Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-01-11
Meeting OF the People OF High
Hand.

Pursuant to public notice, meeting OF
the people Of Highland county, without
distinction of party, was held at the Court
house OF said county, on the first day of
january, 1861. to take into consideration
The present condition of public affairs.
On motion, VIM W. Fleming was call
ed to the Chair, and j. P. Stricken APP
pointed Secretary.
On motion, it was resolved that Com
mittee Of eleven be appointed to report res
olntions for the action Of the NEE ing.
| Whereupon the Chair appointed the fol-
lowing as said Committee james Nj Sieg,
adam Stephenson, Jacob P. Scrickler, Sam |
| Beathsf Henry NIECE, D. V. Ruckman,
James b. Patterson, Cyrus Colaw, Henry
Waggoner, Daniel McNulty, aud Cain
Hoover.
| "a Stephenson and D. v hickman de-
clined acting on the Committee.
! The Committee then retired, and after
some time reported the following preamble
and resolutions:
| Whereas, we the people Of Highland, in
publics meeting assembled, viewing with
deep concern the present distracted state of
the public mind. and the imminent peril
that threatens the downfall of this, the no.
blest government that has ever been devils
ed by human wisdom, do hereby adopt the
| following resolutions:
Resolved, l. That The imminent danger
which now threatens the country, if not
soon agerted, will, we confidently believe,
tend to the destruction Of this government,
and sound the death knoll 10 republican lib
erty on this continent.
Resolved, I'd. That the great and pri-
mary cause Of the present malady with
which our country is afflicted, is the unwar-
|ranted interference IN, and a fanatiGal az
itation Of the subject Of she domestic insti-
tutions Of fifteen States of this Union by the
mon -slaveholding Statos.
Resolved, 3. That we see no immediate
remedy for the evils that are now pressing
upon US, but in prompt return of the PEG
Eple of the non -slaveholding States to the
Iduties required Of them by our national Con-
stitution.
Resolved, q That this can only be ac-
Icomplished by repeal of all laws passed BY
those States which tend to hinder aud OBJ
struct the execution of the Constitution, and
the laws Of the United States passed in pur-
suance thereof. for the recovery Of fugitiyes
held to service in an any of the States Of
this Union by the laws thereof.
Resolved, 5. That, as citizens of The U.
States, we acknowledge our allegiance to
the government and laws thereof; but, as
citizens Of the sovereign State of Virginia,
we stand at all times ready to defend her
institutions and rights under the Constitu-
ton and IN the Union.
Resolved, g. That we do not believe that
secession is the proper remedy for Southern
wrongs and Southern grievances, and in
accordance with this belief we are ready at
all times to endorse the action of the prop
erly constituted authorities Of the State in
any measures which they may adopt for the
adjustment of the difficulties which surround
us.
Resolved, 7. That we deem it inexpedi-
ent, on account Of the excited state Of the
public mind, for the Legislature of Virginia
to call a Convention of the State at this
time, or any future time, without first sub
uniting the question to vote Of the people
Of the State.
Resolved, s. That we fully endorse the
following language uttered by George Wash
.ington, the Father Of his Country, In his
farewell address, that the basis Of our po-
Htical system is the right of the people to
make and altar their Constitution of gov
ernment; but the Constitution which at any
time exists, till changed by an explicit and
authentic act Of the whole people, is sacred
ly obligatory upon all. The very idea of
the power and the right Of the people to es.
tablish government, presupposes the duty
of every individual to obey the established
government"
On motion Of John Bird, the vote was
taken on each resolution separately, and all
except the 7th were unanimously adopted
John Bird moved to amend the 7th reso-
luton so as to declare it erped;ent for the
Legislature TO call State Convention, which
amendment was lost, and the resolution, as
reported. was adopted by large majority.
On motion Of ] N. Seig, it vas resolved
that the proceedings ofthia meeting be pub
lished in the Staunton papers, and that 9th
|er papers of the State be requested to copy.
On motion. the meeting adjourned.
W. w. FLEMING, Pres
j. P. STRIoKLER, Sec.
Correspondence Of the Baltimore Sun.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.