The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1834-03-01
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efpSr sessION
In Senate, Monday, Feb. "a.
pROVIOENCE MEMORIAL.
FIRST SeSsl0N .

Mr. Knight rose aIo presented noWo'
riaf from the town Of Providence, and I'd
dressed the Senate to the following effect
Mr. President, l have received memo
sial Of number Of citizens Of the town OF
Providence and its vicinity, which ! now
prcsent to the Senate. In doing this 1t
may mot be improper 20 state, that it con-
sains upwards Of 1000 signatures Of the
active business men Of that community !;
Of farmers, merchants, mechsnics, manu-
surers, and others. The memorislists
state, tina, they have, within few months,
passed from comfort and security to
state Of general distress. They now pre-
sent their grievances to Congress, and
point ther way TO their relief. In they
know no party-they are not actuated by
party motives-they arc composed Of all
parties that have divided our common
county. Among them see some OF the
sbls (rieads OF the present ch'ei Mag's-
tsste-those who ask not for office, nor
seek it, honors Of femoluments--who would
not have united IN this memorial, did they
not know and feel the distress OF their lel-
low citizens.
I see, also, among the most distingish..
ed Of our fellow citizsns. President and
Directors Of State Banks, who are fully
acquainted with cause and effect, in re-
gard TO the money concerns OF the coun-
Try. They know the withdrawal OF the
deposites from the United States Bank
has, in q great measure, been the cause
of the withdrawal Of individual deposites
from State Banks, and crippled their dis
counts, without a corresponding increase
Of disc cunts by the deposite Banks. The
memorialists also state that a renewal of
confidence between the Administration
and tho Bank Of the United States. will
inspire confidence in the community, and
greatly facilitate the removal OF the pres
ent distresses ofthe country.
Sir, 1 have said that these memorlalists
we're Of all classes Of working business
men, but there is one class Of the commu-
nifty who have not joined in this memorial
tho Office holders and those who share
the spoils-
Imove, Mr. President, that this memo
rial be read, printed, and referred TO the
Committee on Finance.
Mr. Robbins then rose and made some
semarks, which are necessarily pospcn-
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. Harper presented a memorial from
inhabitants Of Portsmouth, in New Hamp-
ahire, which set forth at length that they
we're suffering much pressure, and pray
ing Congress to restore the deposites, or
that some other measures should be a
dopted to restore confidence and stability
90 the country.
Mr. Burges presented a similar petition
from Providence, in Rhode Island, in
which hs stated that they ailedge, that the
prosperity heretofore enjoyed, could not
be secured, unless the former relations Of
amity that existed between the Govern
xnent and the Bank were restored. The
memorial was signed by 1868 persons,
who were nearly all the voters Of that
city and after enlarging upon stability
and industry which was found to pervad-
tbe State oi Rhode Island generally, no
remarked that those persons were actuate
ed by one mind, and not f ON sinister
rnotivos,in giving their present sentiments.
He called for the reading OF the memori-
al, and would then move that il be refer
red to the Committee Of Ways and
Means.
The memorial having been read
Mr. Pesrce remarked that the sigma
lures to il seemed to be, many Of thsm,
in one hand writing.
Mr. Burgess explained, that tho original
memorial, Of which this was counter
p.rt, was presented to the Senate.
MIR Pearce denied that the memorial
spoke tho voice ofthe city of ofProvidenee !;
for AZ there were $4,000 inhabitants in
the city, ,o5o could not be considered
such a number 10 to be called the voice OF
that CITY. He had no doubt that there
vas some pressure, but it must evidently
be exaggerated, and he thought that they
wanted light and information as to the
cause of il. Il was not more than three
weeks since, that large sums, amounting
60 nearly $500, 900, had been loaned by
inhabitants Of Providence, to merchants Of
New Bedford and Of New York. This
syinced that there was not sogreat scar
city of money as was. represented, and he
nr9ued that If there was, that the legisla-
ture of the State Of Rhode Island would
have given some expression OF their o.
o;oion. as we'll a. other States. He could
Affirm that the views contained in this
memorial were not generally felt, for at a
meeting last week held at Newport, called
IN a;scuss the measures Of the adminis-
tration, the meeting separated without a.
dopting any resolutions whatever. Ihe
statements made Of the existing distress
nus, be received with some grains Of al
iowance. He thought that what was