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Liberty Convention--Second Congressional District

Liberty Convention--Second Congressional District image Liberty Convention--Second Congressional District image
Parent Issue
Day
15
Month
May
Year
1843
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

In pursuance cf a notice which uppeared in everal of the late numbera of the "Signal of Liberty," nddressed to "the frienda of Liberty ' n the Congressional Dist iet Number Two in lichigan," there RSEernbled in Union city, Branch County, on the I9thday of April, at he Congregational Church, a convention to make a suitnble nominution for Congress,lo be upported by the friends of Liberty acthe enning election. The Convention "was organized at 2 o'clock P. M. by the election of Judge L. F. S.evens choirman nnd Messrs. J. N. Stickney, A. G. Kellogg and L3. J. M. Hammond Secreta ries. Resolved, Tliat the sittings of tho Convenion be.openedondcloeed, with prayer. Eider J. S. Twiss, then opened the meeting with prnyer. Upon tnking the chair, Judge Stevens made nn opening address, expressing the object of the meeting, and congratulatinif the menibcrs of the Convention upon their attendance. Jtesolvfd, Tliat a comn.ittce of threo, be appointed by the chnir, to report the names of the members of the convention. Messrs. C. Gurney, Fitch 8nd,Zimmerman were appointed, who reported the followino: Branch Covnty. - D. W. Blakeman, A. A. SannderP, Lewis Hawley, J. W. Clark, C.S. Youngs, D. Bueil, J. B. Buel!, Leroy Jndd, Bela Brown, J. D. Zimmerman, C. Lincoln, W. P. Hard, L. Spaulding, O. Chaffee, T. T. Gurney, H. N. Blakernon, J. N. Stickney, T. C. Gilbert. Calhoun Cornil;.- 3. S. Fitch, A. Adatis, George Cole. John Giflbrd, Leeman Palmer, Martin Rowe, Nelson Edmonds, C. F. Briato!, J. S. Twiss, A. Collins, Dudley N. Bnshnell, John II. Buhnel!, A. P. H. Kelsey, R. B. Bement, Erastus Hussey, Abel Dinsrnore. Si. Josephs Cuunlij. - L. F. Stevens, Isaac Anthony, Chcsler Gurnoy, W, Woodruft', R. C. Eaton, Den. Iloward, Gustavus K. Gurney, S. J. M. Hammund. Kalamazoo Countij. - R. P. Stevenp, N. M. Thomas. Cass County. - A. G. Kellogg, Mr. Constantiue. The report oftho committee on names was acceptedund adoptcd. Resolved. Tiiat a commitlee of üve be oppoiuted to prepare business for the Convention. The chair appointed Messrs. C. Gurney, Thomas YVoodruff. Fitch and Zimmerman, The committee withdrew from the house and during their absence, the Convenliun were entertained by renmrks from Air. Hussey. The business committee through their cha traían 0. Gurney Esq. reported in parta number of resolutions, and the reports was odopted, and uiscussed till adjournment by Messrs. C. Gurney, Bement and Twiss. United in prayer with Dr. Bemenf,'and adjourned to meet at 7 o'clock in ihe cvening.RVENIJÍG SESSION - riRST DA Y. The Convention met agreeably to adjournment and was opened witii prnyer. J. S. Fitch Esq. tlien took the floor, and entertained tlic aiidience with an exhibition of the marnier by which the aecnsed Bystem or slovery is inlerwoven in the oilministration of our naüonal Government. His lentaiks were lis tened to wilh much interest. Dr. Bement was thwi called for and took ÜiOfiÉMid. He presented his incontrovertible argument in favor of acting poliíically. Mis address vvas chnroctenzcd with great purspicuHy, good logic and eound Bonse. Dr. Bement was kept on the floor, by the solicitaüons of the audience tili a late hour,shewng most conciusively, liia 6uperiür acquaii;tance with the cubject. The meeting was enlivened with appropriate mnsic by the choir of the church, under their leader Alanzo Collins Esq. Prayer was oiFercd by Eider Twifs, nd the Convention adjo".rned to meet to-morow morning at 9 o'clock. TUKSDAT MOUNIÍG - SECO.ND DAY. Meeting oponed with prayer. Resolved, That nn informalballot be taken, for a Candidate for Representsttve tojrees from the secoh'd District, to be suppoitBd b'y the LibertyParty. Thö result of the balloting was thus: R B. Bement had 22 votes,' Scalteringy è 28 An interesting c'onversation now ensued.in whi'ch Messrs; Wóodruff, Fitch,' Anthony; C. Gurnèy, Hussey.Twiss, Zimmerman and,Gilbert tóoít' part, oh tlie propnety of selecting a' clergyman for