Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-03-05
CON GRES SION AL.
THE DELAWARE MEMORIAL.

In the Senate on Monday, Mr. CLAYTON
presented the draft of memorial, signed by
one thousand six hundred and fifty citizens of
the County of Newcastle, in the State of Della
ware, praying the restoration of the public de-
posites to the Bank of the United States, and
the permanent establishment of a sound and
uniform currency. After stating the contents OF
the memorial Mr. G. observed that it had been
delivered to him by delegation composed OF
gentlemen of the first responsibility, appointed
at meeting of the citizens of that county, held
at the City of Wilmington, on the 22d ult. and
represented to be the largest assemblage at that
place within the recollection of those who at
tended it.
The memorial, said Mr.. c., is signed by ma
jority of all the legal voters of the only coun-
ty in the State which has ever expressed an OPT
MON by plurality of votes at any election IN
favor of the present Chief Magistrate OF the
United States. Men of all parties, of all trades
and professions, of all the grades of life, whe-
Their rich or poor, farmers manufacturers, mer-
chants mechanics, and laborers have concur
red in the expression of that sentiment which
is now pervading all the ranks and classes of
men, in other sections of the Union, that the
appropriate remedy for the distresses OF the
country is the restoration of the public treasure
to the public agent, primarily appointed by Con-
greSS to receive IT.
Mr.. President. this memorial is eouched in
most respectful language towards every depart
ment of this Government. 1t is signed by men
possessing high degree of intellectual and mo-
raj worth 1t originated IN no motive but an
anxious desire for the promotion OF the welfare
of a country which the petitioners dearly love,
and which they have always been Jealous to
sustain, according to the best ability which God
has given them. It's tone of duplication is not
the less urgent OF convincing, | trust because it
disclaims the influence of mere party feeling,
and asks in the respectful language OF sober
truth to be credited for the representation of
evils which are deeply felt and which are daily
growing.
The farmers constitute the first of all the
classes of men subscribing this memorial, for
whom desire 10 solicit the timely assistance of
this Government. At the period of the removal
of the public money from the Bank of the Unit
ed States, their readily selling, in their
own markets, for more than 20 cents per bush
ell. They looked forward to an increase rather
than dimnuion of the price of this their prin-
cipal reliance, and reasonably expected to find
in the enhancement of its value some remune-
ration for the losses they had incurred by a con-
siderable failure in the crop Since the day
when the Secretary's order for the removal of
the depoStes was executed the price of the
great staple, on which they have depended, has
been constantly sinking, until, at this moment
Us learn, the highest price which can be OBJ
tanned for it is forty-fve cents per bushel. If
this be true, sir, it will be seen that their loss al
ready amounts to 80 cents, on every bushe of
this grain, which is equivalent to an abstraction
of about 43 per cent from the principal earn
ings of their productive labor. Ali the other
produce Of the farmer has suffered CORES
pondent reduction in value, and the period, it is
to be feared rapidly approaches when this de-
probation OF price will increase, to the utter ru-
3 EEL ,f al
prostration of the agricultural interest The
manufacturer is not less entitled to your timely
interference With us, as with other parts of
the country, the Banks refuse to discount as for
mery That want of confidence which has
often induced the community TO draw specie
from the vaults Of the best State institutions, is
already felt and although there do not exist in
this country State Banks better entitled to Gre
dit, and resting on more secure foundation
than the Banks III Delaware, yet careful pru-
dence, wXch ought to characterize their direc-
top, has dictated to them, as well as others, to
abstain from their usual grants of Bank accom-
mOdationS to Il degree which is felt severely by
the manufacturer. The want of active capital
in the hands of the employer is Immediately
seen, either in the reduction of the wages of Ia
Dor, or in the discharge of those who, if not
employed, must soon 60 ''supperless to bed"
In an adjoining district of sister State, | un
derstand that the manufacturers have resorted to
hope ofbetter days, by issuing, what is there
called, !" Jackson money" For, sir, falling to
obtain the necessary assistance from the Banks
they are paying the workmen in checks on Banks
where they have now no funds to meet
them, which checks are made payable in and
months from their dates To realize his
daily bread under these circumstances the la
borer mast of course submit to the operation of
those harpies, who, in times of human suffering
prey on the misfortunes ofth poor and fatten
on the earnings oftheir industry. He must sub
mir. in the technical language Of the knowing
ones. 70 have his order shared. | do not i'm
pute this as a fault to the employer, who has no
other alternative but this to save him from the
necessity of turning out all his workmen help
less upon the world Those who seek to sus-
tam themselves as our manufacturers have done
without this resort are necessarily compelled to
curtail their business and discharge from en-
p!oyment men who have too often no other means
OF procuring subsistence
The mechanics and merchants, too, have par
tcipaed fully in the di difficulties which embarrass
the farmer and manufacturer The effect is
felt Of course with most severity by those to
whom they have heretofore given EMPLOYMENT