MASS MEETING OF COLORED CITIZENS, OCTOBER 3, 1850.
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        Pursuant to Public Notice, a large and enthusiastic meeting of the colored citizens of the city was held at Clinton Hall, on Thursday evening, October 3, 1850. The hour having arrived, the meeting was called to order by Mr. Henry K. Thomas, and the Throne of Grace, addressed by the Rev. S.P. Campbell. After which on motion, Mr. John Simpson, was appointed President; and Messrs. D.H. Hawkins, Peyton Harris, Richard Jones, Henry Moxley, and Eli Holden, appointed Vice-Presidents, and Messrs. George Weir, Jr. and B.F. Young, Secretaries.
    The objects of this meeting, having been stated by the chairman. On motion a committee of thirteen was appointed to prepare business for the meeting, consisting of Messrs. James M. Whitfield, J.H. Elebeck, H.K. Thomas, Uriah Lett, George Dover, N.H. Dunlap, John Dandridge, Henry Fields, R.S. Brown, John McLeane, Edward Cooke, D. Moten, and A. Parker. On motion Resolved, That the Fugitive Slave Bill, as recently passed by Congress, be read. After the reading of which Mr. A.H. Francis, was called for who came forward and addressed the meeting at some length. Reviewing the conduct of the present Administration, in reference to the cause of freedom, &c.  The Rev. Mr. Campbell, was next called for who entertained the audience by an examination of the various features as contained in the "Fugitive Bill, and clearly proving its unconstitutionality" in every respect. The addresses of the speakers were received with unbounded applause. The Business Committee, then reported the following resolutions, which were read and adopted in full.

RESOLUTIONS:

1st. Resolved, That the law recently passed by Congress and commonly known as the fugitive slave bill (which might be more properly be styled a bill to extend Slavery over the free States and encourage the kidnapping of freemen) form its palpable violation of the most sacred guarantees of the Federal Constitution, its wanton disregard of every principle of common law or natural justice, the shameful manner in which it outrages every sentiment of Christian morality and very acknowledged principle of human or divine law and the bribe which it offers to the Commissioners, in the shape of double fees, to induce them to decide in favor of slavery and against freedom, is the most corrupt, tyrannical and unjust law which ever disgraced the code of any nation, civilized or savage, christian or heathen, as such should be repudiated and disregarded by every American freeman.

2nd. Resolved, That this act violates every acknowledged principle or rule of law. 1st, by allowing any man to be seized as property by the claimant without any process, when in the case of any other property a warrant served by an officer is necessary. 2nd, by allowing an affidavit taken hundreds of miles off and giving a general and vague description, to be taken as conclusive evidence, when in every other case identification of the property in open court is necessary, 3rd, by allowing the testimony of the claimant to be taken as sufficient evidence, when in every other case the property must be proven by disinterested witnesses. 4th, by making petty Commissioners appointed for this purpose and probably without learning or experience in matters of law, the judges whose irrevocable decisions are to be without appeal, and no means left of obtaining redress if they should every proved fallible and err in judgement, which is rendered more likely by the tempting bribe of double fees held out as an inducement for them to decide in favor of slavery while in all other cases the claim is tried before a regular Court, and impartial jury with the usual means of redress where an erroneous decision is given. 5th, by requiring the proceedings to be summary and refusing the testimony of the alleged fugitive while that of the claimant is admitted, thus in violation of every maxim of law and every principle of justice, throwing the burden of proof upon the latter and at the same time depriving him of the opportunity of procuring necessary witnesses or adequate council, while in all other cases the burden of proof rests upon the claimant and time is granted for procuring counsel or obtaining necessary witnesses.

3. Resolved, That even admitting all that the most ultra slaveholders claim, that the Constitution recognizes property in slaves the same as any other property, all that can be reasonably claimed is that the same facilities shall be granted that are given in the recovery of other lost property, including trial by jury in the district where it is found, and identification  and proof of the property by disinterested witnesses.

