Meeting in Cumberland re emancipation, 1863

Emancipation in Alleghany County.

A large and enthusiastic meeting was hold at Cumberland on Thursday, the 23d ult., at which Jacob Shriver, Esq, presided. A series of resolutions were adopted, one of which reads thus upon the subject of emancipation —

Resolved, That all fair men must admit, that but for the existence of slavery, that devilish conspiracy against the peace and union of our most happy country could not have resulted in this lamentable war, and on that account we earnestly hope that patriotism and love of country will induce even slaveholders of this State to co-operate cordially with those who constitute a very large majority of the people of the State not personally interested in this dangerous institution in devising measures consistent with the rights of property guaranteed by our laws and constitution, for its gradual but certain extirpation.”

Hon. D. McPhail, Col. J. A. Mullcan, the hero of Lexington,, and Ex-Governor Thomas addressed the meeting. The latter in the course of his remarks said, as he is reported in the Cumberland Union, that he regarded the Emancipation Proclamation as a retaliatory act, in opposition to the acts of the Rebels in confiscating the property of Union men in the South, and spoke long and earnestly on the subject of general emancipation, giving an idea of the advantages to be gained by Maryland and Alleghany county especially, by the placing of this subject of the negro beyond the bounds of dispute; and hoped that he might live to see the day when every foot of Maryland soil should be free.