Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-02-15
GREAT MEETING OF MERCHANTS IN
NEW YORK.

GREAT MEETING OF MERCHANTS IN
NEW YORK.
AT meeting of the signers OF the MEMORIAL
Of Merchants and others, held at the Merchants
Exchange, February 18th, 1881
On motion, JONATHAN GooDHuE, Esq. was
chosen Chairman, and John r. stagg, appoin'-
ed Secretary.
James G. King, Esq. from the Committee OF
Delegates, made the following
REPORT.
The Delegation appointed by Signers OF the
Memorial of the Merchants, Traders, Deaiers
and Others of the city of New 4ork, 10 present
the same to Congress, beg leave feSpeouuny "
report to their constituents, that upon tnelf ar
rival in Washington, they waited onthe Repre-
sentatives in Congress from this>clty, and on fne
Senators from the State of New York, with
view of requesting their aid and co-operatlon In
properly introducing to their respective houses
the Memorial they had in charge. renewing 1t
to be of primary importance, consloefins .lle
nnhelief EXPRESSED as to the existing CONNER
cial distress that the individual presenting such
memorial should declare, in his place IN congress
his full and implicit reliance upon the truth OF
its averment and his perfect acqulesence IN It's
conclusion, they proposed to Mr.. Z. w. Law
rance who. from his large participation In the
l.
terests he was especially relied upon for uphold
mo TO be their organ in the House Representa-
tafives in this design; however, your Delegation
repret to saw they were disappointed, as, dltei
time for consideration MIR. Lawrence declneu
presenting the memorial In the mannerpfoposeu'
The senior members OF the city repfesehta ~ VI:
in Congress were not requested to act, as ther
sentiments, frankly made known at the TIME,
were totally at variance with those OF the me-
mortal which was also matter or serious regret
to your delegation, inasmuch as these gentlemen
were likewise intimately connected win tne
commercial classes of the city ofNew York
Your deputation, thus situated afforded
sinuular spectacle to the national legislature
In presenting a memorial declaring, with mod
GRAFTON beyond all cavil, the existing state OF
commercial distress, and embodylng the dellb-
crate views of experienced and intelligent mer-
chants upon subject of vital Importance to them
and to the nation, they were Obliged TO fofego
the services Of the only mercantile men sent
from the city to Congress- and were glad to
find in the Junior member of Congress from
the CITY (Mr Seldom himself not connected with
the mercantile class except by enlarged
and liberal views ready and efficient aid
in the accomplishment oftheir wishes. While
your delegation acknowledges at the hands OF
the other representatives from the city all pro-
per courtesies and civilities, they must award to
Mr.. Selden the highest praise for his manly and
able cooperation which was not the less effective
in Congress, as your delegation aver, from be-
INC made in despite of those considerations,
which were deemed paramount by ms collea-
guess and tits proper to add, that those collea-
CUES thought it right to vote against such re-
ference ofthe memorial as had been delloefately
preferred by your delegation.
By Mr.. Wright from this State, the memorial
was presented in the Senate, IN satisfactory
terms, and considering that he had so recently
promulgated such opposite opinions, your del
egation desire to award him their thanks.
Your delegation also waited upon the Pres
dent of the United States, by appointment, anc
was received with that courtesy for which he Is
distinguished, and in long interview alter eX
planning the actual state of commercial affairs
i'm this city, and declaring in explicit but res
pectful terms as the result OF the experience
and best iud gment of our commercial men, tha
national bank was absolutely necessary fol-
the proper regulation of paper currency as nov
established, and upon which the whole business
of the country was based, they received iron
him the most decided assurances ofthe entirely
opposite views, entertained by himself, and the
most unqualified declarations, that in no even
would he ever consent to restore the Deposits
or to recharter the bank of the United States
that he was determined to make the experiment
of carving on the fiscal concerns OF the nation
through the State Banks, until the expiration o
the u S. Bank charter, and ifthe experlmen
failed, some scheme might be devised OF collect
ing ana depOSIllnS TIE revenue, "lthOue hC III
tervention of any monied institution.
The President held out no expectation of tn
establishment at present. of any National Bank
but added, that he felt great sympathy for tn
New-York mercantile distress, for its merchant
had honorably and punctually performed a
their enga gements to the Government, with ur
paraelled fidelity.
Your delegation then waited upon the Vic
President but from official engagements h
was at that time unable to hold any convers
with them, upon the subject oftheir mission-bu
at another moment to portion ofyour delega
ton, the Vice President expressed similar view
and determinations to those manifested by tn
President
Your delegation had an interview with Nh
fancy, and derived from him afull confrmatio
of their conclusions resulting from what ha
passed during their visit to Washington. l
conclusion, your delegation regret to say that
is their sincere conviction, that nothing is in
tended to be done by the Government for tn
present, that no plan is under its considerable
for the future, in respect to National Banl
that the administration is determined not to re
charter the present United States Bank unde