much We de-
| ploro the election of a Black Republican
and sectional man to the office of Presi.
! dent, yet ms it has been done by n rccor.
/ nizcd constiutionalmajoritv of the Amer
! lean people, and in accordance with the
! forms of the Constitution we do not con-
| slider it a sufficient cause for dissolution
of the Union, and that we will willingly
abide by and submit TO lis administra-
ton so long as it is just and equal towards
all.
.. Rcso'ccd, That when our rights un-
der the Constitution are infringcd upon
and disregarded by the Executive branch
of the Federal government. that our re-
medv is in the high tribunal of impeach-
mont given to us by our Constitutions and
not 10y withdrawal from the Union.
| 3. Rcs03gek That we complain of the an
ti-slavery feeling in the Northern States,
which has caused the enactment of laws
in several of the States which prevent the
owner from rc-capturing his runaway
slave within their limits, and regard the
| enactment of such laws as violativc of the
Federal Constitution and the Compromise
OF 1880, and injurious to the South. Our
safest and most certain redress of this
grievance, is TO be attained by remaining
in the Union, and asserting our rights un-
der the Constitution.
4. Rcs0trcd, That we earnestly call upon
our southern Senators and members of
Congress not TO abandon us in this. our
greatest peril, but to take their seats, and
insist upon n faithful execution of the
laws, and that equal and impartial justice
be measured out to us.
.. RcsolcCd, That Tennessee is entitled.
in common with all the sister States. to
equal rights, and that we respectfully and
earnestly call upon all, both North and
South, for that interstate courtesy, and
recognition Of all the peculiar institutions
and laws adapted to the several States
and upon that measure of justice we do
now and shall always insist
6. Rssolrsd, That in our opinion it would
he right and proper for the Governor of
this state to call an extra session of the
Legislature, in order that authoritative ac-
ton may be taken upon the present dis
turbcd relations of the country. and to
the end that the influence of the State
may be exercised for the preservation of
our Constitutional Union.
On motion, the question was taken upon
the preamble and each resolution sepa-
rately, and resulted aiiimatively, with the
exception Of the 9th resolution, which
was rejected.
The question was then taken upon the
report of the committee as a whole lex
cept the 9th resolution) and adopted
unanimously.
The proceedings were ordered to be
published in the Athens Post, Cleveland
Buncr, and AdcerhSr and gazette, Chat
tanooga, and tho meeting then adjourn
ed SINE die.
T. NIXON VAN DYKE, Chm.
T. ~ HIT y Z, WAN, Secretaries.