Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-05-03
From the N. Y. Express.
MEETING OF FMERCHANTs AT MA.
SONIC HALL.

! From the N. Y. Express.
MEETING OFMERCHANTs AT MA.
\ SONIC HALL.
On Tuesday erening, .4pril 25th, 1887.
! The meeting was called to order by Mr..
Charles Kelsey, who nominated as President
Philip Hone, Esq.
Mr.. Philip Hone, on being called TO pre-
side, stated the objects Of the meeting in a
clear and forcible manner. He said the
meeting was called to take into consideration
the present distressed condition Of the city,
and to adopt some mode of relief. The call,
he said, was signed by three hundred and
forty firms or merchants, all of high standing.
T'hey were those that had deep stake in
the welfare Of the city, and who had right
to come forward boldly and manfuy and ask
the Government for redress of grievances.
The character of those that assembled was
such, that he was persuaded they would in
their acts take such a course as would be ap-
proved OF by the community at largc-thcy
were those who would insist on the right Of
remons,rance and petition. lie did not de-
ny that speculation might in some degree
have caused the pressure. But he did deny
that IL had produced the evils and distrcsses
which the community now experienced
He did entertain the hope that when the stu
alton OF things was fairly presented to the
President he would shake off the slackles
with which he was bound, through the inhu
ence of evil advisers.
The following resolutions were unanimous
y adopted
Whereas the great commercial interests Of
our city have nearly reached point Of gen
eral ruin our merchants driven from state
OF prosperity to that of unprecedented diff
Guilty and bankruptcy-the business, activity
and energy which have heretofore made us
the polar star Of the New world, is daily sink
ing, and taking from US the fruits Of years of
MISUNDERSTANDING the aged among us who
but yesterday were sufficiently in aflluencc,
to state of comparative want; and blghting
the prospects and blasting the hopes Of the
young throughout our once prosperous land;
we deem it our duty to express to the coun-
try our situation and desires, while yet there
IS time to retrace error, and secure those
rights and perpetuate those principles which
were bequeathed us by our fathers, and which
we are bound to make every honorable effort
to maintain. Therefore,
Resolved, That the wide spread disaster
which has ovcrtaken the commercial interests
OF the country, and which threatens to pro-
duce general bankruptcy may be in a great
measure ascribed to the interference of the
General Government with the commercial
and business operations Of the country; its in
termeddling with the currency; its destruction
OF the national bank; its attempt to substitute
metallic currency for credit currency; and
finally, to the issuing by the President OF the
U. States OF the Tre:"ury Order, known Us
"Specic Circular"
| Lo. la IA l.. Al
ing which might for moment compromit our
respect for the laws we feel it incumbent up.
on Us to remind the Executive of the nation.
that the government of the county as of late
administered, has become the oppressor OF
the people, instead Of affordng them pro.
ection,-that his perseverance, in The exper.
iment of his predecessor tafter the public
voice in every way in which that voice could
be expressed, has clearly denounced it as
rnlnous to the best interests Of the country. J
has already caused the ruin of thousands Of
merchants-thrown ten thousands of mechan.
les and aborers out Of employment, depreci-
oted the value Of our great staple millions of
dollars, destroyed the internal exchanges, and
prostrated the energies and blighted the pros.
poets Of the Industrious and cnterprising por-
tlon OF the people; and must if persevercd in,
not only produce starvation among the labor
ing classes, but inevitably lead to disturban-
ces which may cndunger the stability Of our
Institutions themselves.
Resolved, that Committee ofnot less than
iGly, be appointed to repair to Washington
and rtnonstrdte with the Executive against
the continuance Of 'the Specie Circular" and
IN behalf of this meeting. and in the name of
the merchants Of New York and the people
OF the U. States urge its immediate repeal.
Resolved, that the same Committee be, and
are hereby, instructed. also to ask that in
sfructions be given to the Collectors Of the
Revenue in oil the ports of the u. States not
to commence suit upon any bonds which may
lie over for non payment, until after the first
day OF January next, in order that Congress
may ADOPT such measures nf relief as they in
their wisdom may deem necessary and proper.
Resolved, That they be also instructed, to
urge upon the Executive, the propriety of cal
ling an extra session Of Congress, at as early
a day as possible, in order that the Represen-
ta''ves OF the people, colaing directly from
their constituents, may devise suitable reme-
dies for the unprecedented and alarming en-
barrassments of the country.
Resolved, That the merchants Of Philadel-
phia, Boston. Baltimore, and the commercial
cities of the Union be respectfully requested
to unite with us in our Remonstrance and
Petition, and to use their exertions, in con-
nection with us. to induce the Executive Of
The Nation to listen to the Voice of the Peo-
pie, and to recede from measure under the
evils of which we are now aboring and which
threstens to involve the whole country in ruin
Resolved, That on the return Of our Com
mIttee from Washington, it shall be their
duty to call general meeting Of the citizens,
uIid report to them the result Of their mission.
A committee was then nominated by the