Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-25
MeetIn1 of Students,

HAMrpHS SIDNEY COLLEGE, Jan. II, 1851.
There was n meeting Of the students here to-day. On
motion, MIR. VIM. II. Wise, Of Louisiana, WAS called TO the
Chair. and Mr.. I. r. Baxter, Of Virginia. appointsd seere.
tary.
Specche, advocating the right, Of the South were made
by Msssrs. Jackson, Hoge, Page, Murkland, Baxter, IL. ".
Read and Miller.
II was moved and carried that q committee be Appointed
TO draft Il series Of resolutions.
The following gentlemen were appointed: Messrs. a. W.
uose, J. W. Jackson, W. ". Page and ". U. Murkland.
The committee reported the following preamble mud reso.
lutions, which were adopted:
Whereas, for macy years the Northern people have shown
an inveterate hutrrd TO the South and everything tina; Is
Southern; hu, us long as' this hatred manifested iisel! In no
other way than through abolition speeches, we were satisfied
to treat all such with contempt; yet now that :he Republican
party has grown so powerful that IL has been able to elect
Ahram Lincoln and Hannibal usmlin to the highest o1icesiu
the gift OF the people, and being convinced that unles.w We are
willing 10 bow IN humble submission 10 The North. to be
slaves, and be deprived OF everything iha! Is noble and
good, that now Is The time for Us TO rise up and declare 10
the Northern people and To all the world That We are In.
deed fretIGen, aad that We will have our rights guaranteed
to US, or each and every ons Of US will die in the glorious
attempt, pre!erring TO die trcsmen rather than to live as
slaves under any government. II Is true that by sunderinG
the ties which have heretofore bound Us together, it may
cause civil war; yet we are fully convinced that the sin will
not lie with Us who have ever acted upon the defensive,
b: a righteous indignation will fall upon those who have
cried out for ian anti'slavery Constitution. an anlLslavery
Bible, and an anti-slavcry God" Our property may be de-
stroyed, and We Nay be reduced 10 want but II Is better
to suffer all this than TO stay In this wicked Cnlon, and thus
disgrace and dishonor Us forever. Even as the lIollanders
cut the dykes and inundated their country. so We will cut
the silver cord which ha. heretofore bound US 10 the Union,
though We should hy the act inrnda.e the country with
blood and all should sink beneath the crimson tide for
then ours wouf be
SoLIe ''of the few, the immortal names
7 Al were not born 10 die"
Therefore Delt
Resolved, LIST, That We deeply regre. ,ha, the fapa,ical
course Of the Black Republicans has brought this once proud
Union to the verge Of dissolution, and forced all who are
truly Southern In principle 10 Withdraw from il.
Resolved, ID, That whether secession Is constitutional or
not, Yet 1t is our right when oppressed To withdraw frnu the
Union, aud 20 deny this right would be to deny the funds.
menra! principles OF all republican government, and prove
What has often been asserted. that this 4 republic In name
bu, 4 despotism in fHct.
Resolved, Sd. That while We look with horror upon civil
war and desire that not n drop Of blood shall be split, yet
We believe that W. would be justly branded as ignominious
towards II We TO not take a noble stand now; therefore, il
virgini. wishes her honor unsulied and her name free from
repreach, she should, as soon us the Convention assemblies,
pass an ordinance, declaring the severance Of alt connrc-
tiun with the tLiou, and If war must come let her place
her trust Ia the God Of battles, who is also the Sod OF
right, and will sustain US In our just cause.
Resolved, 18th. That We have thought II proper thus 10
express our opinions, because We are directly Interested In
the honor and welfare Of Virginia, and IL war comes We
will be among those who will have TO light her battles.
On motion, the Fa!mvine Journal, tue Richmond, Peters
burg, Danville and L~ynehburg papers were requested to
publish the proceedings OF the meeting.
The meeting then adjourned.
VIM. II. WISE, Chairman.
n r. 2txrER Sec-n.arv