southern brethren, and preservation of the union of these states, we pledge "our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honour."

Resolved, that we make the like pledge for the protection of the constitutional rights of every American citizen, whether his condition be high or low, whether he inhabit an humble cottage or sit in a chair of state.

Resolved, that the laws of the land, which the people themselves have enacted, are supreme in their authority, and ought to be held sacred and inviolable by every American citizen, and that as we deem the prevalence of this sentiment; the only solid basis upon which our free institutions, our property, our lives, or our liberties can rest with safety, we shall look upon any attempt to promulgate a contrary one with an indignant frown.

The report of the committee was accepted, and a motion made and carried, that the resolutions be considered separately. A motion was then made for the adoption of the first resolution, which was carried by a large majority, (although an attempt was made by the "agitators" to raise a clamour which should prevent the motion being put).

A motion was therefore made for the adoption of the next resolution. It was opposed by A. G. Dauby, in a manner that plainly indicated what he intended should follow, and as soon as he had become seated, a large number of boys and men of loose character, who had come to the meeting for the purpose, and whe only waited for the signal, set up a stamping aud yelling, which entirely interrupted the proceedings. Several worthy mechanics (the mechanics had been principally instrumental in calling the meeting, and had been most active in conservative measures), arose and appealed to the pride of their fellows for the preservation of order and decorum, but they were immediately clamoured down by the "agitators," and through the efforts of A. G. Dauby, R. B. Miller, W. A. Hinman, and some other leaders of the "agitators," all attempts to restore order were counteracted, and a motion, as a last expedient, was made and carried for adjournment, amid the menaces of the mob. Individuals who had advocated the resolutions, were threatened with violence, but were protected from injury by their friends. As some vile calumniators have represented, that this meeting was designed to favour the schemes of the abolitionists, the officers thereof take occasion to declare upon their

veracity, as men of truth and honour, that the assertions from what source soever it may have eminated, is a base falsehood.*

BRADFORD SEYMOUR, Chairman.

ABOLITION CONVENTION-MEETING OF THE CITIZENS-ADJOURNMENT OF THE CONVENTION, SINE DIE.

At an adjourned meeting of the citizens of Utica, held on the 21st October, 1835, at 9 o'clock, A. M., pursuant to a resolution of the meeting held on the 17th inst., Rudolph Snyder, Esq. was appointed President, and JOHN C. Devereux, EPHRAIM HART, EZRA S. BARNUM, KELLOGG HURLBURT, ADAM BOWMAN, NICHOLAS SMITH, and JOHN B. PEASE, Vice Presidents; and on motion of D. WAGER, Esq.; ISAIAH TIFFANY and WILLIAM C. NOYES, were chosen Secretaries.

On motion of J. Watson Williams, Esq.,

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the Chair to report resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting, whereupon the Chair appointed Messrs. J. Watson Williams, Chester Hayden, George J. Hopper, Rutger B. Miller, and Harvey Barnard such committee.

That committee, after a short recess, by its chairman, J. Watson Williams, reported the following preamble and resolutions, which, on motion, were unanimously adopted:—

The citizens of Utica having, on the evening of the 17th instant, expressed their decided disapprobation of the vote of the Common Council of the city granting the use of the Court-rooms to the

*The pretence that this meeting was designed to favour the abolitionists, it is believed, came only from a few individuals, who have no just claims to characters, for truth or honesty. This was probably the largest meeting ever assembled in Utica, on any occasion. Of its character and designs the public will judge from the report of its proceedings. The sentiments contained in the resolutions reported, cannot fail to meet the cordial approbation of every lover of his country.

State Convention of Abolitionists called to assemble here this day; and having determined, by adjourning to this time, to prevent an assemblage of that odious character in a building erected by the voluntary contribution of the said citizens for better and different purposes; and being now assembled, pursuant to that adjournment, deem it a proper occasion to reaffirm the sentiments heretofore frequently expressed by them in relation to the deluded and fanatical efforts of the abolitionists.

We are conscious that the eyes, not only of the people of this state, but of the whole union, are fixed upon our proceedings. We are expected by our fellow-citizens at large to prevent, if possible, by proper and lawful means, the disgrace which will sully our name, if men, whose measures tend most directly to the disturbance of the public peace, and no less directly to the disruption of the now happy union of these states, are permitted to make our city the scene of their mistimed and noxious deliberations. Our determination and our presence prevent their convening here; and we now solemnly and deliberately remonstrate against their attempting to assemble elsewhere within this city. To add force to that remonstrance, we tell them, that disposed as we are, as good and peaceful citizens, to discountenance every attempt to disturb the public peace, and determined as we are to take no part in measures of personal violence and insult, we do not hold ourselves nor our reputations responsible for the consequences which may follow their misguided determination to assemble and deliberate upon the questions which it is their avowed design to agitate in defiance of the repeated expressions of the public opinion here and elsewhere. Upon them, and them alone, forewarned as they have been of the excited state of feeling here, must rest the blame and the reproach of whatever unlawful and disgraceful events may happen. They are trifling with the deep-rooted opinions of their fellow citizens, and we must hold them answerable for whatever excitement their rashness may produce, and for all its unhappy consequences. To their own folly and madness must be attributed whatever evil may flow from their truly unchristian and unpatriotic disregard of the duty incumbent upon them as citizens and as men.

