Weekly Trinity journal., 1861-06-01

Proceedings of NIass Meeting held in
WeavervilIe, May 3Jth.

In pursuance of the following call, to wit -
Grand rally of the Democracy and of all Com
promise Union men," q large and enthusiastic
meeting was held at the Court House, in Weaver
ville on Saturday evening, May 25th, 1861. The
house was crowded to its utmost capacity, many
being compelled to leave for want of room.
On motion, VIM. S. Lowden, was chosen Presi-
dent, F. H. Brown, Esq, Vice President, and
Geo. J. Love, Secretary.
On motion, the chair appointed committee of
nine, consisting of JAS OConnor, Esq, James D.
May, Chas Sloan, Geo. W. Ham, JOS. Ransom,
Henry Hart, Jno. NJ. Estes, Dr. Tiernan and VIM.
X. Yancey, to draft and report resolutions ex-
pressve of the sense of the meeting.
Hon. Jno. G. Burch being loudly called for,
came forward and addressed the meeting in a
speech of an hours length. in which he took
strong Union grounds but ignored the view that
all are opposed to the Union who are opposed to
the policy of Abraham Lincoln. He advocated
peace and compromise as the only means of sue
cessfully preserving the Uuion, and indorsed the
position of Senator Pugh, of Ohio that all laws
|
without war. His speech was bold in his own
Defense and in defense of the Democracy, whilst
he denounced as disunionsts the Republicans
who opposed compromise at the last session Of
Congress. He read various authorities in defense
of his anti coercion position, and was frequently
interrupted by enthusiastic applause. At the
close of his remarks three cheers wers given for
him, with hearty good will, in which it seemed
that every voice united.
The committee then appeared aud through
their chairman, Jas. OConnor, Esq, reported the
following preamble and resolutions, which were
adopted without dissenting voice;
Whereas, we regard our Constitutional Repre-
sentative Government as the most free, liberal
aud Just of all other forms of Government on
earth and whereas, we have viewed with eX-
ccedng regret the present hostile and warlik e
attitude of the two sections, North and South, on
| the Atlantic side and whereas, We as patriots
are aeiuated by q sincere desire to perpeuate
this Union of the States as constituted 10y the
original thirteen, therefore be il Res0toea
lst, That we recoguizc the States comprising
and constituting the Government of the United
States of America as originally sovereign that
whatever of power exists in the Federal Govern
ment is derived from the sovereign States of the
Union aud that there is and of right ought to
exist an equality in the rights OF each and of the
citizens thereof, in order to perpetuate harmo-
Nous Union.
ID, That as the Federal Constitution was the
result of compromise and concession we earnest
ly believe compromise and concession may and
can unite the discordant elements North aud
South that civil war is the greatest calamity
into which free people can plunge themselves,
and that to avoid this great calamity we are will
tn a,Ia a huunralIn a
ures
3D. That the people Of the State Of California
should abstain as far as possible from exciting
discussions, calculated to draw lines of dstinc-
tion between citizens of this State, coming from
different sections of the Union, and that Califor-
MIA should not take sides for against either sec
ton in the present crisis, as such course on her
part would be forfeiture of the position which
she now occupies as peace-maker between the
warlike sections.
4th, That we are alike opposed to civil war, or
an attempt to coerce or subJugate any OF the SOW
reign States claiming to have seeded from the
Union, believing such a course to be equally i'm
possible and undesirable.
5th, That every citizen Of the United States
owes an allegiance to the General Government
and to his own State that a conflict between the
powers of the General Government aud State
has not been supposed or provided for in our in
stitutons aud that we oppose the policy OF any
Administration calculated to drive the citizens OF
any neutral State to choose which is entitled to
their superior allegiance.
9th, That we reiterate the language Of Gen.
Jackson in his Farewell Address of March 3rd,
1881" That the Constitution cannot be main
tanned nor the Union preserved in opposition to
public feeling by the mere exertion of the coer-
Give powers cOnfded to the General Govern
ment" That we ask again the question pro-
pounded by James Madison in the Federal Con
stitutional Convention" How is military cOer-
cion to enforce Government ?" and lastly, In case
of conflict between the General Government
and any of the States, we endorse the language
OF John Quincy Adams, used when President,
that "Patriotsm and philanthropy turn their
eyes from the condition in which the parties
would be placed, aud from that of the people OF
both which must be its victims"
7th That we have viewed with pleasure the
official course of our able Executive, John. q.
Downey, and that we give him all honor for his
bold, manly and Independent expression of views
on this crisis
9Th, That the resolutions and proceedings of
this meeting be published in the TRINITY JOUR-
NAL, Douglas City Gazette, and Mountain placer
vile) Democrat.
On motion, the meeting adjourned.
w. S. LOWDEN, Chairman.
GEO. ]. Love, Secretary.