Large and contentious meeting opposing coercion of the South held in Philadelphia

A large meeting of mostly Democrats opposed to coercing the South in the crisis met in Philadelphia at the National Hall.  Charles Macalester chaired and called for the end of personal liberty laws, any use of force, and even disunion if need be.  Robert P. Kane called for a "strict construction of the Constitution" and held that slavery was "purely a question of political economy" rather than morality.  The sentiments were not unanimous and several speakers were ejected and others drowned out.  (By John Osborne)