Meeting of citizens of Henrico County.
--A meeting of the citizens of Henrico county was held at the Court-House, at 12 o'clock yesterday.The meeting was called to order by Col. John P. Harrison, on whose motion Geo. M. Savage, Esq., was called to the chair.
Mr. Savage returned thanks for the honor conferred on him, and urged calmness and courtesy in the deliberations of the meeting, which was called without regard to party. He then announced his readiness to proceed to business.
On motion, Dan'l E Gardner, Esq., was chosen Secretary.
Dr. John R. Garnett arose to make a motion for the appointment of a business committee. He said it was obvious to every reflecting mind that we were overshadowed by an impending crisis-- that our glorious Union, under which we had heretofore lived in prosperity, was in imminent danger — and that it was time for the people to take such action as would ensure the protection of their rights and their institutions. He exhorted to calmness and prudence, and hoped that party feelings would be buried, that there would be no criminations, but that we should act as patriotic men, lovers of the Union and their country, who know their rights and are ready to maintain them. This was no time to stop to enquire how our political mansion became fired. Let us first extinguish the flames, and we may then investigate the cause. Virginia, he said, had made many sacrifices for the Union, and was prepared to make others; but she was equally prepared to maintain her rights and to defend her institutions. He wanted no excitement — no indulgence in ultra sentiments. He desired the action of the meeting to be marked by calmness, firmness and moderation, so that it would meet the approval of all patriots — all true Virginia hearts. He concluded by making a motion for the appointment of a committee of six to prepare business for the action of the meeting.
Mr. John W. Atkinson seconded the motion, and moved to amend by striking out six and inserting eleven. He was a Union man as long as the objects of the Union were faithfully carried out, but no longer. Already the Union was dead, by the frequent violations of the Constitution by Northern States. If life could not be again breathed into it, then he wished to see the defunct body burred out of sight.
The amendment of Mr. Atkinson was accepted, and the Chairman commenced to appoint the committee, when a motion prevailed to enlarge it to thirteen.
The Chairman then appointed the following, as the Committee on Business:
- Jno. R. Garnett.
- Jno. D. Warren,
- Sherwin M. Rae,
- Jno. B. Young,
- Jno. A. Hutcheson,
- A. R. Holladay,
- Jno W. Atkinson,
- Z. S. Mc .
- E. H. ,
- Jas. M Garnett,
- Wm. A. Cocke,
- James Lyons,
- Dr. C. Archer.
Mr. E. E. Orvis stated that he had prepared a series of resolutions, which he desired to submit.
On motion of Mr. N. F. Bwe, the resolutions were referred to the Committee on Business.
On motion of Mr. John N. Davis, Mr. John H. Guy, of Goochland, was invited to address the meeting.
Mr. Guy stated that he did not expect to be called on to say anything to the people of Henrico. He knew that his county sympathized with Henrico in this meeting. The people of Goochland, at their last Court, met together, irrespective of party, and declared their readiness and determination to defend the rights and protect the honor of Virginia. They demand the repeal of the Personal Liberty bills in all the States that have the Constitution and the Federal laws, and will be satisfied with nothing less. Whatever may be thought of the action of South Carolina. It is now too late for her to retrace her steps, and whenever the time of division arrives, Virginia cannot be Yankeed, but most go with the South. Mr. G. did not look upon the election of Lincoln as sufficient cause for a dissolution. His election was constitutional, and could not be objected to, but for the fact that it is a further indication of the deadly hostility of the people of the North to the institutions of the South. He alluded to the refusal of the Vermont Legislature to repeal the Personal Liberty bill of that State, and concluded by advising moderation, firmness, and a spirit of concession.
