Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-08-25

according to public notice previously given, a
meeting of the people of Powhatar,, took place at
the Court house, the 18th day of August, 1881
after the close of tho election for Delegate mem
Der of Congress, and Senator, upon the aubect. OF
sending delegates to the AntTariff Convention at
Philadelphia, IN September next. Thomas Miller
was called to the Chair, and John Gillian appoint
ed Secretary. The Chairman then stated the Oh.
jects of the meeting in substance as follows
Gentiemen--At the last court, notice was pub.
licly given, that this "a day devoted to, and
set apart for political objecs-you would be- called
upon to take into consideration the propricty of ID
pointing Delegates to represent this county OF
Congressional District, in the an-tariff convention
which will take place in Philadelphia, the 30tk
next month. You now accordingly assembled
for that purpose. ] propose my friends, in as few
words, and as clearly possible to explain to you
tho objects OF this convention, and the good conse
quences which its promoters and friends expect tn
how from lt-and IN the first place, let remark
that Tt5 Objects have been totally misapprehended
or perverted by those whose opinions are opposed
to IT. 1t has been represented for instance, as
having been got up for the purpose of party poll
tics, connected with the next election of President
and Wee President: and hence 1t has been predict
ed that Its measures would have great tendency
to agtao the public mind, already sufficiently OK.
cited on that absorbing subject, to exasperoto par
ty teuds, and hence to put of to a distant tay,
perhaps forever, redress of tho grievances which
the great agricultural and commercial public be.
lieve they are laboring under, in consequence OF
the American System, so erroneously called If
believed for a moment that such was the object
OF this convention--thut such could be the result
OF its mcasdros-be assured that should be ono OF
the last persons that would aid in its organization
lend succor TO it's acts No my friends the advocates
OF thus convention strike at much nobIer aim than
even the election of the first officers of the govern
ment' Their aim 10, by concentration ofbDinions
and reasoning-by accumulation of facts and de-
ductions-by stating their grievances fully, fairly
and without angcr-by diffusing light among the
great body OF the people upon the most vital system
OF oppression that ever marred the proceedings of
this, our free and generally benign government
TO BRING our councils back to first principles-to
degenerate tho Constitution in its primitive purity
and eHceIience-to make it sub5erye it's great OBJ.
Jects and those only, the dspcnsation of equal BEN
chts, and the imposition of equal burdens on the
great American family-to maintain the Union
the sheet anchor of our safety, by return to JUS
tee and highland thereby to ensure peace and
happiness to this whole communicate the North
East, South, and West. These gentlemen are
the objects of this COnvention-objects holy in
themselves and whether they can be attained or
not, should be consecratod in The affections of eve
ry fond to the liberty, happiness and peace of tho
country-ayery lover of the freedom Of mankind
~ may DO proper to remark that the first notice of
this subject which / saw, and, believe the first
that appeared in the Union, was published in the
tanner of the Constitution, then edited i'm New
ork, now in Philadelphia in April last--a paper
wholly exempt from party politics-devotcd exclu
slVeIy TO principesa pa per which Earnestly wi sh
man iu LuC OHlOU COuIu Teu0-DeCaus0 /
consider it not only edited III the ablest manner.
but confined in its discussions entirely, if may
use the expression to the philosophy of Politics.
and not subservicnt to men. | hold in NV hand
the No containing the first proposition for this
Convention.
Mr. VI. then made a few remarks going 10 sho,y
the unconstitutioLalty of the Tariff in the Grst
Place-the effects which it had to diminish the com
incrce OF the country, and of to depress D.
ricuI'urcand me particularly adverted to its bp I'd
ana UNJUST operation in the articles of IRON salt
sugar, coarse woollens, &c.-Mr. NJ. then AGAIN
adyerrcd to the course he expected and hoped This
Convention would adopt-stated the calculations
he had made, and all its friends that much good
would result by combined action Of the arric1Itp
raj and commercial interests on this all-importanf
'u6ect-and concluded by Offering the accompany
ng resolutions
Ist' Resolved, That the people of Powhatan
eel deep and abiding interest in the preservation
II the Constitution Of the United States in its ori
'aI purity as government of limited and specific |
'owers-and that they believe sach preservation
ssentiai 70 the maintenance Of the Union and the
'once 7rd ha7Piuesa ofthe country.