Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-15
Public Meeting in North Alabama.


At a meeting of the citizens of Lawrence and ad-
joining counties, held in CORTLAND, January 3lst
1861 to consider the action of State Convention
on motion of Col Thos.J Foster DR.. A W. Bentley, OF
Franklin county, was called to the Chair, and W. v
Chardovoyne elected Secretary.
On motion committee of four. consisting of the
following gentlemen, viz Col. Thomas ]. Foster W
W. Garth, ]. c. Baker, and E. H. Foster, were ap.
pointed to draft resolutions expressing the OF
the meeting. During the absence Of the committee
Hon. d. p. Lewis, deputy to the Southern Congress
from the 9TH District addressed the meeting at
length on the action of the State Convention advis
ing acquescence in the Ordinance of Secession, and
couuseling resistance to Federal coercion.
At the requess Of the chairman of the committee
E. H. Foster. E=,l in eloquent manner, present.
the following resolutions, viz Aver
The Constitution of the United States was coUe-
nant between freddy States ito insure domestic
tranquility, proyi.e for the common defense, pro-
mote the general elfare and to secure the bless
ngs ofliberty to themselves and their posterity.'
The general sat&ty sAnd happiness was the design;
and the conditions. for mutual benefits, devolved
Upon each contracting member, faithful discharge
of all its duties and Obligations Certain ofthe North
States of the C1s had rendered the Government
destructive of :nea ends for which it estab-
lished, by vinlSiug the Constitution and
MULTIPLYING and resissSqg the Federal laws, made to
carry out the pnoyhions of the Constitution. By
refusing to deliver Up fugtives from justice. not
withstanding the'e fugitives were reeking with
blood, and crime cperpetrated in q hostile invasion
of the State Of Virginia, and whose purpose was,
to carry into the State and ultimately into all the
Southern States IRE and sword and servlle insur-
rection. In BelSfal elections they have admitted
free negroes toIe privileges of the ballot-box in
violation CT the Constitution and the Federal decl-
sions. For more taG forty years past, portion of
the people of tbs Northern States have not ceased
to wage relentless hostility to institutions of do
nestle slavery; aud to this end have degraded their
religion and literature; have refused christian
communion, i'm - ing to US a moral leprosy; have
denied to US the protection of property IN their
own States and IN the Territories belonging to all
the States in cortnon, and with such intents have
not hestated to oagn, and set at naught solemn de-
cisions of our Supreme COURT and finally, under
the auspices of eparty styling itself Republican and
upon professionspf aToWed hostility to our institu
tions and equality in the public Territories, they
have elected Clsef Magistrate by a purely sees
tional vote, who 4 pledged to carry out their infa
nous doctrines.
Recent events have constrained us to foregO all
hope of adjusting, these difficulties, or of further
security and peacs in the Federal Union. For al
though the melancholy spectacle is exhibited, of
once glorious Ma N in process of disruption, the
dominant party save treated all propositions for
adjustment with :ntumely and disdain, and threat
aned TO 'coerce &ecedng States into submission at
the point of the s~ord. The recent votes of Re-
publican Senatof,t upon Ar. Oritenden's patriotic
Resolutions are .enclusive of the spirit and future
policy of that pzStv. For these reasons we have a
right to concgl shat majority of the States have
violated the ,Jl;tn conditions of the covenant and
further hold nrl upon the highest authority that
Governments ~. instituted among men, deriving
their Just powess fPom the consent of the govern
edn) to securFs he safety and happiness of the
people. and tina a wherever any form of Govern
ment becomes = 'tructIve of these ends it is th9
right of the pena to alter or to abolish it." We,
therefore, al
Resolve, ThatSyAivng all former differences of
opinion as to tESTlode and manner of resistance to
Northern opp :Ss3n, we do hereby ratify the 0rd-
nance passed ~. e Convention of Alabama, on the
18th of Januar 'S 26l. by which the people of the
State Of Alaha presumed all the powers delegated
to the Genera government, and severed all con-
nection with - me and good and lGydl citi-
zeaS. we will >, rm every duty required of us to
maintain the Etss and advance the interest, honor,
and prosperit SEysour beloved State.
Resolved NE Though we regret the refusal on
the paYt of thG. ,ventoE. TO submit the Ordinance
of Secession - 10 popular vote for rati cation;
we do not deY 81 lis a sufficient cause for disaf
lection, towar ~ policy of the State. Under all
the circumsta, M which surround US, we believe
the people woS% atty the Ordinance at the ballot
box, by an oUe5F ming majority.
Resolved ThN4 cherish the rights of free suf
frage as the SD M Of political and civil Liberty. and
would regard IA jealousy any attempt to violate
its sapctity, ed sturb its equality, by property
qualifications. ;H8l paths, ar registration la4s.
EeSGlUed Th 418,e noble declaration Of our sister
State of Kentu W through her Legislature, that
the people of III ~ ate man, will resist all at
tempts the ~ of Northern States to o0erce, and
subdue their b zen of the South, AT all hazards
and to the last W nifty and similar declaration
on the part of 80 alant sister, Tennessee that she
will welcome 81 .marauders upon her soil, with
bloody hands II ospitable graves proclaim the
fslt that being q people in social sympathes and
kindred ties we H st and will become one people
politically.
Resolled Tha wf recommend the immediate con-
strucuon of a III thern Confederacy, laying its
foundations on me principles of free Govern
ment, and dist. Eng its powers upon the same
plan as in the CO u alton of the United States.
Rsso,ucd, That ~ you'd regard with supreme alb
horrence and def - tom any suggestion or attempt
to reopen the Al &g Slave Trader and hereby re-
Guest our delegatA n the State Convention to have
adopted upon thi M bject similar measures to those
adopted in The GSkaga Convention, and do further
recommend that - clause shall be inserted in the
Constitution of a ~ dthern Confederacy to prohibit
this traffic foreve&
Resolued, That Ill are deeply grateful TO those
noble and patriCE men of the non slaveholding
States such as ejfs. Douglas, Pugh Fitch, Bright
Richardson MerI&S Dickinson, Wood, 0'Conner,
Cushing Chatfel6&nd others, who have Findiccted
our rights and de- lded US FROM the oalqmnies and
aspeFsinns of oar 4emies,
Judge r, O. Pie% tt being called for responded IN
an appropriate ana telling manner.
w. W. Garth bei&. called for, addressed the meet
ing paying an elo Gent tribute to the memory of
John G. Calhoun. 4
Mai Robertson, G5mmandant of Lagrange Militia
~ Insttute being 4Alled on, made most soul stir
ing and eloquent afseai ior UNITY " ac1iOn IN oe
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