Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-12


In your paper Of the 2nd current, | notice a publication
under the caption of"Fluvanna meeting" purportiDg to be
a statement OF the proceedings ola meeting ofthe citizens
OF Fluvanna, held at the Courthouse on the 25lh day OF
February, (being court day. for the purpose of making
known their views and sentiments OIL the all absorbing to-
pics of the day-the South Carolina Convention and the
Presidents Proclamation-and | find also that my name
stands numbered with those who, il is said, composed the
committee appointed TO draft and report a preamble and
resolutions; aud | have likewise assigned 10 me with others,
the more prominent part of advocating the adoption of the
resolutions before the meeting. | consider il due to nv
sell, for a reason which will be presently made TO appear,
TO explain how FAR participated in the proceedings of
that day.--At the time when the meeting was organized,
| was closely engaged in adjusting a matter OF business;
and OH my name being announced as one OF the members
OF the committee, | remarked to a friend, that | had no in.
clination to take any part in the proceedings OF the meeting;
that it was very well known that 1 had never been ranked
among the friends and admirers OF Gen. Jackson; and il he
had now committed those things deemed so highly repre-
hensible in the eyes OF so many OF his quondaIn friends, |
was perfectly willing to leave him in their hands, in order
that they might mete out TO him either their maledictons
or "tender mercies," in such measure as thew, i'm their
wrath or clemency, might thiEk he deserved, without any
interference OF mine. The committee having retired into
one OF the jury rooms, the Chairman, after some time, re-
turned to The door and invited inc TO go in and Join the
committee: which after some delay, produced by a wish TO
finish the business in which was engaged, | concluded
to do-ier' although the committee, 1 knew, was compos.
ed chiefly, if not entirely, Of those with whom il had been
my lot long TO differ on some OF the most prominent politi-
cal questions, and especially that of the protective system;
forming a sort OF dissertation line betwixt us-yet, suppos.
ing that on this occasion, the main subjects of deliberation
wOuIdbe those parts OF the Presidents Proclamation deem.
ed exceptionable-as to which, l probably should concur
in opinion with a majority OF the committee and meeting :
/ therefore aPprehended no difficulty in participating in
the meeting. When got into the jury room where the
committee was in session, | found them engaged in discus
sing some one Of the resolutions - having disposed of the
preamble, | presume-I gave my feeble aid in getting
through with the resolutions, having had the honor of pro.
posing notifications TO some one or more OF them. tending
rather to soften than otherwise, which were accented.
The Chairman, as well as ! recollect, in his report TO the
meeting, read only the resolutions, emitting the preamble.
l have no recollection Of having heard the preamble esd
at any time; and am conscious it | did. il was without adj
veriiDg to its contents, and believe that I was, for the first
time, aPPrized OF its contents by seeing il in your paper
when / was surprised to find the tariff system ~introdueed
into it-abd as II would seem 10 Inc rather gratuitously,
or as net being called for by the subject matter Of any Of
the resolutions; and denounced in language, to which |
cannot yield my assent, consistently with those principles
or opinions, / have always entertained aud been known TO
entertain by my acquaiDtances, at least, in reference 10
that system-and IL you will 10 me the favor 10 publish,
this statement, I promise you, Messrs. Editors, that I will
have done with such meetings.
JOHN TIMBERLAKE. Jr.