4. Resolved, That we recognize in the Federal Constitution "a higher law" than any legislative enactment, and as this act conflicts with that "higher law" -- first, by entirely destroying the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, which the Constitution declares, "shall never be suspended, unless in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it:" 2nd, by allowing any person to be arrested without any warrant at all, when the Constitution provides that "the right of the people to be secured in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated-- and no warrant shall issue but upon probable cause supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the person or things to be seized," 3rd, by allowing any person to be deprived of liberty, and reduced to perpetual slavery, without any of the usual forms or proceedings of law, when the Constitution provides that "no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law." 4th, by denying the right of jury trial, which the Constitution declares shall be preserved inviolate in all criminal cases, and in all civil cases where the value shall exceed twenty dollars, and is in its details destroys all the safeguards which the Constitution throws around the rights of the freeman, and leaves no alternatives to the free citizen, who may be wrongfully claimed under its provisions, but slavery in submission-- or, death in resistance.

5. Resolved, That we unhesitatingly accept the issue thus forced upon us, and of the two evils presented choose the lease, preferring to die in resisting the execution of so monstrous a law, rather than submit to its infamous requirements.

6. Resolved, That we have in every instance shown ourselves law-abiding and order-loving citizens, disposed to submit to gross injustice rather than violate the sanctity of the law or disturb the public peace, but when every safeguard of personal freedom is stricken down and every individual is liable at any moment to be falsely enslaved without the possibility of redress, forbearance ceases to be a virtue and resistance becomes a duty, and in the discharge of this duty we solemnly pledge ourselves to resist the execution of this law at all hazards and to the last extremity.

7. Resolved, That we utter these resolutions under no excitement, in no spirit of bravado nor with the expectation that we can cope with the power of the Government, for we know that on the side of the oppressor there is power, but as a calm deliberate expression of our fixed determination to exercise the last remaining right of freemen and which no tyranny can ever wrest from us, that of dying in defence of what little liberty we possess.

8. Resolved, That we are fully determined to resist as far as lies in our power every attempt to enforce any act by which an American citizen is liable to be deprived of life or liberty without due process of law, without a trial by a jury of his peers, or without the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.

9. Resolved, That we will use all the means within our power to test the constitutionality of this law before the United States Supreme Court.

Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published, in all the city papers, and in the North Star, and Impartial Citizen.
A collection was then taken up in behalf of the Chaplin fund.
After which the meeting adjourned.
    D.H. HAWKINS, Vice-President
    PEYTON HARRIS,        "
    RICHARD JONES,        "
    HENRY MOXLEY,         "
    ELI HOLDEN,           "
    JOHN SIMPSON, President
    GEORGE WEIR, Jr., Sec'y

[Buffalo Daily Republic (Buffalo, NY), October 4, 1850]

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MASS MEETING OF COLORED CITIZENS, OCTOBER 17, 1850.

Mass Meeting of the Colored Citizens of Buffalo.

        Pursuant to public notice, a mass meeting of the colored citizens of Buffalo was held at Clinton Hall on Thursday evening, 17th inst., for the purpose of considering in relation to the Fugitive Bill. At an early hour the house was crowded with out citizens, both white and colored. The hour having arrived, on motion, Mr. Nathaniel Dunlap was appointed President, and Messrs. James L. Thomas, William Qualls, and John McLean, Vice Presidents, and George Weir, Secretary. The meeting being duly organized, on call the Chairman arose and stated the object for which the meeting had convened, earnestly inviting the hearty, and united co-operation of all present, assuring them that the meeting had not convened for the purpose of adopting measures for "Physical Resistance"  in preference for the "better way," but to adopt such measures as would at "all hazards" and under "all circumstances" prevent the recapture of one of our brethren, with a view of reducing them to slavery. At the close of the President's remarks, on motion a committee of five was appointed by the Chair, consisting of Messrs. A.H. Francis, James M. Whitfield, J.P. Campbell, R.S. Brown, and Henry R. Thomas, to prepare business for the meeting. During the absence of the committee, "the Rev. Leonard Whiting of Canandaigua, Agent of the Chaplin fund" was called for, who came forward amid loud and enthusiastic cheering, and spoke at some length, in behalf of that great, and good man, Gen'l Wm. L. Chaplin, now confined in a Maryland Prison. The Committee then reported the following Resolutions.

