Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-01-14
From the Raleigh Sentinel.
Meeting in Chatham.

Editor Sentinel Pursuant to previous
notice, a very large assemblage of the citi-
zens of Chatham county convened IN the
Court House in PittsborO, on LIST January,
1870, for the pursose of expressing their
views of an act now pending in the Legis-
lature entitled IAN act to secure the better
protection of life aud property"
On motion of Col.sHenry 4. London,
Hon. Abram Rencher, was called to the
Chair and r. James Powell, requested to
act as Secretary.
The Chairman, in his usual forcible,
clear and eloquent style, explained the OBJ
ject of the meeting; when, on motion Of
John Manning, Jr., Esq, the chair was
requested to appoint a committee Of seven
to draft resolutions expressive ii the sense
of the meeting.
Tie Chairman announced the following
committee, viz: John Manning, Jr., J. G.
Rencher, George p. Moore, James Pace,
Hasten p. Straughan, Caswell Bynum, and
Col Fl. A. London.
During the absence of the committee on
their report, Col. John A. Mcdonald was
called for and entertained the meeting in
a speech of some length-he was decidedly
opposed to the passage Of the bill. After
which the committee reported the follow
ing preamble and resolutions through
their chairman, John Manning, Jr., which
was adopted without dissenting voice :
WHEREAS, Some evil-minded persons have Cir
culated reports detrimental to the good name
of Chatham county and, Whereas, the Legsla-
ture:of the State has under consideration several
matters OF great Importance to ali her citizens !;
and whereas, it is not only the privilege, but the
duty Of good citizens to assemble ard make
known to their representatives. and the State at
large. their feeling and OPINIONS upon ali matters
touching their interest and whereas, moreover,
the unimpassio cd voice Of the people should
and will be safe guide and council to cur legis
latOrs therefore,
Resolued, That We, the people of Chatham
county, have assembled. without regard to party,
and unbiased by political prejudice, do, OF our
own knowledge, declare that the charges brought
against our county, OF being in state of insur-
rectiOn or evlnclng any disposition to resist the
execution of law, cherishing any hostility to
the State or Federal authority, when lawfully and
honestly exercised, are wholly false and ground
lees that whatever acts of lawlessness have been
punished by due process of law, have been done
by unknown parties and there has not been
single instance of resistance made to the officers
of the law in the discharge of their duties by the
citizens of Chatham county.
Resotued, That the bill now pending in the
Legislature entitled ''an act to secure the better
protection of life and property and commonly
known the ShOtfner bill, il made law, will be
dangerous to the lives. liberty and property OF
North CarOnians, subverslve of the rights so
dearly bought for US By our ancestors stile to
3 republican form OF government, and in direct
violation of the spirit ard very letter OF the con-
stitution OF the State, which provides that ''the
PT1otIe9e % NE toTG " fsAOedS corpus SHAH not
be suspended
Resotced, That Mr.. ". T. Gunter, one of our
representatives, for his manly and patriotic vote
against this Shoffner BILL has merited our thanks
and commendation.
ReS0lred, Tha: the constitution Of the State
requires that an election for members OF the
General Assembly shall be held "on the first
Thursday in August in the year one thous and
eight hundred and seventy and every two years
thereafter, and that any attempt Oh tho part OF
this present General Assembly 10 hold over for
= longer time than the first Thursday in August
1870, WeuId be IN violation OF both the language
| and the intent Of the constitutions Eapd