, 1861-02-08
GREAT MEETlNC.
AMERICAN 6AHES IN COUNCIL.
r,ccche- on the Cri-is by Washing ton,
Jefferson, f3ank in, Wobator,
Clay, &c.
"rHor r1TT0Ta



From the n. :. Evening Post.1
In view OF the alarming state Of the eoun-
tty. and of the triumph Of the commercial
e;'irit over tue principles OF liberty, q select
,::ld inttren.ia! meeting Of patriots and phllan-
srupists was held III the Hall of1ndepcndence,
Philadelphia, on the birthday of Franklin,
Jinuary It, 1861, to indulge in pa riotic remin-
:~cences, and rtiteEate patriotic sentiments,
with reference to the present crisis As the
venerable sgaee were assembling, the report
e:- seemed to listen to the ancient bell, which
MAS rupg Oh July 4, ITO, at the signing OF the
Declaration Of Independence, and which still
remains in the tower Of the Hall, having in
s;:ribed upon it tho memorable words: Pro
c:aim liberty throughout all tic land unto all
1:Ie Inhabitants thereof"
Tie Convention was organized by the cleo
ton ufGeorge Washington President, and VIII
E..;n Jackson Secretary.
At;ur au address to the Throne Of Grace by
Bishol, .asbury, the Prcsi2ent made short ad-
dress, as follows:
+Fi;rnts and tellow.citizens: I beg you to
t:o lie the Justice to be assured that L have
c31nc to tbs ancient Hal, from my: beloved re-
t!r1ment, with grateful respect for the past
kindness OF my countrymen, and with heart
i;:ll OF concern tor the beloved country whose
naion aud prosperity arc so dear to my heart,
AID to the Eearts Of the friends Of rational lib
y,;i, Us IN old aud attectionatc friend, to indig
na.ltly irown upon tie 1irst dawniDg Of every
attempt to alienatc any portion OF our country
tiun1 the rest, or to en1ecble the sacred ties
which now bind together the various parts.
I;nploring thc Divine blessing upon our de-
!:oera.ions, and commencing you and our
Country 10 the benign Parent Of the human
race, | invit. you to proceed to the business
fi,r which We .re assembled"
Mr. Madison, after short pause. rose and
sid:
The present situation of the world is, in
iced, without parallel, and that Of our coun-
Try full of difficulties. .he pressure OF these
two is more severely felt because they have
fallen upon us at u moment when national
prosperity being at Il height not before attain-
I'd, the contrast resulting from this change has
teen rcnderel 1lt mure striking. 10 prclcr,
IL ali caecs alnicab!c discussion and reasonable
accommodation Of difference: to DECISION OF
!:'em by Ill appeal to arms; too Just to invade
he rights OF olhcrs; too proud to surrender
t,;sr own; 10 hold the union OF the states as
the basis of their fcacc and happiness; to sup
:,rt the Constitution, which is tllc cement OF
Lie Union to preserve to their full energy
lie + ecGoln Of The preEE, personal rights Ut
n4n; to carry Oh The benevolent plans which
Il We been applied 10 the conversion of our
a;,uriginal rcigAbors and the removal OF the
t:....rad :1ion aud wretchelness Of tie u1luppy
z.cc :, isIin our borders-slould be our inces.
s.at effort. In accordance with thesu scnti-
u:.u-s crave u rIlissi5n to submit, for the
consideration If the convention, the following
rc+oIu ions:
- Re<elrsd, That the States composing the Amer:
lean Enion esvc1aily entered into firm league OF
ricu ttsip with ZACH Other. tur their common de-
tEct, SECURITY oi their i:'crtics, llcir Iii tual
and genera welfare; Abt that this cOnpact, rolun-
.:!iiy made, uder the solefsini'y oi an oath, Is
binding upon the proplc throughout all genera
,io;:s, nults: amended III II WIZ pEovsded 6y the
provisions the cot.
States is Lie sAaiala o. our lbarties: that II cE'
;i-ls,d the r9naIii; Of all men befurc tie law
:li:t il found: - refused To recognize the doctrine
sHpacrt vi the Gu 81 tuic7, By lis'est taleure, b
s :aest FER. ices, aud WIKI his life. II required,
s.lun;d bc lhe .irln aud Ercvocable determination
ri every true patriot.
..Lesiir4d. That The American people cannot
ok t,ay sour;e E,ore entitled tu their confdeEcc.
ar exposition oi the essci.1ia principles of OUT
i, shape its aaminisra:!''n Than to the farewell
address q! Lie - Father ot his Country, the pr-1
c:,.- rrnclaia1ed by the author uf The venerable
declaration Of !ndtc::dtnc:, ard tie imMovaale
Constitution t'i tlc vt,nIfry.
