Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1828-11-27
KtrDsssosau gGaDsg.
ANTI-AUCTION MEETING.


Richmond opposed to auctions, at the Eagle on Tues
day, pursuant 10 notice. On motion of Mr.. Charles
Ellis, John Allan Esq called to the Chair, and
Bernard Peyton Esq. appointed Secretary.
The Chairman briefly called the attention of the
meeting to It's objects. when Mr.. Fleming James
moved the adoption OF the following Preamble and
Resolutions.
Whereas, the people of the L. S especially the
mercantile community have suffered grierous ard yu-
nous losses by of frequent fluctuations in the
value OF goods mainly to be attributed Gacioa sales
Resolved therefore, that we the citizens Of Rich
nrond, will use all tegat and proper means, together
with best eXertions, to pu. down the auction sys
tenn, or restrain it within proper bounds.
Resolved that Committee of ll be appointed for
the purpose of drafting memorial to the Congress OF
the U. S. in conformity thereto. and that the said
Committee report 90 this meeting with little delay
possible
These having been read from the chair, were adop-
ted without dissent.
The committee under the last Resolution consisted
OF Charles Ellis, WIN. Giliiatt, j. p Taylor Hall
Nelson, VIM. Gait. T.. James, Orrin Williams J. A.
Lancaster, Giistavus Lucke, A. Peasants. VIM. An
derson, ]. Fl. Gardner and Suml Marx.
The committee having rctir ID, in short time, Mr..
Ellis reported the following memorial to Congress.
70 the Honorable the Senate and House OF Repre-
scntatives of the United States of America. in
Congress assembled.
The Memorial o! the subscribers Merchants Ira
dcrs, and other citizens of Richmond Virginia.
Respectfully RepTeseniS-
That Of all the evils with which the American
Merchants, TradCSmen, and other citizens, have to
contend, IN their competition with foreign capital
skill and enterprise there Is none perhaps OF c0Hal
magnitude, Or trUught with consequences so runous
and demoraiGing, those which flow from the nre-
sent perniCiOus system of selling Goods at Am lion
pursued in all the large cities in the United States
particularly i'll the cities Of Philadelphia and New
York, and above al! in New York Its paralvzinm
Influence is felt in almost every branch of busin IS
and by every class in the community.
TO the commerce OF Virginia. and the States south
of Virginia this system has proved peculiarly des-
tructlve, having by Its operations, driven nearly all
our regular importing Merchants into retirement or
% Bankruptcy. and converted most of such rs survive
and pursue any business ut all into mere "hewers Of
wood and carriers Of water, for the great cities OF
the North especially for New York, and above all
for the .inriiopee'S OF New York
Ut has been deemed strange that SYST EN- 50 partial
ana unjust m IFS operations 50 calculated to n;Jrc
the many Tor the benefit OF the few; TO nurture the
enterprise, and sustain the industry OF orcirn nations
at the cXpence oithc interests of our own citizens
should so long have been permitted ~ take root and
spread It's bUeiul influence the vital interests If SO
great portion Of the community
Yet ii is an evil which we have all felt and under
which we have groaned for ten years past behollng
with deep and intense interest our commerce Iviflc
ING daily under its influence i'm the hope that II world
either itself or, that some measures Womb he
adopted by Congress al tie instance Of other memo
rlasts, that would arrest IT IN its course. In this
state of feeling we have remained If not PATIENTLY at
least without complaining, until the expressions OF the
system have become 81 griavCus not 10 be borne
and no relief having been afi0rdrdu lis IN any wsv We
feel that it Is time to ourselves TO ali the exer
tlon5 OF which capable. and TO Use every rrounr
means within our power, To- -. ourselves of this evil
With this view, We present ourselves ut the bar four
country and ask ,he Hterpositiou Ct yOr honorable
bodies in our behalf.
Amongst the humorous evils ofour .luctjon Syefe,p
It is Of the Last tat it pagtakcs largely Of sor
ot the worst Features o. mlscicvous and unjust
1onopoly 1t IS directly calculated, and actuailv
does concentrate in The hard. Ola tcr i7djrEy,0L -
immense proportion ofjhc business of our Drincipal
cities; it lays the oWcst ,l and affords facilities for
fine practising ofnumerouS frauds and npositions on
both government and peonir
From the best evidence that can bc had il appears
That of all the foreign merchandise imported into the
United States, from Onc-half TO three tourhs is dis
posed of by Sales NJ Auction, and OF this immense
amount, the far greater portion, is ic.cd is owned
by foreign mcrchan IS aud manufacturers
- II Is singular and rather extraordinary crcUrn- /
stance connected With the auction system that in
istvas and various operations it IS nude the nstri-
mcnt Of Wrestling from the American merchant and
trader, all those advantages originally intended bv
government, tJr the cHCour cement Of ner own
citizens; ard Of converting them - the benefit Of the
merchants and manufacturers OF iorgignHati0ns. To
illustrate this position, DO may be observed, that iIuf1c-
distey after the organization Of the present govern
nen Of the United States. Of the first object that
Engaged tC attention # our legislators ..as tc c.ia-
blisiuncnt Of iudcioU5 system Of ImDosts BEARING
~ mind That the country but lust crncrriar from
the inpogcrshing effects Of proracted %ararc; that
ne limited capital of orr merchants and traders re-
CURED from fostering and pHerna government IL
bcral credit on he dU. imposed on foreign merchau-
dHe-thy, with a PrOmptliudr, characteristic Of.
their cu ghtcncd news and liberal policy, granted
credit Of eight, ten and Jwc c months on al impOr-
ahon3 from EuroJ. ard still o1,or credit on an Goods
0portelirom,rrold %, Cap i5f Good Hope. So long
- the streams Of 'radc and commerce continued TO
flow. through tlc ordinary and regular channels Of