Free Soil Meeting

Pursuant to public notice, a largo mimber of the inhabitants of Battle Creek and vicinity convoned ut the School Room in the Baptist, Cfaurcb, on Saturdny eveüing the 29th. ultimo- G. F. SMITfl was called to tho Chair and W. W. Woolnouoh nppointed Secretary. On motion of S. V. Dodge, a committoe of five to report reaolutions exprossive of the eentimenfí and objects of the meeting, was appointed. Said coinmittcc consisted of T. R. Harrison, O. Moflatt, Eider Harria, W. C. Rowley and Stephen Graham. Mr. Fox, of Marshal], boing called upon, addressed the meeting during thé absence of the committee. Bil reniarka wore to the point, and elicited repeated cheers from the audience. The cominittee then reported tho following reeolutions : 1. Resolved, That whilo we will faithfully abide by all the conipromises of tlie constitution in regard to Slavery witliin the States, and therefore disclaim nll right to interfero in iiny wny whatsoever with the constitution as it there exists, we yet feel ourselvcs ju3tified, i-equired, and compelled to declare in referenco to tho proposed extensión of Slavery to territories of this Union, now free, that we regard domestic Slaveiy as n great moral, social and politica! evil - a relie of barbnrism which must necessnrüy be swept away in tho progross of Christian civilization ; and which, therefore, ought not to be established, and by our agencj'and consent shnll novcr be established in the virgin soil of theso terrilorie. 2. Resolved, Tliat. t lie power to prohibit the íntrodactioa of Slavery into t.erritories of the United Stales, now free, is clenrly delegnted to Congress by the constit.ution ; and tíiat tho liigliest considerations of pntriotisin - the strongest sentiinents of justice ntid humanity, consistent with our professions of democratie principies, and a proper respect for the enlightonrd opinión of mankind, require that tbia power should be exercised in favor of freedom. 3. Resolved, That by permitting labor to be dcgrnded by tbe introduction and spread of Slavery throughoul the extensivo territorios of New Mexico, California and Oregon, ve sliould perpetúate an nctof gross injustice against all the free laborers of our own country, and of over populated Europe, in this and succeeding genorations, who may desire to seek for themselves and their families, homes in those regions. 4. Resolved, Tliat vo are opposed to any attempteJ compromise of the question of Slavciy. bj which it shall bo aüowcd in any of the territorios of the United States now free. whilst they remnin territorios, and pledge ourselves to opposo such extensión by all constitutional means. The report of tho committee was accepted, anc a raotion made and adopted, that tho resolutions be read separately for the consideration of the mee ting. The first r'esolution was adopted, but the seconc produced considerable discussion, in which Messrs Van Arman and Graves partiripated. The forme expressed a doubt as to thö " power," spoken o in tho resolution, being " cicarly delegated to Con gress by tho constitntion." He beIJev?d ihe " pow er" existed, but was not " clearly delegatecV Mr. Graves contended that tho acts of Ihe govornmont, from its foundation to the present time, clenrly dcmonstmted tilo oxistence ot that "power" 'm the hands of Congress, and that from the necessilyofthe case, the goncrnl govcrnment must exercise iuiisdiction over the tcrritories of the United States, nnd therefore conld exclude the institiition of Slavery. He was for the iminediate exerciso of that powor. While this resol ution was ander discussion, h motion wns made to adjourn ; and the meeting, therefore, adjourned until the following Saturday, (August 5th,) at four o'clock, P. M. Saturday, August, 5, 1848, Met pursuant to adjournment. The fitst busi■'pss in order be-ing the consideration of the balance of the retójtttiong 'repoiïfd it the prenous meeting - when on iaotiotl, t.liey wew a.' adoptad. Mr. T. R. HarrWn Bked leave to offe? fl)1lowing preumble and rosoluiona. which was ,' ed:- Whereas, thero i-: n desperate '.'.nd mi !: ■ . now being niiidü by both the politica] partii South, and acqniesced in by many Wliiga. ocratic poliücians of the Norih, to extend petuate the witheriog, blighting and bl Slavery, nml its hideous train of atteoding vf r a torritory ot'this Repubüc sufficient to turni i extensivo inid powerful empire, which bas been free from -its foul tuint oearly as long ns the State of Michigan ; and to seize upon and plant the black flag of oppreesion mion tho territory of Oregon, which has been declared freè by tbe sovereiga pcople of the sume; and also to monopolizo tho offices nnd emoluments of our government, Iegislating at homo and abroad lor tho support of the '■ peculiar institution and its products, to tho al most entiro exclusión of Northern righft, it is 1. Resolved, That we believo we are called up(iu by every principio of justice - by the duties we owe to ourselves, and tho high obligationa we ure under to our posterity - to preserve inviolato the sacred boon of Freedom entrusted to ns by our ancestors, to dissolve our connections withtho old political partios which nro no longer exponents of our principies, and fonn a grent new Northern Party, whoso motto shall be Free Speech, Free Soil, Free Labor and Freo Men. 2. Resolved, That we recogiiize in the I" oucrnl Constitution the power ofCongress " to mako iill needfut rules and regulations respecting the territory belonging to Ihe United States, nnd believe t o be the daty of the same to innke such regulations is will prohibit slavory therein without compromae or concrssion of ono ota uf Freo Soil. 3. Resolved, That it ia necessnry, i order that our principies may be cnrried out, to havo bull and "earless mentó represent U8 in Congross; nnd that ve will support no man for representativa in our Slato Legislatura, or any otlicr important office, who is not known lo bo in favor of Free Soil, Frce Labor, Frce Speech and Fice Men. Theso rosolutions woro accompanied with somc remarks by the mover. The first resolutioo elicitcd cjuito a spiritcd discussion, in which Messrs. ('■ravcs, Bolkcom, Ilussey, Harrison nnd Willis took part, when n motiou was made to lay it on tho tnblo, which was canried. The tliird resolution wns then, ou motion, adopted. Tho second resolution (bcing in substanco the same as tho ono reported by llie committeo and adopted by tlio meeting, proviously,) wns dot acted upon. On motion, it was - Resolved, Thnt tho papen printed in this connty be requested to pubtish tho foregoing procecdings. On motion, tho meeiinj; adjourned to moet fttthé sanie place, on Mouday the 14Ü1 dny of August, at soven o'clock, I'. M. Ity We liavc rcceived two numbcrs of tlic Boston Museum, a ucw paper, issued weekly, it $' ayear in ad vaneo. Ii isa krgo sheet of eiglit pages, devoted to Science, Agricultura, Polito Litoraturo, all kinds of usoful Kiiowledgo, willi tlie news of the day. It is orie of the most splendid newspapers extant, bcaulifuliy executed, and ably edited by WlLLIAH O. Eaton. Pubiishéd by Dow & Putnam, 27, Dcvonshire strect, Boston. JT No foragn 'il'iiny imeorl