or after trial, or is known to conceal a person claimed as a slave, is subject to a fine of one thousand dollars; and thus, in every possible way, placing the liberty of colored persons in every State or Territory of this Union completely at the mercy of slaveholders or their agents, with every safeguard of liberty stricken down-Therefore,

1. Resolved, That we utterly repudiate the law and its provisions; that it is so repugnant to every principle of justice, that it can have no binding force whatever upon us; and that we do here, in the sight of God and before all men, declare, that should any one attempt to execute its provisions on any one of us, either by invading our homes or arresting us in the street, we will treat such an one as assaulting our persons with intent to kill, and, God being our helper, will use such means as will repel the aggressor, and defend our lives and liberty.

2. Resolved, That we are worthy neither of our homes nor of the confidence of our wives and children, unless we are prepared to sacrifice ourselves freely, if necessary, on the altar of freedom and in their defence.

3. Resolved, That the teachings and examples of our countrymen, the promptings of our nature as men, as well as our duty towards God, tell us, that whenever the unjust provisions of this law against God and humanity shall be attempted to be enforced against either of us, it were far better that a thousand lives perish in the rescue, than that a single human being be permitted to be dragged from our midst into hopeless bondage; and that we desire no grave prouder than that over which shall stand the monument, and no page of history prouder than that which shall second the deed, of such rescue.

4. Resolved, That it has ever been our aim and earnest desire to be good law-abiding citizens, and that we will strive such to be; nevertheless, we cannot for one moment entertain the idea of compliance with the terms of that bill, its force being lost in the fact that it is at variance with the laws of our nature and of God; and further, because we believe it to be at variance with the spirit and letter of our Declaration of Independence, and of the Constitution established under that Declaration.

5. Resolved, That the provisions of the Fugitive Slave Bill of 1850, leaving us no other alternative, we must adopt the motto of our sister State, Virginia-" Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God."

6. Resolved, That we declare to Mason, and the aiders and abettors of this arbitrary and despotic law, in the language of Daniel Webster, "that there is something on earth greater than arbitrary and despotic power; the lightning has its power, and the whirlwind has its power, and the earthquake has its power-but there is something among men more capable of shaking despotic power than lightning, whirlwind or earthquake-that is the threatened indignation of the civilized world."

7. Resolved, That "God willed us free-man willed us slaves. We will, as God will; God's will be done."

8. Resolved, That inasmuch as desperate efforts are being made to

reclaim fugitives who have fled for liberty-to reclaim them at all costs-we, sympathizing with such fugitives, and believing that they would be justified therein by the promptings of nature, by the precepts of Patrick Henry and of Washington, by the glorious example of Madison and Washington, do council them to do as we would-to arm themselves with the surest and most deadly weapons; to resist unto death, for which, if they be not prepared, we advise them to repair, with all possible dispatch, to where the law, as well as nature, proclaims them free.

9. Resolved, That in giving ten millions of dollars to the South, for land which the South never owned-in promising to pay one thousand dollars each to the South, for every bondman who may escape therefrom-in converting her once free soil into a hunting-ground for the panting fugitive, and in offering to her own citizens a bribe on the one hand to join in the chase, and fine and imprisonment on the other hand for refusing to do so, the once free North has sold herself, body and soul, to the dark spirit of slavery; and has, through her chosen President and subservient members of Congress, declared, "in tones that will pierce the ears of half the human race, that the last great experiment of representative government has failed," and has " caused millions of eyes of those who fed their inherent love of liberty upon the success and prosperity of the American example, to turn away from our deep disgrace, with dissatisfaction and disgust; and has caused the doctrine of the divine right of kings to feel, even in its grave, a returning sensation of vitality and resuscitation."

10. Resolved, That we call upon all American citizens, who have any regard for constitutional law, or any reverence for the history of our glorious past, or any pride in our national reputation abroad, to join in the cry of repeal-repeal the infamous bill, which barters the life and liberty of a freeman for the oath of any wretch who may swear that he is a slave.

11. Resolved, That we will circulate petitions to the Legislature of this State, calling for a law to protect its free colored citizens from slavery; and for resolutions instructing the members of Congress to urge the repeal of the Fugitive Slave Bill.

12. Resolved, That we will send petitions to Congress, praying for the repeal of the Fugitive Slave Bill of 1850.

13. Resolved. That, actuated by nothing other than pure humanity, in attempting to carry out these resolutions whenever necessity requires them, we will further endeavor to infuse their healthful spirit into the minds and hearts of our fellow-citizens.

14. Resolved, That the President of this meeting be appointed to receive the names of all persons who may be willing to act on the Secret Committee; and all persons who are fugitive to report themselves to the Chairman of the meeting, who must have their real name, and the name of their master, in order that the Secret Committee may know what to do in the premises.

The resolutions were sustained in spirited speeches by Messrs. George T. Downing, John S. Jacobs, Rev. Charles Gardner, Jacob

Russell, Junius C. Morrell, St. de Remy, Benjamin Stanley, and Edward V. Clarke. The speakers were much applauded. At the close Rev. Charles B. Ray came in and announced that the sum of $800 had been raised (the first hundred of which was given by a colored man, ISAAC HOLLENBECK,) to redeem Hamlet from bondage. At this information great cheering took place, and soon after, the meeting adjourned, it being then near midnight.

RESTORATION OF JAMES HAMLET.

The sum of eight hundred dollars having been subscribed in this city and neighborhood, ($100 by a colored man, Isaac Hollenbeck,) a benevolent individual kindly volunteered to go to Baltimore, redeem James Hamlet, and accompany him back to New-York. He went in fetters, but returned a free man.

A great demonstration was made in the Park, on Saturday, the 5th October, on the arrival of Mr. Hamlet. Four or five thousand citizens, white and colored, assembled at noon, to welcome him back to his family and chosen residence. Mr. JOHN P. THOMPSON was called to the chair. Addresses were made by Messrs John J. Raymond, Robert Hamilton, Charles B. Ray, and Wm. P. Powell. Much joy and enthusiasm was manifested. The speakers were heard with the deepest attention, and were frequently cheered while depicting the unjust and cruel privations to which the people of color are subjected in this boasted land of liber ty, and in being obliged to seek shelter from persecution and slavery under a monarchical government, which once oppressed this nation, and now affords an asylum to its citizens fleeing from the oppression of the government of the model Republic! Hamlet stood at the right of the chairman, and tears ran down his cheeks while the speakers described the horrors of slavery. The following resolutions were passed, when the ransomed MAN was escorted to his home, amidst great cheering, shouting and rejoicing.

Whereas, pursuant to the passage of the unconstitutional law enacted by Congress at its last session, James Hamlet, a citizen of Williamburgh, was arrested and sent into slavery in Maryland, without due proofs of law; and

Whereas, through the generous contributions of kind friends of this city, the freedom of James Hamlet was purchased for eight hundred dollars, and he is now restored to the bosom of his family; therefore

Resolved, That we hail with joy this hour, not only because it restores to us our brother, whom we had given up as lost to the partner of his bosom-lost to his children and home-lost to friends and society-lost to all church privileges, and every thing which illumines our pathway to the tomb-but because we believe it to be the beginning of the time of our complete enfranchisement.

Resolved, That we render a thousand thanks to those noble men who have so generously contributed to the emancipation of James Hamlet, and we invoke upon them the blessings of the God of the oppressed.