Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-02-23
For the Standard.
u
CONSTITUTIONAL UNION MASS MEETING N
HEREFORD COUNTY


In pursuance of a call for meeting of ConSttu-
tional Union men Of Hartford county, very large
and respectable number, composed of both the old
political parties, Wings and Democrats assembled
in the courthouse in Wnton, on Thursday the 18th
instant
On motion, Col Starky Sharp called to the
Chair and George W. Beverly was appointed Sec
rotary.
On molten of W. d. Daniel a committee of twenty
was appointed by the Chair to draft resolutions ex
preSsivc of the Of the meeting and also 10 pre-
sent the name Of a suitable candidate to be voted
for delegate to the proposed State Convention.
The Convention retired, and after absence Of a
few minutes returned and presented the following
preamble and resolutions, which were unanimously
adopted by the meeting
WHEREAS, The Legislature Of the State has passed
bill calling Convention of the people for the pur
pose Of considering the present alarming state of the
country, and what position own State should as
sumo in the present crisis therefore be it
Hesolred lst That We are in favor of eXhausting
every fair and honorable means that be devised
for a settlement Of the difficulties now existing be-
tween the North and South and restoring peace and
quiet TO distracted country and that secession
or revolution should only be rcSorted to when all
these means have failed and we find that the North
will not give just and equal rights in the
Union: then, and then only should we resort 10 ex-
trene measures. We will uphold our rights in the
Union, if we can; out Of it, if We must.
RcsOlred, I'd. That however much we are opposed
to secession, we yet opposed to the general
government using any force To a seeding
State, we believe the first attempts TO coerce will
finally and forever exingush all hope for any set
Element and prove death-knell TO the union Of the
States now existing TO any future reconstruction
RcS0lred I'd That the Hon. W. y. II. Smith is
hereby nominated as n candidate of the COnstitu-
tonal Union party, to represent Hartford county in
the State Convention and that pledge ourselves
to use all honorable means to secure his election.
On motion, committee of three appointed
by the Chair, consisting Of Messrs. j. \. Anderson
J. H. Jernigan and VI. l.. Daniel, to inform Mr..
Smith of his nomination and ask his acceptance
John II. Jernisan, Esq, being called on, came
forward and addressed the meeting in a speech
pete with force and eloquence, in behalf of that
Union which had been formed and cemcntcd by the
blood of our revolutionary fathers and under which
we had so long lived and prospered no govern
ment of the world had ever done before.
After Mr. J. had concluded Charles II. Foster
ESQ., being called on, addressed the meeting in
short speech, saying that soon after TIE Convention
bill vas passed by Legislature, he had an
nounced himself a candidate Of the Constitutional
Union party for 4 seat in the Convention, subject,
however To the decision Of a Convention Of the
friends Of the Union Of the county; that he now
withdrew his name as a candidate in favor of the
nomination lust made Mr.. Foster congratulated
the Convention upon the suspicious result of their
deliberations, and paid high and deserved comp-
ment to Mr.. Smith, and before taking his seat moved
that his nomination be made unanimous, which
was done.
John W. Moore, Esq, being called on, also adj
dressed the meeting in a short speech acquiescing
in its action and urging in strong terms the neces-
sity of the people voting for Convention.
On motion, it was ordered that the proceedings Of
the meeting he sent for publication to the Albemarle
.Southron aud Raleigh Register and Standard
On motion Of d. Valentine, Esq, the meeting ad-
journed
STARKY SHARP, CTn.
e. W. BEVERLY, .Sec'y