Mr. C. G. Griswold was called on and briefly addressed the meeting. He spoke for the Union-- of its glory and power — and urged the meeting to reflect calmly and dispassionately on their action. He was not for precipitating the State into revolution. The cotton States have nothing to lose by union of disunion. It dissolution come, the border Slaves must do the fighting, while the cotton States are resting in quiet. Virginia had already cost $1,000,000 on the value of her property by the agitation of the question of dissolution, and the cotton States are the gainers. Not only will Virginia lose in the value of her slaves, but her free labor will depreciate, her citizens will migrate South, and we shall be greatly injured. He said he was for the Union as long as the honor of Virginia could be preserved in it; but if the question of disunion of dishonor is presented, he should say at all hazards, regardless of consequences. If South Carolina would go, let her go in peace. If she can succeed out of the Union, no man would rejoice more than himself. He did not expect civil war would follow, but if it did, and Lincoln, my of Black Republicans, should invade the State, every Virginian would meet them on the border, and fight them step by step, with knife and torch in hand, burning every blade of grass, and razing every house, till reaching our mountain fastnesses, where we will fight to the death, making our country's flag our shroud, and Virginia soil our graves.
Mr. T. Cropper replied briefly, and excitement was manifest in the meeting, when the Committee on Business came in, and
Dr. John R. Garnett presented the following preamble and resolutions, as their report:
Whereas, the people of the non slaveholding State old on the 6th of November last by purely sectional vote on sectional principles, elect Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency of these United States, thereby manifesting their deep rooted to the institution of Virginia and the South, and their finance get possession of the powers of the government with the avowed purpose of including the slaveholding States from their just and equal rights under the Constitution: and, whereas, this hostile in existence for many years, increasing in force and purpose, has now reached a point which threatens and, whereas, certain of our sister Southern States a sense of the grass perpetrated by the Northern States repairing by to secede from the Union: And whereas while there exists among us opinion that a fear in crisis is impending over our believed country yet as there a different to the best mode to be a in may result from it: Therefore, we people of Henrico respective of the have met together, and full and formal conference, do
Resolve that it be recommended to the Legislature of Virginia, when it shall meet in January next, to take time late to call together a Convention of the people of Virginia, to meet at the earliest practicable moment, to take into con the present condition of our beloved country.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the Legislature to invite a conference of Southern States, to consider the mode and measure of redressing our grievances to insist up in such as shall our equal rights in the Union, and protect us in the future from the further agitation of the slavery question; and in the event of failure to secure those objects to concert measures for the protection and defence of our rights.
Resolved. That we earnestly appeal to all Southern States to unite with us to another, and it may be a last, effort to preserve the Union upon terms consistent with the safety and honor of the South; and if they fail in the effort, then to adopt such measures as in their wisdom may be proper for the protection of the South
Resolved. That we invite the other counties of this State forthright to call meetings of the people, and unite with us recommendations.
Resolved lastly, That we will faithfully abide by whatever action the State of Virginia in Convention may determine upon; and for the defence, we pledge to each other our lives our fortunes and our sacred honor.
Mr. Wm. A. Cocke, one of the committee presented the following as a minority report, which he prefaced with a few remarks:
Resolved, That in consideration of existing political , we approve the and recommend to the Legislature of Virginia to call a State Convention at the earliest time.
Mr. Young opposed the minority report, and advocated the adoption of that of the majority.
Mr. Cocke replied briefly.
Mr. Rosser opposed the majority report, because the preamble did not go far enough, and because the resolutions were too milk and waterish.
Mr. James Lyons supported the resolutions as they were, and urged their adoption. He approved the course of South Carolina--believed she was right — and, for one, was ready to sustain her to the last dollar he had.
Dr. Garnett advocated the preamble and resolutions of the committee, and thought them sufficiently strong.
The question was then taken on Mr. Cocke's substitute, and it was voted down.
The report of the committee was then put to vote and adopted.
Wms. Wickham, Esq. Senator from Henrico and Hanover, briefly adjure and the --He fully concurred in the sentiment of the preamble and resolution just adopted. He did not think a Southern Convention was the best mode of setting our differences. He thought a National Convention the better mode, for by that suitable amendments might
be made to the Constitution, by the aid of the middle States, and the extremes North, who failed to concur, might be cut off.
The meeting then adjourned.
