The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-10-02
GREAT MEETING OF MERCHANTS
IN NEW YORK.
From the Commercial Airertiser.


TuE MEETING. yesterday, around the Elk
change, was a most impressive and interesting
spectacle as indeed is any assembage of men
in great numbers, gathered together by the same
motive and aetuated by the same impulse. We
have seen European armies reviewed, and the
sight was magnificent; but the combined and
Simultaneous movements of twenty thousand
soldiers-dred as they into the sembance
ofmete machnes-lack the moral sublimlty that
attends gathering of free agents, animated by
a patriotic and noble purpose, such as that OF
Yesterday. The place was admirably chosen
the Exchange-the centre of commercc--was
fty adopted as the gathering ground OF men
who live by commerce; and the intersection Of
two streets afforded the best possible opportunity
for seeing and hearing TO the thousands there
eongregated.
OF the numbers present we cannot speak with
any thing like precision; we heard them vari-
ousy estimated at from ten TO twenty five thou
sand To the best OF our judgment the number
on the ground AT any one time was probably not
far from ten thousand but as many were CON
stantly Withdrawing, unable to bear the heat
and pressure, and others thronging in fill their
places, it is presumable that twenty thousand at
least were, in the course of the afternoon, within
reach of Mr.. Webster's voice. IL was difficult
however, TO form correct judgment in the mat
Ter, except for those upon the platform, who
could take in the whole assemblage AT one view
commanding as il did the four avenues of which
il was the centre, and which were literally Jam
med for very considerable distances.
The meeting was cheered and animated
moreover, by the presence of many ladies, for
whose accommodation seats were provided at
various points of the Exchange, and at the win
dows Of the houses overlooking the goodly scene
1t was pleasant to observe that although the
main topic Of Mr.. Webster's address was one
which might be supposed dry and uninteresting
10 the gentler sex, they appeared 10 listen with
close and gratliied attention.
The appearance of the eloquent Senator on
The platform was greeted with hearty cheers
His clear voice and distinct deliberate utter
ance made him perfectly audible, we presume to
every individual present; AT least, we heard hun
perfectly losing not single word and our po-
sition was at forty or fifty yards distance. OF
rhat he said we shall here make no remark, as
it will be found, extremely well reported, in an
other part of this paper. That its reasonings
and illustrations appeared satisfactory TO the
hearers amply demonstrated by their close
attention. by the intelligent looks of approval and
conviction that were exchanged from time TO
time, rs some strong position was brought out
with power and effect, and by the shouts of as
sent that burst forth spontaneously at frequent
intervals.
In conclusion we must not omit to notice one
feature of the occasion which was decidedly pro-
mInent, and which gave To il marked and most
gratifying character. We allude to the absence
of all vehemence--to the concentration, if we
may use the term-apparent throughout the
whole meeting. The general expression was
that OF serious but gratfed attention; there was
no voclieration, no uproar, no useless excite
ment. The people had assembled on grave bu-
siness, with grave and important purposes in
their hearts They were celebrating
II, hat
caps in blind submission TO any political leader.
They had come under full and abiding sense
of the great work before them, and prepared to
do il manfully and well. There was ensusasm
among them, but it was calm and steady. And
this is the feeling that leads on to victory.
At two O'Clock the meeting was called TO or
der by w. w. Todd, who nominated Mr.. Jona-
than Goodhue as chairman, and the gentle
men named below as vice presidents and secre-
taries:
Tice Presidents-Be Strong Abraham
G. Failc, Hugh Auchincloss, David Lee, James
i. Van Allen, Jonathan Sturgis, d. A. Cushman,
Stephen Whitney, Thomas Brooks, James G..
King, d. w. G. Olyphant, John Haggerty, John
7, Stagg, John Rathbone, Jun, John A. Under
wood G. p. Dissosway, Henry X. Bogert,
Charles Fl. Russell, h. H. Nevins, John w.
Harris, Peter |. Nevius, John d. Wolfe, John
Y al 4NpstidHu.
.Secretaries-W William ii. Aspinwal, Thomas
Williams, Jun Augustin Averill, John Steward,
Jun, +. P. Heyer.
After they had taken their places on the plat
form, the subjoned resolutions were read by
the Hon. M. III. Grinnell, who prefaced them
with few appropriate remarks.
lst Resolved, That in the opinion of the mer-
chants and traders of New York here assembled the
existing arrangements in the financial and commercial
affairs of the country may be directly traced to the
measures of the National Government, IN itssexperl
ments blindy commenced and rec.lessly prosecuted,
with the promise of introducing better currency
the lamentabe failure of those experiments and to
the catastrophe which compelled the reputation OF its
legitimate powers, the only excuse to the people
for the abandonment of ITS constitutional responsible
ties
"a Resolved That mixed currency, partly paper
and partly metallic, and the use of credit essen
al to the prosperity of all commercial nations; and
that these is due in small degree the
pd progress which this country has made altogether
unexamped in the history of mankind
Sd. Resolved, That the power 10 regulate the cur
rency is granted by the Constitution of the United
States to the General Government and that this pow
having been recognized and exercised by successive
administrations from that of General Washington to
that of General Jackson and confirmed by the SUI
cme Court of the United States its constitutionalty
cannot now be questioned or denied,
lth. Resolved, That the recommendation to Con
gross in a special message, by Mr. Van Buren,, to
subject all banking interpretations to national bank
fup law and thereby to regulate the currency, is an
admission of the constitutionalty of the power and Of
the duty Of Government to exercise it,
9Th Resolved, That the of the State dcposlte
hanks under a law passed during General Jacksons
Administration, with proiessed view, among other
things of regulating the currency of the country, is
aso direct admission of the duty OF Government in
lhs respect.
9Th Resolved, That it is most important duty
imposed upon the National Government, and funda
mental principle derived from the Constitution, in the
,s'o the necessary power that IT shall So regulate