Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-08-24
lsw YoRK, August Is.
MEETING ArH1TiE ToNTINE.CoFrEE

| a.
jcsty of their strength, and shake off the dis
Igraceiui chains which have been imposed upon
them by faction and intrigue, while they re-
manned IN confiding security. a spirits arous-
ed which will not sleep till the pEopI = POSSESS
THEIR RIGHTS, and those who have copspired
10 withhold them, are deprived of their i'll used
power, and levelled with the common citizens
No man who attended the great public meetns-
at The Iontinc Coffee House, last evening, but
must he satisfied that Indignation strong.
deep, and,unversal, rcigns throughout this com
Innnity at the unparalleled usurpatIon of the
rights OF the people by majority of the Iceis-
Iaturc; and no man can doubt the direction of
public sentiment as to the means of redress,
and of Lifting the state TO its former dignity and
glory, and restoring it to its proper influence in
the Uuion.
at an early hour last evening, the large room
m the Tontlne Coffee House, occupied by the
Chamber OF Commerce, was crowded wild, citi-
zcns, embracing fair representation of the ia
lent, wealth, and influence of the CITY: and
friendly TO the passage of the ELECTORAL,
| Law, and the election of DE. WIT CJIN-
| Ton as the Governor of this state General
Robert Ssvartwout called the meeting to order
and on his motion, the venerable George War
ner, an old wing of the revolution, and a firm
| and underwriting republican in the worst of
tunes, was called TO the chair, and Thos Ha-
zard, Jun. equally distinguished for his private
worth, and uniform adherence to republican
principles, was appointed secretary. The large
upper room in the Coffee House was literally
| crowded. The stairs which led TO it were
thronged, and many returned TO their homes with
out being able to participate in the proceedings
of the meeting. regretting that the assemblaGe
had not been convened i'll the Park. When the
toary headed chairman, the associate of George
Clinton, John Jay, Horatio Gates, Matthew
ClarSson, John TAYLOR, Gen Wendell. and
other patriots, who stood forth in the glorious
days of our struggle for national existence took
his seat, a burst ofapplause mingled with feel
ings OF gratitude and veneration, cheered and
welcomed his appearance. On preparing Tor
business, he modesty remarked to those near
him, that he had been friend of the peoples
rights during long life, and the friend of De
Witt Clinton for twenty odd years, and he was
happy to be among his fellow citiacns on such an
oceasion.
Gen. BoGaRpU stated the object of the
meeting. The recent proceedings of the legis-
lature called upon the people to Take into con
sideration their own rights, and the means of OBJ
tanning them from those who have by intrigue
and management, aud it may moi be too muclrto
say, by bribery and corruption, deprived the
people of their us,questionable constitutional
rights and bartered away the influence and
votes of this great state in the Presidential cleo
ton, against the will of their constituents
They now tell us that we must still submit that
we shall have, no voice in this great question
The right of the people to choose Presidential
electors Is guaranteed to them by The constitu-
ton, and when they demanded the privilege of
exercising 1t, if is Withheld, those who Withhold
it under any pretence whatever, are asu,,pers,
! unworthy the name Of republicans, untoorthy
the confidence 0f the people The right of
choosing electors has never been demanded by
| the people at previous elections Of President for
plain and obvious reasons. When the present
law was enacted the candidate was WAsnIrG-
IrrnN .,s
man. Public opinion in this state was nearly
unanimous on succeeding occasions, and the
people had not required the right ofvotinpc them
selves, until the present election. But they had
now asked for it, petitioned for it, demanded it.
and they had been treated with scorn and con-
tempt. They had been told "wait till Novem-
ber when we shall have constImr1ated our bar
gain and then you may have it.n The Governor
IN the exercise of the powers vested i'm him as
sembled the Legislature to give the people thei.
rigms-iSut that Legislature had sheltered them.
selves behind net of forms which they could
have brushed away, and even passed censure
upon the Governor for aiding the people. Gen
| Bogardus then offered the resolutions which will
be sound below.
! Mr.. G.. G. HAINEs then arose and addressed
! the meeting on the contents of the Resolution.
and seconded the motion of General Bogardu.
| for their adoption. He said they embraced i'm
portant points. They declared the fuudamen
TAI rights OF The people; their right to elect then
own rniers by free exercise of their will anc
judgement They reprehcndcd in pointed term.
! the coniuct Of that Junta which had defeated
| the passage of the ELECTORAL LAW. /
any state in the coDfcderacy had deep Interest
III the election of a President and Vice Presiden
OF the United States, it was the state of New
! York. Ter commerce, her agriculture, hei
| manufacturing interests, her population, bei
wealth. and 10 fact all those various ami exten.
s!ye resources chat cvince great powe rfiIl flour
isbing Commonwealth, belonged to the state o
New York. And yet 10 all appearances, what
influence would she have in the election of the
next Chief Magistrate of the Union? He ap.
pealed to that meeting; as body OF freeinen.
had they the shadow of an influence, The
greatest state III the Union has transferred its
| political market as an article of merchandise
| Mr.. Haines then alluded to the Constitution o.
the United States, and to The comments of Ham
| ilton, Madison aud Jay, as to the electoral law
IL was the expectation when the constitution
| was framed that the PEOPLE would choose
the electors of President AMI Vice President
The modc and not the pooer was left to the Lee
gislatnres of the States.
MIR. Baines then spoke Of Mr.. Clinton. His
monument was before tie uation-beCore the
woFld-the grandest work of modern times. II
would endure for all ages. Indeed the state
was flied with the monuments ofhis former DO
Icy; policy grand, comprehensive, and prac
teal, beyond example. He would saw NOTHING
OF him personally; hut as there had been as.