Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-02-06

PuBLIo MEETING IN ALABAMA.
CoURrLAED, Ala, January 81, 1861.
At a meeting Of citizens of Lawrence and
adjoining counties, held in this place to con-
slider the action Of our state convention
on motion Of Col. Thomas J. Foster, Dr.,
A. W. Bently, Of Franklin, was called to the
chair, and NJ. Chsrdarcyne appointed seere-
tary.
On motion a COMMITTEES Of four, consisting
Of the following gentlemen, viz; CD. 7. J.
Foster, W. W.. Garth, J.. c. Baker and z H.
Foster, was appointed to draft resolutions ex-
pressing the sense of Tia meeting. During
the absence Of the committee, Hon. d. P.
Lewis. deputy to the southern congress from
the 5th district, addressed the meeting at
length on the action OF the State convention,
advising scquiascenes in the ordinance Of
secession and eounselllng resistsnee to Federal
coercion. At the request of tbs chairman OF
The committee, MIR. E. H. Foster in an elo-
quent manner presented the following reaoiu-
lions;
WHEREAS, The Constitution Of the United
States was a covenant between friendly States
nto secure domestic tranquility, provide Tor the
common defense, promote the general welfare,
aud TO secure the blessings Of liberty, to them
selves and their posterity,D the general
safety and happiness was the design, and the
conditions for their mutual benefits devolved
upon each contracting member, a faithful
discharge Of all its duties and obligations;
certain Of The Northern states OF the Uhlon
have rendered the Government destructive OF
the ends for which it was established, sy Vio-
4 Lii A.. H@-a4sN,Nfnn and nuATrWfuE and re-
sisting the federal laws made TO carry out the
provisions Of the Constitution, by refusing
to deliver up fUgitiyes from justice notwith-
standing those f~ugitives were reeking with
blood and crime perpetrstsd in a hostile invs-
sion OF the State Of Virginia, and whose put
pose was to carry into that State, and ulti-
matelv into all the Southern States, FIRE and
sword and servile in urrection; 10 federal
| elections they have admitted free negroes to
| the privilege Of the ballot-b0x, in violation Of
he Constitution and the federal decisions;
for more than forty years pas, a portion Of
the people OF the Northern States have not
ceased to urge relentless hostility 70 our in
%stitution Of domestic slavery, and to this end
have degraded their religion and literature;
have refused US Christian communion, imput-
irg 10 US a moral leprosy; have denied 10 as
the protection Of our property in their own
States, and in the Territories belonging to all
the States in common, and with such ~intents,
have not hesita'ed to mslign and set at naught
solemn decisions Of the Supreme Court, and,
finally, under the auspices OF a party styling
itself Republican, and upon professions Of
avowed hostility to our institutions, and our
equality in the Territories, they have elected a
Chief Magistrate by a purely sectional vote,
who is pledged to carry out their infamou doc
trines recent events have constrained US TO
forego all hope OF adjusting these diaic1lties,
OF OF farther security and peace in the Fed
eral Union-for although the melancholy spec
tacle is exhibited of a once glorious nation in
process Of disruption, the dominant party
have treated all propositions for adjustment
With contumely and disdain, and threatened to
" coercen seeding States mo SubmissiOH at
the point Of the sword the recent votes OF
the Republican Senators upon Mr.. Crittenden's
patTiotici resolutions are conclusive Of the
spiri. and future policy Of that party for
these reasons we have a right to conclude that
a majority Of the States have violated the
solemn conditions Of the eoUsnaHt, and further
holding upon the highest authority that "gov-
ernments are instituted among men, deriving
their Just powers from the consent Of the gov
erned)" to secure the safety and happiness OF
the people, and thar whenever any form Of
government becomes destructive Of these ends,
t is the right of the people to alter or abolish
it, we therefore
ResoIUs, That waving former differences
Of opinion, as to the mode and manner Of re-
sistance to northern aggression, we 30 hereby
ratify he "ordinanceo passed bv the conven-
ton ofAlabama on the llth Of January, 1851,
by which the people Of the State OF Alabama
resumed all the powers delegated to the Gene
raj Government and severed all connection
with the same, and as good and loyal citizens
we swim perform every duty required Of US to
maintain the policy and advance the interest,
honor, and prosperity Of our beloved State.
Pesolped, That although we regret the re-
fusal On the part of the convention 70 submit
the "ordinance Of secession" to the popular
vote for ratification we do not deem this a
sufficient cause for disafection toward The pol
lev Of the State; under all the circumstance
which surround US we believe the people would
ratify the ordinance at the ballot-box By an
overwhelming majority.
Resolred, That We cherish the right Of free
suffrage as the shield Of political and civil
liberty, and would regard with jealousy any
attempt to violate its s~anctity, or disturb its
equality BY property qualifications, test oaths
or registration laws.
Resoluef. That the noble declaration OF
our sister State Of Kentucky, through her leg
i~slature, that the people OF the State,as one man,
will resist all attempts on the part Of the
Northern Sta'es to coerce and subdue their
brethren of the South, "at all hazards and 10
the last extremity" and a similar declsra-
ton on the part Of our gallant sister, TenDes-
see, that she will welcome such marauder5 on
her soil "with bloody hands to hospitable
graves proclaim the fact that being one peo-
pie in social sympathies and kindred ties, we
must become one people politically
Res0lBed, That we recommend the immediate
construction Of a southern coRfederacY, laying
its foundations on the same principles Of free
government, and distributing its powers upon
the same plan as in the Constitution Of the
United S ates.
Rssolged, That we would regard with su-
preme adherence and detestation any sug-
gestion or attempt to reopen the African
slave trade, and hereby request our del
egates in the State convention, to have
ures to those adopted in the Georgia
convention, and DO farther recommend that a
clause shall be inserted IN the constitution Of a
southern confederacy to prohibit this trafic
forever.
Resolved, That we are deeply indebted to
those noble and patriotic men Of the non
slsvehoiding States, such as Messrs. Douglas,
Pugh, Fitch, Bigler, Richardson, Dickinson,
Merrick, Wood, 0'Connor, Cushing, Chatheld,
and others, who lave vindicatsd cur rights,
and defended US from the calumnies and asper-
sions Of our enemies.
Judge R. o. Pickett being called for, res
ponded in an appropriate and telling manner.
W. W. Garth being called for addressed the
meeting, paying an eloquent tribute to the
memory Of John c.. Calhoun. Maj Robertson,
commandant Of the La Grange military insti-
TUE, being called on made a most soui-stirring
and eloquent appeal for unity Of action in IL
Tense Of our rights, as citizens Of the "rePub-
lie Of Alabama" ~pIedging his influence, and
life, if necessary, in her defense; and at the
same time repelling the false charge that he
I was or ever had beeD. a gubmisEiouiqt. Col.
Uhas. Gibson then, in a good, old fashioned,
10 speech, moved the adoption OF the resolu-
tions, which motion was most unanimously and
enthusiastically carried.
It was moved that the proceedings Of the
meeting be published in the Memphis APPEAL,
Moulton Democrat, Constitution, Huntsville
.fdpoeats, New York Day Book, Montgomery
bad, and Louisville Courier.
Meeting then adjourned sine die.
A. W. BENTLY, Chairman.
NJ. C~HARDARoYSE, Secretary.