Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-14
Meeting Of tho Citizens OF Petersburg.


In pursuance Of the annexed CALL published
in the daily papers Of Monday, the 18th inst,
4 large concursc Of the citizens Of Petersburg
met at PhUnix Hall, on the evening Of that
day, at o'clock, p. H.:
10 TIE VOTERS OF PETIRsBrHG.-Al true
lovers of Constitutional Liberty, and of the
to meet ut Phoenix Hall, on Monday night, ut
eight o'clock, in order to instruct our Delegate
in the State Convention, now assembled, 10 60
for immediate secession. Let there be grand
rally Of the people. MANY CITIZENS.
The meeting was organized by the election
Of William T. Jorncs as Chairman and 4. F.
Crutchfeld and John Lyon, Secretaries.
Dir. G. +. Collier offered the following reso-
lutlons:
]. Resolved, as the opinion Of this meeting,
which is one Of the largest ever assembled in
this city, That the point of substantial dispute,
from which all minor disputes rSdiale as from
common centre, between the slaveholding
and the non.slaveholding States, is whsthcr ne
groes are property; and that the observance,
in oil legislation by the General Government
and by the States, Of the constitutional fact, in
our complex system, rs We understand 1t, that
negro slaves are property, is the orbit in
which the Federal Union, now in the darkness
Of disadection and disloyalty, must henceforth
move, in order to make that Union again H.
lustrous with the beams Of the old-tilne bro
lherhood; and that that orbit alone, and 10
other, is competent to make the wasting pow
crs Of that Union and the dropping prospects
Of the whole country revive and rejoice.
II. Resolved, That in the opinion OF this
meeting, the Convention now celebrating in
Richmond, ought to propose to re ratified by
| the people, an ordinance TO the following effect:
That whereas the non-Slaveholding States have
refused to accord much less in the way of COM
promise than the slaveholding States are en-
titled TO, us is evidenced by the refusal of Con-
greSs to accept the proposals Of the Peace Con-
| ference; now, therefore, We the people OF Viz.
| gina, will resist the authority Of the Union
over US; and do ordain that the powers thereto
| formerly delegated be resumed; and do declare
! this Stale absulred from any allegiance to that
| Union; and, furthermore that We, the people
of Virginia, never will re.unitr in any Con-
| ederacy with those States, or any Of them, ex-
cept on the basis that negroes held to service
ale property, Us we'll rs persons, and that the
element OF property in them must be treated
as other property in the territories, and cspe-
ciallT in the matter of the delevery of fugi-
ttives from labor, when escaped into any Of
those States or into any territory.
III. Resolved, That such ordinance might
| appropriately prescribe some period, with short
interval, but ample, within which this our dc.
mand must be acceded to, in the way Of amend
ment to the Constitution Of the United States,
bY the non slavehuldins States; so that the
attention Of TIE PEOPLE of those States
shall b. drawn to the point on which alone fu-
:ure fraternity is possible; but DE it under
stood that this leaving OF the door open for
overtures from the people Of these States, is
only intended as condition OF reunion sub
sequen; 10 secession or revolution, and not As
! condition precedent
". Resolved, That Wills! We do not deem
it Indispensable, aS the action Of the Conven-
ton must come tack To US that we Shall send
up instructions, in mandatory form. to our
delegate, Mr. Branch. yet We hereby request
him to present our proceedings to that body;
and, therefore, it is ordered that copy he Ger
tilted to him for that purpose and that he &c
requested - tike heed thereto.
Mr.. Geo ". Boiling offered tia following rs
o substitute for Mr. Golfers resolutions
Resolved, That having full confidence in the
intelligence, patriotism and hrmncss Of our del.
ecate in the Convention for the protection OF
Southern rights and honor, it is inexpedicnt to
instruct him on any question now pending be-
fore the Convention.
Mr.. Golfers resolutions were advocated
by himself Mr. r. T. Collier and Hon. R. 4.
Pryor.
Mr.. Bolling's substitute was advocated by
himself and Mr.. John Lyon.
During Mr. Lyons speech he gave way to
Mr. Pryor, who moved that the resolutions and
substitute be laid on the table and that the
meeting adjourn.
Mr. c. f. Collier and r r. Collier each, with
the consent Of the meeting, made fe% re-
marks by way Of explanation.
Mr. Pryor subsequently, Withdrew his mo-
ton.
Mr. r. P Collier then offered the following
resolution:
Resolved, That the resolutions offered to
this meeting by Charles F. Collier, ESQ, and
the substitute therefor offered BY Col. ESQ., ".
Boiling, be published in the newspapers OF this
city tomorrow, (ruestay,) and the next day,
wednesday, and the next day, (Thursday,)
and that poll be opened at the Courthouse,
OIL each of those days, St which the legally
qualified voters Of the city may vote aye OF no
On the said resolutions Of Mr.. Collier, and age
or no 90 the substitute Of Col Boiling
Which was adopted.
On motion, the meeting adjourned.
WIN. 7. JOYNES, Cham.
I A Az F: C Es1 Secretaries.