        Whereas, the fugitive slave bill, recently passed by Congress, is a southern measure, intended not only for the more effectual security of that species of property, under the laws thereof, but back of this a measure to bring the general government an acknowledged party to their right, to hold man as property, Therefore

        1. Resolved, that the fugitive slave bill, passed by Congress, not only violates the sacred guarantees of the Constitution, but is Anti-Republican, Anti-Christian, and unworthy of the support of the enlightened freemen.

        2. Resolved, That we do not consider ourselves bound under no law that violates the Constitutional obligations by which we are governed, therefore we consider the fugitive slave law, no law to govern our actions, but will be resisted by us at all times, at all places, and under all circumstances.
 
        3. Resolved, That we  will give our support to no religious or political party whatever, which will not most faithfully repudiate this law, and seek its immediate repeal, with that of every other slavery enactment in the land.

        4. Resolved, that we deeply sympathize with Gen'l Wm. L. Chapin of this state, now a prisoner in Maryland, formerly a prisoner in the city of Washington, D.C., for doing what God, and humanity approves. Attempting to deliver the oppressed from the lands of the spoiler, that we well raise what funds we can for the Agent now present (Rev. Leonard Whitney of Canandaigua) to assist in obtaining his freedom.

        5. Resolved, That we prepare and circulate a petition for signatures, to be presented to the next Congress, for a repeal of this odious law, the fugitive slave bill.

        6. Resolved, That we hold a political meeting Monday evening next at the Vine street Church, to settle the question in relation to our future political action.

The report of the Committee having been read, was accepted. On motion, Resolved, that the Resolutions be taken up separately for adoption, which were severally read, and all, with the exception of the fifty, unanimously adopted. On the fifth, a few dissenting voices were heard, but it passed by a large majority.

Pending the adoption of the Resolutions, they were warmly and ably discussed by the Hon. S.H. Addington, Payton Harris, Rev. J.P. Campbell, Horace C. Taylor, Esq. of Ohio, Hon. Seth C. Hawley, Mr. Myers, of Massachusetts, Rev. Leonard Whitney, and others.

 The proceedings of a large and spirited meeting held in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, was next read by the Secretary.

 A collection having been taken up in Behalf of the Chaplin fund, the meeting adjourned.

        N.H. Dunlap, President
        James L. Thomas,
        William Qualls,
        John McLane, V. Presidents.
        George Weir, Secretary.

[North Star (Rochester, NY), October 24, 1850]

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LETTER FROM GEORGE WEIR ABOUT BLACK CITIZENS OF BUFFLO, MARCH 15, 1851

Mr. Editor -- Sir: -- I was somewhat astonished to find in your paper of the 13th inst., an article copied from the New York Evening Post, in relation to the effects of the Fugitive Slave Bill in Buffalo, stating that one hundred and thirty communicants from the colored Baptist Church had left, for fear of arrest on the charge of being fugitive slaves, and also that the Methodist Church has lost a considerable number from the same cause. From whatever source this information emanated, allow me to inform you that it is incorrect and instead of the large number spoken of, not three have left from either church, and I know that not three have left from the whole city; therefore the report is entirely incorrect and without the least shadow of foundation. The Buffalonians are made up of different stuff. We are not so easily frightened as to leave our homes in consequence of any such machinations of the Devil; and I imagine that it would require more force than any of the Fillmore clique could summon in Buffalo to drive us from the homes of our adoption, at least in such numbers as spoken of. We have long since considered the matter, and have come to the conclusion that we have a right to live here, and also that we have a right to use the same means to maintain our rights that our revolutionary fathers taught us on a "certain occasion." No attempts have been made here as yet to arrest any one. Our city has enjoyed a quietude and repose which is devoutly be hoped may continue. But when it shall be broken, Buffalo will be heard from.
        Yours, &c.
        George Weir, Jr.

[North Star (Rochester, NY), March 20, 1851]