.sIssMfeti, That any astesnpt. By State Legis
i-tErc. Convention u: tne people Of any State, ol
y portiult of tie inhabitants Vi any city, town Of
.JInty. 10 break the ietae ul friendship formed
i.y the cust, coDscHt ri the ptupe N The limited
S,a1es to form uew coledcracics and 10 re=ist tat
l7wfu .ihn,'y Vi tie General Govcrn1uent. i'll any
e'ts, deserving vi universal repzobaton and ren
s:..s TIC traitors i.ai!c to just punishment. tht
.:osa sf ti'sr i,ysl icliositzei's and the eSecfa
The rstJ;l.:s vl the resolutions Was received
| with i llurmur Of applause, sud tile President
t cou!d not suprrsss L bea!5naut emile as Tile
| lloytr Of 1iitiu t'u!. his s-;1t
| Mr. LETTERS Jn seconded the resolutions, ant
| ocr.:ii:d about ten mi1lutts i'll, expressing biz
l'.1 co,::GrTencs in the patriotic sentiments
| -.r,"lllctd, H.: said:
II su for equal and exact Justice to all men,
and, in my opinion, We shall have gained littls
Il VI countenacc: L political intolerance, q
| .;esrotic as it is wicked. While I am FOR sup
,1pf1in:s TIE state governments i'll all fhei
tights, luuk to tho preservation Of the Sene1
| al.uvsruulcnt III it- whole constitutional zig
| or, is 1ht sl.ct .nellHr nInur pcaec ut home
IND safely aoro.u. There must be abso1ut
| ::t,uit=re1cc in the decisions IF the majority
ID: vital principle .,frepuLlic>; The honest pay
| 1ii:nt ef vuf debts, and sacred prestFvatlon .
.,;y public faith; the diffusion Of information
:,.,l arrls.nrut of all abuses at the bar OF til
r:::,lic reasun; 1rcctio,u OF tie prcss; freedom
u. 7so1 urler the protection OF the hattas cor
pus.
"fIc1c must Doubtless be I'll unhappy in
| 1acacc IN tile manners OF Our people, pre-
';,,ccd hr tho cx;=tenct or slavery amongst III
Tic wlioie commerce !r.tweeu muster au
slave is . perpetual cxerel5. Of the most boii
ferrous passions, tic most unremitting despol
ism on the one part, aud degrading snhml:
s..,n On 1he other. Our children see this. an
lara to initiate it. tren1ble for my countr
when rclltct that God il just; that His in:
lice cannot sleep forever 4 mutation OF tn
"Iecl Of fortune, an exchange Of situate
among masters aud sl@yee, is among possibl
events !: aud it l,rly become probable by ST
pt1na1ural Interference. Tho Almighty la
no attribute which can take sides With us
| sucha contest.
"I4et us, then, avert sucn au awful catastrt
| ;.he By making 1he principles have statcd tn
cre7d of our political faith; the text Of civic i.
ssruc,ion ;t.:c touch-etone by which to try Q,
| polite al men; and should any Individual {
State wander from tlcm in moments OF crrt
OF Of alarm, let thcn hasten to refrace the
steps, and regain the road which alone Leaf
to peace, liberty and safety" Sensation
Col. hamilton desired to say feT words,
addition TO what had fallen from the lips Of Il
iilus1r!ors author OF the Declaration OF Ind
psndence. csaid:
1.-THE citizens of the United States are r
sronsible tor the greatest trust ever confdt
tn political society, It is the pride and boa
| Of America, tha: the rights for which she CO..
tended were the rights Of human nature
Justice, good tlilh, honor. gratitude, 11ld 9
til. other qualities which make the charact
Of !: nation, and fulfil the ends of goyernmen
| le the fruits of our Establishments, the casl
| OF liberty will acquire 4 dignity ami lust
| which it has never yet enjoyed, aud an era1
| pie will be set which cannot but have the mo
! favorable fnaaence on the rights Of maakin
t If, on the othtr Size, our governments shpu
| be unfortunately bl.ttsd with the 1esere
these cardinal and essential virtues, the grt
; causc which we have engaged to vind;case "
oc uishonored and bctra, cd, the last and IA
est experiment in favor uf the rights of hum,
nature Will be turned against them, and the
patrons and friends cxpose ed to be insulted 81
aiatnced BY TIC yotaries Of tyranny and usr
pation."
Chancellor Nytte OF Virginia rose aud So;
"Tne good pGop1e Of America are to dsci
the Eoleinn question, whether they will,
wise and masanimous efforts, reap the il
1ruite OF that independence which they have
| gtoriously acquired, AID Of that Union viii
they lave ceMented with 50 aueh Of th
common blood, or whether, by giving way
aumanly ;easousicE and prejuLicee, or to p
: tlal AID trInsitory interests and 4 selfish po
| cy, they will rcuouncc tic euspicious bleesiu
prepared for them by the Revolution, and Fl
nlsh to itf enemies al eventual triumph Q,
Y those by Whtsc virtues and ya!or It has be
accomplished. The =ame noble and extend
policy, and the same frate1nal and affection.
sentiments which ori5 finally determined I
! citizens of Virginia to unite with their hre
rem Ct the other States in establishing Fe
s raj Government, canuot but be felt with eq
e force now as motives to lay aside every intt
| or cOlsluEF9klON, 2uu CouEAI III tHCH HATH
concessions and provisions ns may be necess:
to secure the great objects for which that G
: crnment was Instituted, and to render
: United States as happy in peace AS they b.
= been glorious in was."
d Edward Randolph Of Virginia, wishedsim]
:. / to FAY: -
3 II am for rendering ths Fedcral Constitutl
d | adequate to the cxigcncies Of the unton7 a
for such eEacttnents Is will effectua1Iy prov
for the same"
Wll.i.nl Few and Nathaniel Pendleton,
- Georgia, sevcsaliy ruse and declared their