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In accordance with a previous call, a large and
respectable meeting assembled in the Court House on Saturday, 25th
inst., to express their disapprobation of the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise; Col. A. Saunders was appointed President; L.G. Palmer, N.
Lathrop Vice Presidents; S. McFarland and Dr. J.S. Panabaker,
Secretaries.
R. Beers moved that a committee of five be appointed to draft
Resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting. The chair appointed
R. Beers, S. McFarland, S.L. Howe, M. L. Edwards and L.G. Palmer, said
committee. After which the meeting adjourned to meet at 7 o’clock in the
evening.
7 o’clock, P.M.
Meeting assembled agreeable to adjournment. The Committee then made the
following report:
Whereas, There is now pending before the Congress of the United States a
Bill, having for its object the organization of Territorial Governments
for the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas; that such measures are
retarded by the agitation of the Slavery Question in connection with
their organization; and whereas, it was and is understood by the people
of the United States, that in the organization of all Territorial
Governments over territory north of 36 degrees and 30 minutes of north
latitude, in what is known as the Louisiana Purchase. – said territories
constituting a part thereof, that Slavery except for crime was
prohibited by the Act of March 6, 1820, commonly called the Missouri
Compromise, which has been regarded as a solemn compact by all parties,
both North and South; and whereas, also the Legislation upon the subject
known as the Adjustment Measures of 1850 recognize and adopt the
salutary Prohibition of Slavery north of the line of 36 deg. and 30 min.
as well as settle agitation in which measures the people have generally
acquiesced; and whereas, it is proposed to declare inoperative the
clause in the Missouri Compromise prohibiting Slavery north of 36 deg.
and 30 min., thus opening up afresh the Slavery agitation
notwithstanding solemn pledges not to agitate it in or out of Congress;
therefore
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Resolved, That we respectfully urge
our Senators and Representatives in Congress to aid and encourage,
in every laudable manner, the speedy organization of these
territories.
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Resolved, That we do most
solemnly and unequivocally protest against any and every act of
Congress, which may, in the remotest degree, impair the force of the
provision of the act admitting Missouri into the Union prohibiting
Slavery north of 36 deg. and 30 min. under any pretext whatever.
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Resolved, That the assumption
that the provision of the act known as the Missouri Compromise,
prohibiting Slavery north of 36 deg. and 30 min. north latitude, was
repealed or made inoperative and void by the act of 1850, known as
the Adjustment Measure, is a gross libel on the statute book and
history of our country and an insulting subterfuge designed to force
those who advocated or acquiesced in them, into this, hitherto
unthought of measure.
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Resolved, That we, as free men
– willing to labor in competition with freemen – well advised of the
evils entailed upon a community by the existence of slavery –
living, as we do, adjoining the Territory proposed to be organized –
and feeling more interest in them than others more distant –
regarding the authority of Congress over these Territories, while
Territories, as absolute – most solemnly protest against any act,
under which, by any possibility, Slavery may exist in these
Territories.
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Resolved, That, the
proceedings of this meeting be published, and copies of these
resolutions be sent to our Senators and Representatives in Congress.
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