Cortland County Express, Thursday, September 26, 1850.
COMMUNICATED.
For the Express.
Preamble and Resolutions.
We publish the following Preamble and Resolutions adopted by the students of the Central College. We throw them before the public with pleasure, that those unacquainted with the principles of those, or a portion of them at least, attending that institution, may read and judge for themselves:
At the close of a series of meetings, held by the students of New York Central College, for the purpose of deliberating upon the incarceration of Wm. L. Chaplin, the following Preamble and resolutions were adopted:
Whereas, According to the American Declaration of Independence, all men are endowed with an inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and whereas; Three millions of our fellow beings are this day held in a bondage, an hour of which according to Thomas Jefferson, is worse than ages of that which our Fathers rose in arms to resist, and whereas, it is the right of every bondman to seek to obtain his freedom, therefore:
Resolved, That it is also the right and the duty of every person to aid him in obtaining it.
Resolved, That we honor and admire the Philanthropy, Humanity, and Heroism of that noble and Christ-like man, Wm. L. Chaplin, in aiding his poor and outraged and crushed brethren in their escape from the hideous monster, American Slavery.
Resolved, That although many of the leading politicians and religionists of the day, stigmatize Mr. Chaplin's conduct as kidnapping, yet we hold that true republicanism and true religion sanctions it.
Resolved, That those Editors who sympathize with oppressor instead of the oppressed, and are ever ready to apologize for man stealing in the form of slavery, but who condemn man restoring in the form of giving aid and comfort to the fugitive, are false to God and humanity, and show that they love popular applause better than the cause of truth, and their purses better than justice.
Resolved, That the American Christian Church, so called, with a few most honorable exceptions have, by extending their broad mantle of charity over the system of American slavery, done more to extend and perpetuate that system than any other organization of American Citizens has done, or can do, and are consequently guilty of participation in the crime of the incarceration of Wm. L. Chaplin.
Resolved, That at the present crisis it is the duty of every lover of his race, to exert whatever influence he may possess, in favor of a thorough, permanent, and radical reform in the unjust laws of our country, and also that each one should strive to purify public sentiment from these wicked and cruel prejudices, which recognize distinction of caste, and claim superiority of rights for the rich and high over the humble and poor, thereby placing almost an unsurmountable barrier to the elevation of the degraded.
Resolved, That the foregoing Preamble and Resolutions be sent for publication to the papers of this county, and in the Liberty Party Paper, American Baptist, and Impartial Citizen, and all other papers friendly to Antislavery and the interests of this Institution be requested to copy them.
H. R. Perry, President, H. N. Gilbert, Sec., McGrawville, N. Y., Sept. 18, 1850.
For the Express.
The following resolutions are published by request of the citizens convened at a public meeting at Freetown Corners, N. Y., Sept. 2, 1850.
At a meeting of the Citizens of Freetown Corners, who are opposed to American Slavery and who sympathize with Wm. L. Chaplin, in his imprisonment for aiding the escape of slaves from bondage, convened in the Baptist Church in Freetown on Monday evening, September 2d.
The following gentlemen were appointed a committee to prepare resolutions, viz: Dr. H. P. Eels, L. D. Tanner, John Seeber. The committee reported the following resolutions which were adopted:
Resolved, That all men are endowed with the inalienable right to enjoy "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;" and that it is the right of every person, held as a slave upon American soil, to seek, and to obtain such enjoyment whenever, and wherever he can find it; for similar acts we praise our pilgrim fathers, and applaud the patriots of every clime and nation.
Resolved, That though we recognize the right of separate and independent political communities to legislate for themselves, being responsible to God for the moral character of their acts, yet American Slavery is a "monster of so hideous mien" that we can impute no moral turpitude to the man who dares the penalties of its regulations to free his brother man from its embrace; but rather feel to respect and approve the impulses of humanity, philanthropy, and religion which prompt the act.
Resolved, That in the recent arrest of Wm. L. Chaplin, in the D. C., we recognize a Providential calling of the attention of the people to the laws of said district, and to their responsibility in regard to them.
Resolved, That no legislation can confer upon Slavery the character of right, justice, morality, or religion—that the laws under which Wm. L. Chaplin is incarcerated are the laws of congress, and therefore national laws, for which the whole people are responsible; and that they ought to be repealed, and every vestige of slavery wiped out from the seat of our National Government.
