Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-12-26
tHe
MASS MEETING IN PERSON.

existing causes.
For the Standard.
MASS MEETING IN PERSON
Pursuant to previous notice mass meeting of the
citizens of Person county, irrespective of party
held at the Courthouse in Roxboro, on Tuesday the ]
18th of December. 1t was very largely attended by
citizens from every portion of the county.
On motion of Hon. John w. Cunningham, Dr. C.
Fl. Jordan was elected President, and Alexander
Walker, j. j. Rogers j. H. Clay. and w. H. Smith,
Vice Presidents. Rev. W. r. Webb B. H. Thaxton,
and W. P. Wilkins, appointed Secretaries DR..
Jordan on taking the Chair explained the object Of
the meeting.
On motion Hon. E. G. Reade, Hon. Jno. W. Cum
bingham, Hon. c. S.. Winstead, Hon. James Hole
man, and Dury Harris were appointed committee
to draft resolutions for the action of the meeting
During the absence Of the committee w. p Will
kns being called for. addressed the meeting in favor
of national convention for the adjustment of the
existing difficulties
In short time the committee returned, and
through their Chairman, Hon. E. e. Resde, reported
the following resolutions: il.
We, the people of Person county, irrespective Of
party. in full convention on Tuesday of Court week,
in elaboration upon the alarming state Of the
try, do resolve:
LIST That We have always cherished the convic-
ton that we had the best country in the world; in
extent and variety; in beauty and grandeur, in soil
and climate afTnrdng, with just enough of labor to
keep from idleness all the necessaries, and many
of the uxuries of lfe the best people in the world
intelligent, vItuons, patriotic and religious; the best
government in the world, affording perfect liberty
to do right, and absolute restrictions upon doing
wrong; the pride of its subjects and the wonder Of
the world; and that to destroy such government
for any consideration but that of necessity not
simply the greatest folly, but consummate wicked
ness.
3D. That with all this in favor of our government
yet it is not perfect 1t has its evils every thug
human must have That among these evils is the
conflicting interests of different sections and classes
from which government in the world is
be free. That the only remedy for this evil is
pect for each others rights and interests Cancellation
and concession That the evil itself is no for
the destruction of the government, unless it is per-
sistently used for oppression or dishonor.
Sd That the slavery question is such an evil, is
too plain to doubt That the rights and interests Of
the South have not been respected by the North We
| do firmly maintain. But We concede that the evil
has hitherto been confined to party and sectional
action; that it has not yet taken possession Of the
government; but on the contrary, the legislative,
judicial and executive action of the government has
| been in maintenance Of our rights.
| 4th. That, therefore, to break up government
which has maintained our rights, because there is
!
| show ourselves as wanting sense and wanting pa
trotism.
| 9th. That it is apparent from the late Prcsiden-
tia election, that this hostile party is not than
ne-third of the people; that it had only small
majority in the North, where alone it exists. And
we have reason to believe that very large majority
of those who voted with that party were misled as
to the designs of some of Its leaders, and will now
Immediately abandon the party and unite themselves
with their conservative neighbors, who stood up so
noby for the country.
9th. That offer assurance to the 1900, 900
! men who voted with us at the North, that We will
not desert them in their conflict with the enemies Of
the country but will sustain them, and with their
cooperation, VIC hope soon to cure the evil which
exists by peaceabc and constitutional means but,
if fail in this, and violence must come, then we
should never do ourselves the great injustice to
abandon the government, with all its organized
wealth and power, to the enemy to be used against
u.s. but the great conservative and patriotic element
in the country, North and South. should hold the
government and claim the flag of our country and
all that it covers, on and land as belonging to
us who are in the right and, with firm reliance
upon the God of Justice, defend it we have done
before, and drive off or conquer its enemies
7th. That upon these momentous questions We
think the State ought to deliberate in Convention
and therefore, advise representatives in the
which may be before the Legislature to that end.
Sth. That We do not desire to forestall the delib
erations of that Convention, but we express firm
conviction that for our State to take any separate
action which would endanger sister States
which have community OF interests with us. would
he to do to such States the very mischief which We
complain the North has done to us. to wit: to b.
indifferent to their feelings and reckless Of their in
tcrests, and would show US to be rash and presump
tuous; and therefore, We advise that nothing b.
done except upon agreement Of all that have tn.
same interests.
9th That in this great trial we commend ou1
dear country and all its interests to the keeping
Almighty God.
The resolutions being read, they were we'll sup
ported by Messrs. Winstead, Holeman. and Reade
Mr. Holeman made some very pertinent remarks
in regard to keeping slavery agitation out of Con
gress and asking full and sufficient guarantees from
the North as to the execution of the Fugitive Slav
Law.
Hon. E. G. Reade made powerful appeal for tn
government under which We live, and maintained tina
with all its defects-and defects it had-t was still
the best government on earth. He admitted tina
the South had been wronged, not by the genera
government but by the people Of some Of the North
ern States but said the remedy was not to abandon
the government to our enemies, but BY using tn
government against our enemies
The remarks of all the speakers were we'll re
ceived- The resolutions being then put, were car
ried without one dissenting voice.
On motion Of Hon. E. G. Reade, the Secretaries
requested to forward copies of these resolution
to our members in the Legislature, and to the Ra
leigh Standard Raleigh Register, and Milton Chron
icls for publication. ..,s
c. H. JORDAN, President
W. R. WEBB, a, ,&z y
BIB. THAxros, Secretaries.
w. P. WILKINS s-e s
u:- ". - n ..-, 4 =. ono mn