Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-02-08
COW ENTION.

the General Assembly Of the State of Rhode
Island, holden at the State House in Proyi-
dence,on the evening Of the LIST of February,
1888, for the purpose of taking into cOnsidera-
tion the expediency Of nominating suitable
candidate for the next President of the Uni
ted States, JosErH CHILps, Esq. was elected
Chairman, and George Rivers and E. H.
Hazard, Secretaries.
On motion Of MIR. Simmons, Messrs. Sim
mons, Luther and Cranston were appointed
q committee to draft resolutions expressive
Of the views and object Of this meeting, who
reported the following:
RESOLVED, That comparison between the
past and the present condition of our beloved
country is calculated to excite the deepest
solicitude Of every patfiot. But short time
since, we were IN the enjoyment of the high
est degree OF national prosperity; industry
every where met with a sure and adequate
reward the returns Of commercial enterprise
were rich beyond precedent we had a cur
rcDcy which, for security, soundness and the
universal confidence which it inspired, was
unsurpassed, if not unequalled, throughout
the world,-the arm of industry became sud-
denly paralised, the spirit Of enterprise was
crushed, and embarrassment, distress and ru-
IN, seized upon the commercial community,
and through them reached every class Of So
ciety. Public confidence could not survive
the destruction of private credit, and we now
present the strange anomaly Of government,
in time Of profound peace, free from ma
tional debt, with revenue exceeding its cx-
penditure, whose bills of credit, although
bearing interest, are not only below the value
of specie, but actually beneath that Of de-
preciated paper currency.
Resolved, That this most deplorable con.
diton Of the Country is mainly attributable to
the ignorance, the folly, or the wickedness of
our rulers. Other causes have doubtless con-
spired to produce the same result, but there
were none whose pernicious consequences a
wise and prudent Legislation might not have
wholly obvated, or at least, greatly mtlgated.
An administration which has been so long
characterized by an utter Indifference to the
suffelings of the people, pursuing its own
schemes Of selfish aggrandizcment,de deaf to all
remonstranccs, and regardless OF the destruc-
ton Of the whole industry ofthe Country, has
forfeited the confidence and should no longer
receive the support Of the people.
Resolved, That we have learned with heart
felt satisfaction the result Of the late elections
which have been held in every section of the
Union. 1t strengthens our confidence in the
virtue and intelligence of the people; it
cheers our hopes in the midst of the political
gloom and commercial embarrassments with
which we have been overwhelmed and it
encourages us to relax no effort to hasten the
return Of q better administration, based upon
purer principles and conducted by honester
men. To effect SO desirable and patriotic an
object nothing is wanting but the Jealous CO.
operation Of the friends of constitutional lib
erty, and the enemies Of executive encroach-
ment, governed by a mutual concession of
preferences, in order that the whole force of
the Wing party may be directed against
their adversaries, and not divided and destroy
ed by internal dssensions.
Resolped, That while we cordially approve
of n National Convention, and announce our
determination most cheerfuly to abide by its
decision-we hold it proper and expedient
for the Wings, in different quarters Of the
Union, to declare their sentiments ;-and that
therefore we present as q suitable candidate
for PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
HENRY CLAY, OF KENTUCKY; the tried
and consistent patriot; the enlightened states
man the unequalled orator; whose fame Is
the property OF the American people, and
whose principles should he their guide.
Resolped, That the government under the
administration of such man. would restore
to US the golden days Of the Republic, when
wisdom, patriotism and purity guided her
councils; when her Offices were considered
as sacred and responsible trusts, not as re-
wards for political partisanship and subser-
viency; when the laws were administered
with regard to their strict Interpretation and
to the good of the nation, and when the peo-
pie looked up to their rulers not as their mas
tiers and tyrants, but as their servants and
friends.
These resolutions were unanimously adopt
ed, and ordered to be signed by the President
and Secretaries and published in all the Wing
papers in tins State.
JOSEPH CHILDS, President.
Gro; G o. RIvEss, n...s, Secretaries.