Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-01-21
PUBLIC MEETING OF THE PEOPLE OF
IOITHOTJN


At very numerous Meeting of the citizens of
Loudoun County, opposed to the removal of the
Deposites from the Bank of the United States
held pursuant>to notice, on the 18th OF JAM,
1S34.-On motion Of r. H. HENDERSON, Esq
Col WILLIAM ELLSEY was called to the
chair, and F. HlXON, Esq, appointed Secreta-
ry CuTHBERr Powell. Esq. addressed the
injecting, going into general examination of
the subject; and moved that committee Of
be appointed to report resolutions,--the motion
was seconded by J. A. CARTER, esq. accompanied
with remarks, who moved also that the blank
be filled by the number7 Mr.. HOFFMAN spoke
in favour of the meeting The Chairman then
appointed the following gentlemen commit
tee r. II. Henderson, Cuthbert Powell, John
Arnlistead Carter, B. w. Harrison, Charles A
Alexander, Timothy Taylor, jr. and H. B. Pow
ell. who, after a short recess, returned, and
through r. H. Henderson reported the follow
ing resolutions
Resolred AS the sense Of this meeting that
the present aspectof political affairs is por-
tentous Of imminent danger to the prosperity
| OF our beloved country, and to the purity and
even the existence of our republican Institutions
Resolued That the recent removal of the
Treasury deposites from the Bank Of the U.
States, under the assumed responsibility of the
President of the q. State, was measure uncal-
led for by the laws of the land or the wishes of
the people unsupported by single rational argu-
ment, and in direct opposition to the public pros
perity thus violently asSailed the public faith
! pledged to the q. States Bank and to the prin-
ciples Of all free governments, which ever main
tain the guardianship of the peoples money in
the hands of their immediate representatives
Resolved That when, the Congress ofthe u
States, in the organization Of the Treasury de-
| partment, invested the Secretary with authori-
| ty upon good cause to him appearing, to re-
move the depOsiteS and forthwith on such an
| event required Of him to communicate his rea-
sons to Congress, it is absurd to suppose that
they could have meant to divest themselves Of
the guardianship of the public treasures, or to
transfer the responsibility due to them from their
| agent, to another department of the govern
ment--a conclusion to which we conceive no
man could have arrived, but under the deu-
sive influence of an Unsuitable lust Of power
Resolred, That in the time chosen for the ex-
ecution of this purpose, we cannot but perceive
disposition to effect the object, not according
to the wishes of the Legislature, but in despite
of their will, by placing the subject in such an
attitude that the Veto Power of the President
might suppress any effort at redress.
Res6lued, That whatever loss in property we
are called on to sustain, under the ruinous de-
preston Oh the value Vi Oul staple prOQuCtS,
consequent upon this fatal measure, we must
feel as freemen still more sensibly the wound
which is inflicted at the same time upon our vi
olated constitution
Resolred, That such violation was committed
when the President of the y. States, unable to
induce the Secretary to do deed which his
sense of duty forbade, pronounced the lordly
dictum, {" l take the responsibility" and drove
him from his Office to make way for less scru-
puous agent.
Resolred, That such violation is again COM
mtted in the unbounded assumption of Execu-
tive powers claimed by the courtly construc-
ton of an expression Of the Constitution, where
amongst other duties of the President it is pre-
scribed that he shall take care that the laws
be faithfully eXecuted"-which is now made TO
mean, that they must be executed according 70
his sovereign WILL and not according to the
judgment of the officer, and the sense of dutv
which he may feel under his oath of office-and
accordingly the law was faithfully executed nm.
der this doctrine, when the Presidents will in
relation to the deposites was substituted for the
judgment and discretion ofthe officer of finance
to whom the trust and power to decide were
specially committed by the law of the land.
Resofred, AS the opinion of this MEETING that |
the Bank of the o. States has on its mart faith. |
fully performed its obligations TO the Pnblic |
contracted by the charter, and has RIGHT to the
equal Imminent OF the stipulations made for its |
Deneht and that those measures charged upon
II as tending to produce the present state of dis
tfess, nave been purely defensive, and exercised |
Tor It's preservation against the combined at
tacks OF the Federal executive, and of the I
Stock jobberS Of the New Y rk Exchange--and