Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-02-12
CONSTITUTIONAL UNION MASS MEETING
IN RALEIGH

CONSTITUTIONAL UNION MASS MEETING
IN RALEIGH.
The meeting was organized, on motion of Capt.
VIM. ii. Hood, by calling Col Hiram W eatherspoon
to the Chair, who returned his thanks for the honor
conferred upon him, and called upon Prof r. w.
York to explain the objects of the meeting. This
Mr.. York did in an eloquent, plain and forcible
manner.
The organization was then completed by the ap-
pointment of Isaac H. Rogers and JOS Jones' as
Secretaries.
On motion of Mr. Fowle committee of five was
appointed to report resolutions for the action OF the
meeting The following gentlemen were appointed
by the Chair viz: d. G. Fowle, w. H. Hood, B. L.
Strickland, DR.. Thomas Hicks and w. II. Harrison.
During the retirement of the committee the meet
ing was addressed in response to calls upon them,
6y Hon. Charles Manly, Hon. John Ii. Bryan and
O. Busbee, ESQ.,
The committee then reported, through their chair
man, Mr. Fowle, the following resolutions, which
were first read in the Court House and then upon
the door steps, to the crowd outside who were I'M
able to gain entrance into the Court House,
WHEREAS, The people of North Carolina in Con-
venton, on the 2lst day of November, 1889, after
two years of trying deliberation ratified the Cons
tuition OF the United States established among other
things, for the purpose of forming more perfect
Union, promoting the general welfare, and securing
the blessings of liberty to themselves and their pos
terity; Therefore
ResOlUed, That we, portion of the people of
North Carolina, never will submit to the admins
traton of the Federal Government on the principles
enunciated by the Black Republican party, and are
firmly resolved not to surrender any right to which
North Carolina is entitled under the Constitution of
the United States; yet we unwilling to dissolve
the Union, formed by that Constitution, and give up
the liberty and blessings won by the many and pa
triotic sacrifices of revolutionary forefathers
and secured to us under the Constitution, without
first appealing to the States themselves or to the
people of the States through the ballot box, for
such explanatory amendments to that instrument,
and such guarantees as may be acceptable and salts
factory to the people of the States and more espe-
ciay to the people of the slavehoding States.
Res0tred, That we do not regard the Union as
"curse," blighting the progress and prosperity of
our own section, or of any portion of the country;
nor we forget that the Federal Government has,
as yet, made aggreSsons on our rights, nor at
tempted any which have not, and cannot be RENE
died in the Union On the contrary, we believe the
Union of the States to have been the copous foun-
tain of our national social and personal happiness
the palladium of political safety and prosperity,
shielding and protecting among the nations Of the
earth, at the same time securing to benefits and
blessings unknown to any other people
ResoLUed, That we still have confidence in the
conservative patriotism of many of our Northern
felow-citizens, and vet believe that national
Government, having in its infancy successfully pass
ed through the struggles and difficulties Of the old
confederation and afterwards the excitement and
dangers consequent upon the passage of the Alien
and Sedition laws of 1859; and again, the trials
and crises of the years 1912, 1920, 1888 and 1885,
each pregnant at the time with the most gloomy
forebodings for the preservation of the Union, will
yet safely weather the storm now raging around us
and that we shall transmit to the millions of Amer-
can freemen to come after us, the same Union with
all its blessings and advantages received from the
fathers who established and left it to U.S.
ReSolUed, That the Union of the States cannot be
preserved maintained by force and that the first
attempt Of the Federal Government to do so, under
any pretence whatever will inevitably result in civil
! war between section and section. We, therefore,
earnestly DESIRE and so recommend the Federal and
State authorities to abstain from the commission of
every act which might in the present sectional
ASPIRATIONS, lead to any collision.
| ResolUed That while we are determined to MAIN
tain in every event Constitutional rights in the
Union if possible, yet if it should be ascertained
that final and satisfactory adjustment of existing
differences cannot be had, still, we hope that every
/ effort consistent with honor, will be made by the
| people Of North Carolina to promote peaceable sep
! araton of the slave from the free States.
! ResoLred That pledge ourselves to vote for no
who is in favor of secession for existing causes,
and who will not endorse the sentiments contained
in the foregoing resolutions and above all who is,
or has been unwilling, to submit the action of the
Convention to the people for ratification or rejection
| Mr.. Fowle made some very appropriate remarks
in presenting the resolutions which were received
| with applause; after which the resolutions were
! unanimously adopted.
The meeting then proceeded to the nomination OF
three candidates to represent the county in the en-
! suing convention The following gentlemen were
! put in nomination: Hon. Geo. E. Badger, w. w.
! Holden, Q. Busbec, Henry W. Miller, and Kemp P.
| Battle, Esqrs.
| The result of the ballot was as follows:
| w w Holden 344. Hon (ieO f. BADGER 322 .
! Q. Busbee, 1856; X. P Battle 10; and Henry w.
| Miller ia Only Is scattering votes were given.
On motion of X. p. Battle, Esq, the nomination
| of Messrs. Holden, Badger and Busbee, was made
| unanimous, amid shouts and applause
The Chair appointed DR.. Thos Hicks, Wiley D.
! Jones, G. w. Williams and r. W. York committee
| to wait upon the gentlemen nominated and inform
them of their nomination. and request their appear
| ance in the meeting The committee returned with
the gentlemen nominated, all Of whom accepted the
nomination in able and eloquent speeches.
! W. H. Hood, Esq, offered the following resolu-
| tons, which were adopted:
ResolUed That we recommend to our friends
throughout the County to form at once Union Clubs,
to advance the of cause and the election
| Of our candidates.
ResolCed That the Chairman appoint an Execu-
tive Committee Of whose duty it shall be to cir
culate documents and correspond with the friends
of the Union in various sections OF the country, for
an efficient organization.
On motion of Mr. Sas Burns the proceedings Of
the meeting were ordered to be published in the
! Register, Standard and Banner.
/ On motion of Mr.. Hood the thanks of the meeting
were rendered to the chairman and secretaries, after
which the meeting adjourned, with three cheers for
! the nominees and three more for Kemp P. Battle,
ESQ.,, HIRAM WEATEERSPOON, Ghn'n.
Isaac H; ROGERS, Secretaries.
JOSEPH JONES,