The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-03-08
Union Mass Meeting


mer, of the State meet at the Assembly
Room in the Capitol or Tuesday evening"
Feb. 26th, 1861. Eel 1a ssllslr .'syT
Hon. Benjamin Ferguson called tho
meeting to order, wherespon Moses NJ.
Strong onlinated Senator Virgin of Grant
county, Chairman. who declined accepting.
though approving OF the ohSects of tha,
meeting.
Hon. Chas D. Robinson, was on motion
of Hon. VIM. III. Ramsay, called to the
chair, and James Armstrong, Esq, APP
pointed Secretary. s. $40 @sssa aal sz8i-
Hon. Geo. B. Smith, from the Commit.
tee appointed at previous meeting to
prepare resolutions, submitted the follow
ing on behalf of the committee asal B 5af
The State Legislature having refused to
appoint Commissioners to the Peace CoE-
gress now in session at Washington, q
number of Senators and Assemblymen,
with other friends Of the Union, at a
meeting held on the evening of the Goth
inst, in this city, issued the call for this
Convention and appointed the undersigned
a committee to report such resolutions as
may form basis of action for the Union
and conservative men of the State in the
present time of National danger. We are
profoundly impressed with the fact that
the country is approaching the brink
of civil war, and only the most prudent. as
well as decisive action can avert the i'm
pending calamity. /. is the sentiment of
this Convention that all the citizens of
the State should be united in their action
to secure peace if possible. I'D ~.' ~
| The State of Virginia, which gave Wis
consin to the Union, now that it is in
peril, has invited Wisconsin, with her SIS
ter States, to meet her in friendly confer
ence for its preservation. We are conf
dent that nine -tenths of the people of this
State are in favor of responding to this
invitation in the patriotic spirit which die
tated it. If this means and all others fail,
previous to entering upon the contest be-
| fore us, it is our paramount duty to be
certain in the last degree of the righteous
ness of our cause, as well as the rectitude
of our intentions; and that in arming
against rebellion, our hands are clear of
injustice and disloyalty. We therefore,
recommend the adoption of the following
resolutions: e- at >.ar Sc. szsl n
| ResoIyed, Tha: the people of Wisconsin
accept the invitation of the State of Vir.
ginia, and appoint Marshall NJ. stroug,
Mason G. Darling, John IL .Tweedy, Nell
son Dewey, and II. L. Dousman, Com
missioners from this State to meet the
Commissioners of the State of Virginia,
and other States, at the city of Washing
ton, whose duty it shall be to unite in an
earnest effort to adjust the present unhap-
Ply controversies in the spirit in which the
Constitution was originally formed and
consistently with its principles; and the
Peace Congress now in session is respect
fully requested to admit them to seat in
that body, aud to a part in its delibera-
tons.
Resolved, That it is our desire to unite
with all our fellow citizens of this State in
uphoding the Constitution ana executing
the Laws of the United States, but Justice
would seem to dictate that before resort
ing to coersive measures towards any one
of our sister States to compel obedience
to the laws on their part, we should first
phrify our own statute books of acts which
make obedience to portion of the federal
laws criminal offence, and it is the opin-
ion of this Convention that the Legislature
should Immediately repeal such portions
Of the Personal Liberty and Replevin Acts
as are in conflict with the Constitution and
Laws of the United States
Resolved, That if so deporable cal
amity should befall us, as that all the eff
forts for peace and measures of reconcilia-
ton should hopelessly fail, aDd having
done our whole duty to avoid fraternal
strife and civil Waive will then array
ourselves with all the friends of the Gov
eminent for lis preservation, and with the
last defenders of the integrity and the
! flag of the Union, and fulfil cur whole
duty as citizens of the United States.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
-..a z-. ,9 GEO. b. SMITH, AZ
ID. w. MAXON,
se..s t.-,- WIN. III. RAMSAY,
CHAS. .QUINTIN,
t-- Z. G. TOWNSEND.
After the reading of the resolutions, the
Convention was ably addressed by Judge
Orion, E. G. Ryan, Moses M. Strong
and Geo. b. Smith, in support of the OBJ
jects Of the meeting, as expressed in the
report of the committee just read.
Hon. Senator Quintin offered the follow
ing resolution, which was adopted.
Resolued, That the Chair appoint a
committee of three from each Congression-
al District, to report the names of five
persons to act as Commissioners for the
State of Wisconsin, at the Peace Conven>
ton.
Wbereupon the Chair appointed the
following named gentlemen as such COM
mittee.
First Congressional Diarict-Rufus
King, Daniel Wells and Talbot G. Dous-
man.
Second Distiet-J. c. Hopkins, Noah
II. Virgin and Geo. b. Smith PCS - ~
| Third District-H. G.. Webb, f. w.
Horn and Curtis Reed -
Which committee, upon consultation,
presented the names embraced in pre-
ceding resolution, and submitted the fol-
lowing resolutions, which were unanimous
ly adopted;
ResolOed, That the Legislature of the