Entertaining, as we do most earnestly, the opinion that an adherence to their unwise determination to hold a Convention in defiance of the repeated strong expressions of a vast majority of our fellowcitizens, may lead to unpleasant and perhaps dangerous acts, and sincerely desiring to avoid whatever may affect our good repute,

Therefore, Resolved, That a committee of twenty-five of our fellow-citizens be appointed by the chairman of this meeting, whose duty it shall be to ascertain the proposed time and place of the meeting of the said Convention of abolitionists, and express to the delegates of the said Convention who may be present in this city the opinions entertained here and throughought the state and union, of the impropriety and rashness of attempting to assemble for the purposes expressed in the call for said Convention; and that the said committee be instructed to urge upon the said delegates the evil consequences which are likely to ensue if they persist in their unwise attempt; to represent to them the excited state of public feeling here, and the utter abhorrence in which the doctrines and measures of the abolitionists are held; to warn them to abandon their pernicious movements, and to regard, as becomes all citizens studious of the public quiet and welfare, the frequent remonstrances of the great body of the people of this state, and of the union, against their obnoxious designs.*

Resolved, That they also be instructed to inform the said delegates of the number and character of the persons composing this meeting; that it is no riotous assemblage convened for the purpose of encouraging or abetting tumult and disorder; but a meeting of good and reputable citizens of Utica, of all classes and parties, assembled. to prevent, if they can do so by their advice and remonstrances, a resort to violence and insult, by urging, before it is too late, upon the delegates to said Convention, to forsake their determination of as sembling among us at a time when the public feeling is so violently excited against their rash measures.†

"For I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."-JEFFERSON.. + What a ridiculous appearance this "committee" must have made, hunting about the streets after the delegates of this Convention, in order to tell them "of the number and character of the persons composing this meeting," and how well it comported with the dignity of a judge and a representative! They needed no formal resolution in order to remind the Convention of the number and character of their constituents, for of both their number and character the said delegates were well informed, upon the first entrance of this "committee of twenty-five" into the church, by the horrid yells and obscene behaviour of the horde of drunken and wretched beings with whom they were surrounded, and who had followed their leaders, alias "committee," in order to cheer and stimulate them by their blasphemies, in their direful purpose; and produce a stronger "pressure of public opinion." A formal resolution that this.

The President then appointed as the committee mentioned in the first resolution, Messrs. Chester Hayden, Rutger B. Miller, Samuel Beardsley, Ezra Dean, William Tracy, J. Watson Williams, E. A. Wetmore, A. G. Dauby, O. B Matteson, G. W. Hubbard, J D. Leland, Benj Ballou, Augustus Hickcox, A. B. Williams, Julius A. Spencer, Harvey Barnard, T. M. Francis, B. F. Cooper, Isaiah Tiffany, David Wager, T. S. Gold, Alvin Blakesley, Burton Hawley, Jesse Newell, J. H. Dwight.

On motion of E. A. Wetmore, Esq.,

Resolved, That the Hon. Joseph Kirkland, Mayor of the city, be requested to act as chairman of the said committee.

The meeting then took a short recess for the purpose of enabling the said committee to discharge the duties incumbent upon them, and in a short time was again organized for the purpose of receiving their report, which was made by Hon. C. Hayden, their chairman, as follows:

REPORT.

Mr. President-The committee appointed pursuant to the resolution of this meeting to wait on the delegates of the Convention of the abolitionists, appointed to be held in this city on this day, and communicate to them the sentiments of this meeting, respectfully report,

That his Honor the Mayor, named as chairman of your committee, being made acquainted with his appointment, declined from considerations connected with his official character to act as such; at

was

no riotous assemblage"-that these were "good and reputable citizens of Utica," would be quite as satisfactory to the "said delegates," as the assurance of the "committee," that they had come there with just intentions, when one of their number, while attempting to rob the secretary of the papers belonging to the Convention, threatened to knock him down, if he did not give them up. This whole farce is too ridiculous to be treated with seriousness. Nobody can be deceived by it, who desires to know the truth. The candid reader will examine the conduct and doings of these men, and will no more rely upon their declarations of innocence, than he would upon the declarations of an accused person, made for the purpose of exculpating himself from guilt. Let him act upon this principle, which has long been judicially settled to be the only true one ir such cases, and he will have as little difficulty in determining what degree of guilt is to be attached to the prime movers of this "committee," as he will, in ascertaining the "number and character" of their constituents.