sole and avowed object is to sow the seed of discord, rapine, and murder among the slaves of the South. The boasted accession to the recently organized societies at the North. Their increased zeal, their accumulating means, and multiplying presses, teeming with the most slanderous and rancorous abuse of the slaveholding population of the South, thus encouraging insubordination and insurrection. among our domestic circle, are acts looked upon with the greatest indignation by the cominunity. What then remains for us? Shall we fold our arms and be still until the storm sweeps over us, and the earth shakes beneath us? No. We will declare to the world that we will defend our liberties, and our property, which the Constitution of our country has guaranteed to us; but having rights, and knowing them, we shall dare maintain them. Therefore, Resolved, That a Committee of Vigilance, to consist of twenty, be appointed, a majority of whom shall have power to act, whose duty it shall be to take such measures and use such means as they may deem proper, in bringing to public view, and whipping all blacklegs, gamblers, or other idle suspicious persons, who may locate or loiter about our town or county, without any visible means of support. Resolved, That said committee use all energetic means in ferreting out and detecting any person or persons that may attempt to circulate among the community, any pamphlet, tract, or any seditious publication of any kind whatever; or tampering with slaves, with a view to excite insurrection; and upon proof of such fact, to inflict upon such person or persons death, which is the penalty of our statute for such offences, or such other punishment as they may think proper. Resolved, That we recommend to the citizens of each Captain's beat in the county, to appoint a Committee of Vigilance, whose duty it shall be to apprehend all suspicious persons who may be found in their respective neighbors hoods, and bring them before the general Committee of Vigilance, at Athens, for examination. |