Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-02-27
For the Standard.
UNION MEETING IN SMITHFIELD.

UNlUN MEEllNU In SMlIHflELD.
On motion of Sidney A. Smith, Esq, the meeting
was organized, by calling Edwin Boykin, Esq, to
the Chair, who returned his thanks for the honor
conferred upon him. and explained the object of the
meeting in handsome and appropriate manner.
On motion, Wyatt carp and j. G. Hood, Esqs.,
were appointed Vice Presidents.
On motion, A. G. Powell, ESQ.,, and DR.. E. d.
Sneed were appointed Secretaries.
The organization being then completed,
On motion of Mr.. Abel, a committee of two from
each precinct of the county appointed to report
resolutions for the action Of the meeting.
The following gentlemen we're appointed by the
Char, viz: L. Eldridge, L. R. Waddell, W. B.
WALL j R. Whitley, DR.. Leach, R. Coats William
H. McCullers, D. Gardner, Troy Woodall, B. God
win, B. R. Hood Nathan Tart j. H. Williams, j.
Woodland, James H. Harrison, B. Williams, F. Phil
ips j Woodland, W. Blow. William Hastings, E. H.
Woodland, w. H. ONeal, w. H. Sellars, W. We'll
Ions, S. Barnes. B. R. Hinnant W. H. Joyner, DR..
John R. Thompson John F. Sanders and George
Reen.
During the absence of the committee, the meet
ing was addressed by c. B. Sanders, w. H Sanders,
W. A. Smith, b. H. Tomlinson, Ransom Gully and
William Avera.
The committee then reported through their Chair
man. L. R. Waddell, ESQ.,, the following resolutions
which were read and adopted with only one dissent
ing voice:
WHEREAS, A Convention is soon to meet in the
city Of Raleigh to deliberate on the condition of the
country, and to take such steps the present emer
gency will justify and WHEREAS, North Carolina
was the first to declare her independence. and one
of the last in ratying the Constitution of the United
States, therefore
Resoleed That We a portion of the people of
North Carolina will submit to the admin;stra-
ton of the Federal Government on the principles
enunciated BY the black Republican party, and are
firmly resolved not to surrender any right to which
North Carolina is entitled under the Constitution of
the United States; yet we are unwilling to dissolve
the Union formed by that Constitution and give up
the liberty and blessings won by the many and pa
triotic sacrifices Of revolutionary orefahers and
secured to us under the Constitution without first
appealing to the States themselves to the people
of the States through the ballot box, for such expa
natory amendments to that Instrument, and such
guarantees may he acceptable and satisfactory to
the people of the States and especially to the
people of the slaveholdng States. ~ -
Resolced. That are not insensible to the mach
nations and devices of the leaders of the disunon
party; we, therefore, pledge ourselves patriotic
and conservative citizens to expose their dupicity
and treachery whenever we can.
ResOlced, That We believe the President of the
| United States James Buchanan, has used every eff
fort consistent with the Office of chief executive of
the nation to reconcile the present unhappy differ
ciCeS UeIWeci TWO SeCLiOS VI Luc
federacy, and is therefore entitled in our opinion
to the heartfelt gratitude of the conservative patriotic
citizens Of every portion Of our country.
Resolred, That while we do not grant the right Of
| secession, yet we are opposed to coercion by the
Federal Government, believing most confidently
that the Union cannot be preserved by force; and
that any attempt of the Federal Government to do
SO, will inevitably result in civil war between the
| North and the South.
| Tbn&,v g =
favor of immediate secession, and who will not
pledge himself to use every effort to reconcile the
present unhappy differences existing between the
two sections Of the Conederacy and if possible re-
establish the union of the States, and to this end
the State convention, if assembled should exhaust
all honorable means before entertaining propositions
for the withdrawal of North Carolina from the Union
After the adoption of the resolutions, the commit
tee through their chairman, put the following gen
tlemen, in nomination, VIZ: G. B. Sanders, Johr
II. Kenneday, VIM H. Joyner, B. II. Tomlinson
| DR.. John B. Beckwith, Nathan Williams, Dr.. J. T.
Leach and P. Richardson
! The meeting expressed an unwillingness to 20 in
to an election until the gentlemen dominated should
define their position on the present unhappy federal
relations OF our country whereupon VIM. H: Joy
ner arose and declared his loyalty and fidelity to
the Constitution and the Union of the States; de
cared his opposition to secession for existing causes
that he was in favor of exhausting all honorable
means before he would vote North. Carolina out o.
the Union. C. B. Sanders, B. H. Tomlinson DR.
Leach and John H. Kenneday, each addressed ths
meeting il brief. though patriotic Union speeches
in which each declared that he was opposed to &c
cession for present causes that all means consistent
with the honor and dignity of the State should b.
exhausted before he would ever give his assent 70
North Carolina to secede -, Il. -. x
/ Mr.. Kennedy concluded his remarks by declarin,
that he was unwilling to dissolve the Union, unit
the people Of the States appealed to for justice
through the ballot-box
DR.. John B. Beckwith then arose and addressed
the meeting at some length, in clear logical ant
forcible manner taking strong ground against tn
right OF secession Heexpressed, in feeling man
his love and loyalty for the union Of the States
and condemned, in forcible and unequiyocal Ian
guage the doctrine Of secession for existing causes
aud remonatratsa With ~ people asainst u dan
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