Resolved, That the act for which Wm. L. Chaplin is imprisoned, is the same in principle as that which we glorify in Kosciusko, Pulaski and Lafayette—which we commend in the aid and sympathy extended to Greece and the struggling nations of Europe, in their efforts to gain their liberties; and that we commend him to sympathies and the prayers of the friends of freedom and humanity in his present condition.
Resolved, That in as much as the friends of slavery claim the right to extend it into territories now free, we in our turn demand that the U. S. Constitution shall be amended by striking out those clauses which are claimed as its compromises, so that no pretence may be left for the support of Slavery by the general Government.
Resolved, That the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to the Liberty Party Paper, Cortland County Express, Cortland Democrat, and Cortland County Whig for publication.
John W. Strowbridge, Sec.
|
|
Jenny Lind. |
We are really gratified to learn that this distinguished Vocalist knows how to dispose of money so profusely paid, by the adorers of vocal music. She no doubt possesses a fine voice, and her powers for song are not surpassed, yet we believe that music is not her best gift; her charity seems to be unbounded, and but few persons, after receiving twelve or fifteen thousand dollars for an evening's labor, would promptly distribute ten thousand dollars to the various benevolent societies of the city. We are glad that she knows so well how to dispose of her funds. Perhaps it is a wise dispensation of Providence that she has the power to draw money from the pockets of those who never have a dollar for benevolent objects, when by passing through her hands it finds its way into those societies who deal out their funds to assuage the woes of the unfortunate. We hope this grace of charity will abound in the heart of this sweet singer, and that she will continue to use her surplus funds to aid the sorrow-stricken and destitute of our country. If so, the prayers and benedictions of the poor will follow her, and she will have a large stock in heaven's banking house to draw upon in time of need.
◘ Don't pass under the sign of the "Clothing Store," without stepping in and examining Mr. Latting's new stock of Ready Made Clothing. If you want to stop a hole in your pants or coat, better go to Latting's and buy a new garment than furnish candles and set "wife" to mending. He will shingle you all over with lining on the inside for a trifle; yes, and put on a hat or a cap to finish you up. See his advertisement in another column.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept. 18, 1850.—Mr. Hamilton, from the Committee on Commerce, reported a bill for the free navigation of the St. Lawrence river, and to establish reciprocity of trade with Canada.
Mr. Rusk from the Post Office Committee made a report, responsive to a resolution of the Senate, relative to the manner in which the contracts for carrying the mail by ocean steamers to California and elsewhere had been performed. The report was ordered to be printed.
Mr. Chase, pursuant to notice, asked leave to introduce a bill prohibiting slavery in the territories of the U. S.
Mr. Clay—I oppose the leave; I hope it will not be granted. There is peace now throughout all our borders, and I hope it will be perpetual and universal. I trust that the Senate will at once decisively set its face against these exciting topics.
Mr. Cass—I heartily concur in what has been said by the Senator from Kentucky, and move to lay the motion for leave on the table.
Mr. Chase, after a few words in a tone quite inaudible to the reporter, withdrew his motion for leave.
Mr. Pratt, pursuant to notice, moved that the Senate take up the bill to prevent the enticing or assisting slaves to escape from the service of their masters in the District of Columbia.
Mr. Hale expressed the hope that the Senate would set its face against further agitation upon these subjects. They had just heard that there was peace throughout all our borders, and he trusted that it would be perpetuated by the refusal of the Senate to disturb it. He hoped that aggression would now cease. (Laughter.)
Mr. Clay thought the bill now presented a part of the system of measures, of which many had recently passed. He-agreed that aggression ought to cease, and the object of the bill was to cause a cessation of the aggression of slave stealing.
The bill was then taken up and considered in Committee of the whole.
Mr. Hale moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on the district of Columbia, with instructions to report an amendment abolishing slavery in the District.
This motion by 8 yeas to 41 nays was rejected. Messrs. Baldwin, Chase, Davis of Mass., Dodge of Wisconsin, hale, Hamlin, Seward and Winthrop were those who voted in the affirmative. After further debate the bill was postponed until to-morrow. The senate went into executive session for the remainder of the day.
No comments:
Post a Comment