The Madisonian., 1840-02-22
ADJOURNED MEETING
WINGS AND CONSERVATIVES OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA


wHIGs AND CONSERVATIVES OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
TUESDAY, February ls.
Ataqnarter past seven, the President, Gene
raj WEIGHTMAN, having taken the chair, read
a communication from Alexandria, stating that
large number Of citizens of that town, in
tending to participate in the meeting, had en-
gagged steamboat for the purpose Of bring
ing them to this city; but that, on account Of
tle density of the fog, the boat would not
venture out.
Mr., PHILip r. FFNDALL, on behalf Of the
committee appointed to draught and report re-
solutions for the action OF the meeting, then
reported the following:
/. Resored, That The People OF the District of Co.
lumhs, though placed by the Constitution Of the u
States under the " exclusive legislation OF Congress-
are not thereby subjected to the absolute dominion Of
the Federal Government, Of any other power that
CONDITION 50 slayiSh not contemplated by either
their parent States IN ceding the territory const-
tung SAID District, by the trainers OF the Constitution
IN authorizing Congress to accept, nor by Congress in
accepting the cesslon that any and all times since
the adoption OF the Constitution, construction OF that
instrument involving an anomaly so abhorrent TO its
spirit would have been repudlaed by Congress itself as
well as by the whole People Of the United States and
"
OF Virginia and Maryland from which States this Dis.
tIlct was dismembered and that, however mproyIdent
may have been the omission TO TO the citizens OF
such District, by constitutional tenure the right Of
suffrage 1t was not expected that they should them
seves voluntarily aggravatc the evils Of the omission
by feeling interest in public affairs nor was il in.
tended to debsr them from giving all the force which
their political circumstances might permit to their OPT
mons the action of the Federal Government.
Resoired, That, on the contrary, the People Of
the District Of Columbia are citizens Of the United
States, holding like their fellow. citizens Of the several
States. deep stake in the liberties the honor and the
prosperity OF common county that whatever may
be the degree OF their political depression the lower
that degree The vital is their interest in wakenipr
national attention TO The conduct of rulers
TO themselves that as their position peculiarly favor.
able Tor observing the sction Of the Federal Govern
men the history Of the Federal Constitution their
own particular concernment in its administration and
their general duties citizens OF the Union adnonish
them to mpar their fellow. citizens the results of
their scrutiny and that their dcsttution Of the eler-
tive franchise, instead of impang their right or alb.
solving them from the obligation Of taking part in ma
,iona affairs, makes it their bounden duty 10 improve
the diligently aud 10 TO the utternost the
moral influences Of their locality the political cen
Ire Of the Republic.
8 Resoptd. That though constant, obscrvan OF the
action Of the Federal Government. from its commence
mcut to the present time, and though occasionally DIFF
lerng 10 political opinions from their rulers as well "A
among themselves, the People OF the Distinct of 20.
lumba felt sufficient cause for assuming the Office
contingcndy devolved them by the fathers Of the
Constitution, Of rounding alarm their fellow III
zens. uhtl comparatively recent period; when an
administrative system introduced by President
Jackson. and inesofaby enforced during his two Off
cial terms operating practical change IN the Cons,u
lion, and snbversive Of the pubic liberty the public
morals, and the public interests that Prcsident Van
Buren, faithful TO his pledges To tread generally in the
nf !. ada.
acted on, aud extended this SYSTEM and that, there
FORE IS our duy again. and 10 yet louder tones to
sound the alarm" to countrynen
4. Resoired, That, without undertaking 10 detail all
the canses Of this alarm, deem sufficient 10 advert
TO the following
The augmentation Of the public expenditures TO an
cxien, wholly dspfoporonste the increased popua
ton and business Of the country:
The struggle OF the President with the People 10 OBJ
tain perpetual control their money which his pre.
dscessor had nnlswfuiy seizeda "pernlcous project
IN name. Suh-Treasury or Independent Treasury hat
~ substance Treasury Bank ndcpendeh, Of the pco-
pie project which Is obtruded Congress 10 def.
ance Of their repeated reeetions Of il, in defiance