our candidate Rrtolvcd, That vó take unbther informal balloting for the aome purpose os thé last. The result was thus: R. B. Bement had L6 votes,' Scattering, 5 ar By C. Gtirney Esq Resolved, That Dr. R. B. Bemenl be notninated by acclamation to the office of Representative in Congress, Trom this District. This Resolution was adopted by a' uriaiuimous vote. Resolvvd, That Dr. Bement be a Deiegata to represent this District, in thenatiorial Couvention at Buffalo in May . Ry Dr. Anthony. Resolved, That a cominittee be now appointed to prepare and send out an address to the votern of this District. The following pereons were appointed cthe commitfee: Messrs. Anthony, U, uurney, Eiammond and Thomas. A conlribution won laken np, to enable the committee to carry this resolution int o effect, to o. snfficiency to circuíate 1500 copies. Resolved, That the central committee, appointed at the late meeling of the State Society, consisting of Messrs. J. S. Fitch, N. M. Thomas and S. B. Trcadwell, be the corresponding commiitee of this District. Prnyer was offered by Rev. L. S . Hobart, and the committee adjourr.ed, till afternoon at 2 o'clock.AFTERKOOPf- SECOJií) DAY. Meeting opened with prayer by Eider' Twiss. C. Gurney being calletf upon, come forward and promptly responded (o the cal], in an intcresting speech, shewing the reult$' that would follow political oction. His positions were bold and weil sustained. The following resolutions which were presented by the business comtnittee, wêrê taken up, and adopted by rearíy a unaninious vote.' 1. Resolved, That the RrcuTofany andevery portion of the Citizens of the United States, to act politically upon the qucstion of slavery, as well as any other question involving our interests and prosperity, is an undisputed and indisputable axiovi - and being sucb,' we are fully convinccd of the erpedianey of acting politically from the following considcration: lst. Slavery in its infitience upon our morals, habits, and nalional prosperiiy, has always had, and still has, a paralizing tendcncy; this isadmitled by n largeportiun of the slarehulucrs themselves. Ld. In the very nature of things, it is dangeroua to republican institutions: but cepccially sr) o nvK national existence, as it concealrates power in the hands of a few, j.ro-dncing an unjust and uneqal property qualifi-i catión; creating a privileged aristocracy: and' fosteringthe liateful doctrine of the di-.ine right of Kings. 3d. It isacardinnl principio in ethic?, t];at it is always expcdient to do right in a lawful and constitutional marnier, leaving-c'onseq""iences to a hierher power.4th. All experience shows tbat the difficulties in the way of thé retnoval of my dangerous instituüoo are increased by its continuancc. Oth. The h'slory of the past, (to say notiiiiig of the preeent,) proclaims trumpet tongueu", that the old political parties in the Uniied States have ever been, and yct are ready and trilling to sacrifice the rights and happiness not only of the slave, but of southern freemen. in favor of the domineering arislocracy of the' sputh - and seem prepared to abandon every principie of manly independence and freedorrr - and even to endanger the very existence of nur republic, in their enger snbserviency to Bouihern dictation: - And thërefor?, that wc cannot look to them for that action vhic!i wc conceive to be indispensable to our poütical snlvution, as a nation. Ld. Resolved, Thcreforé,' that we rriá}', as politicul aboütionists, remove slavery frorn a portion of our beloved country - remove the American Slave -tradc, - and restore the government of our common country, again 10 the people, by direct action through the ballot' box- and may aiso do many other ihings preparatory to final and conclusive action by Ihe several Slave States themsfclves:--And that it is our duVy, in every la'vful way tó 6how our abhorrenéc of the iuhumanity, the iriconsistency and the danger of longer continuing slavery in' our coünlry. Sñ. Resolved." Tliat there is no reasonable doubt that a large maprity of the white citizens of the Slave-holding States are opposed to Blavery - and are ready, (wheiiever the

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Subjects
Old News
Signal of Liberty