Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-09-10
POLITICS..
The Political Proceedings IF portion Of The Pecpic Of
Brunswick county, inhs Commonwealth IF Virginia,


Brunswick county, indie Commonwealth of Pirginia,
August 90, 1871.
A portion Of the citizens Of Brunswick county, in
the Stale Of Virginia, assembled III Lawrencevilie on
the 23d August lc4l, in pursuance OF previous pub
Inc notice. They were, upon motions severaly made,
organized into meeting by the appointments of Cap.
tam John Jones, Chairman, and George Stone, Esq
Secretary.
by request, Gen. Dromgnole briefly addressed the
meeting on the political condition Of the country aud
exposed The pernlcIous tendency Of the principles and
measures oil the party in power, and concluded with a
motion Tor the appointment Of committee TO report
suitable matter for the action of the meeting.
Which IN ot,on having been adopted, the Chair APP
pointed the following gentlemen to compose said Com
mttee, 10 wit: General George C. Dronsooe, DIR.
Henry Lewis, Robert ID. Tmrnbull, ESQ, Captain
james J. HARRISON, Joseph a. R-ddick. Esn Captain
Thomas GIhbon, Col. William Meridih Charles Turn
bnl Esq, Col. John G. Jones, Nicholas S. E:n,onds
E>q, Cn Hiram H. Bck, John NJ Lundy Esq, John
W. HARRISON Esq, and DR.. George Mison
The Committee having retired some time, for con.
suIta,ion returned, and Mr.. Dromgooe stated to the
Chair that he instructed report Preamble and
Resolutions, intended, if adopted consideration, to
constitute the political proceedings Of the meeting.
The Preamble and Resolutions then distinctly
read TO The meeting by Mr. Dromgoole, and then for.
lnally submitted to them hy the CHAIR.
No objection being made 10 any portion, and
amend ment submitted, motion of MIR. Gibbon, the
vote taken by the Chair on the entire report OF the
committee.
The Preamble and Resolutions, here following, were
unanimously adopted:
In every quarter Of the Union are seen hume.
rous Indications of uneasncss and anxious solicit
iude concerning the existing political condition OF
our country. That portion OF the citizens of Bruins
wick county, in the Commonwealth Of Virginia,
here assembled, in common with their irow-cIt-
zens throughout this entire Union Of States, view with
deep and unaffected concern the development, during
tins extraordinary Of Congress- Of The intended
policy and measures of the present dominant party
In the opinion OF those here present. there did not ex
is the of the Proclamatlon any public exIgen
cy has there occurred since the adjournment Of the
last Congress- any sudden and pressing emergency to
Justify the Executive in the exercise Of the power OF
cunvenng both Houses Of Congress SO long in advance
ol the usual and regular period of their session.
The agitation Of the public mnd-the popular excite
ment consequent upon the measure-the inconyeni.
ence If mischief Of hurrymg the people Of some OF
the States into elections Of members before the custom
airy and periodical timcsthe total deprivation OF some
Of the States of representation nj tins ;anenous CRISIS
the very large additional expenditure incurred To
deiny the expenses Of this supcrnumerary sesson-a
these and other a,;edan evils, can iind adequate
defence plausible apology IN the policy and sys
tens attempted 10 be rveted upon the country The
OF proposed and intended 10 constitute the
system Of policy OF the party power, so Tar from COM
pcnsating for the evils before reced, BY the equal d
fusion Of beneficial effects, calculated, the hum
bic udgmrn: this meeting, to perver if not TO de-
sroy The Constitution Of the u. S.-io change essen
tally the original terms and purposes Of the compact OF
Union, and consequently to mpair It's strength, and to
weaken that veneraon for H. IN the bosoms vi our CT.
Teens insrpat able from faithful Observance. Some
of the measures and particularly the establishment ola
National Bank, would, III the deliberate opinion OF this
meeting, involve gross and pal pabr usurpaon Of pow
or. The measure specifically designated, II adopted
and carried operation according TO the views and
doctrines offs advocates, would EXHIBIT the ln,oerahe
han
I, each successive Congress, although Justly claiming
and rghlully possessing, under the Constitution alry
lnterpre ted, technically the same powers For one
Congress- under the pretext OF egslans for the gene
rel welfare under any pretext whatever, 10 institute
measure which BE- repealed or modified by sue
creding Congress- substantially To deprive, IN advance
their III Office Of portion Of those powers
hch The Constitution without stint exception, de-
wolves on them, and On each Congress successrvely-
is virtually, to iorestal their Judgments aud manace
their powers Of debrra,ion-s 10 nterpose an obstacle
prevent the faithful reflection Of the constituent Will
by the representative body-s indeed, and III TRUTH TO
forge political chains which ftter and restrain the peo-
pie in their undoubcd right Of having their wishes full
" and effectively expressed by their chosen delegates,
and matured into authoritative enactments. Strong
language used but the occasion demands 1t. a vo
laion Of the Constitution that venrrated instrument
designed for the security of our ghts and lbcry-an
alarming attempt TO exercise power Tor which there is
no lawful warrant-these cannot be too Indignantly re-
buked harsbly denounced BY those who are yet
free and understand their rights, and who are firmly
preserve their freedom by resolule de-
fence of those rights
A brief reference to of the iavorte purposes
and designs Of the dominant party will show that their
character and tendency are not Observation-Disclosures
that they furnish ample justification 10 this meeting,
and to other meetings OF our fellow. citizens, 10 pro-
nonuce on them the solemn sentence OF condemnation,
and for the formal adoption Of resolutions 10 cooperate
ardcntly and perscYcngy with all Of similar mind, to
resist and defeat them.
It may be promised that, during the late political
contest, our opponents as party, DID not avow and
publish any general settled principle upon which they
would administer the Government, should they sue
coed TO Office 1t is well known, that portions Of the
party in different sections Of the country, held and de-
Tended opinions Numerically contrary to each other
sometimes they concealed their op'nions-sometImes
they exposed them but in part, and not always IN
fair and candid msnner-sometImes they pursued the
plan of making general, vague, but bitter attacks
upon the then Administration. Sometimes they en-
ploycd themselves in uterng the most vrnent per,
sonn abuse of some Of lis prominent supporters. Ataii
times however, all portions of the party PROMISED re-
form and retrenchmen more rigid economy IN the as
bnrsement of the public money, more strict acconnta
bty in public officers jealous regard Tor The na
lion ri1lts and honor, and general Improvement IN
the administration Of the Government. WITH various
and contradictory opinions held by different members
of the party in different places and under dierenl CIR
form. with formal determination net to avuw and pub
Iish any fixed principles or agreed policy which re-
csiy.d the general commencement vas iiposs'oe ~
cause the election upon far contest oil prnci
pIe il was practicable 10 make up and decide, by the
result of the election any distinct issues
But now the promises of the past are to be tested oy
the performances Of the present time The asrirans
for place and power then, are to be contrasted win
themselves noio, in the full ruiion of their hopes
They have succeeded, and are in Office. lhey are
now to be Justly held responsible for the WISE frugal
and constitutional exercise of their authority lheir
policy is deveoped-their principles are DISCLOSED
Upon these we take issue before The tribunal oil the
people.
And, first, in reference to their most cherished mea-
sures, The establishment Of National Bank, or BANK
Of the u States II would be idle and puer''e to IN,
qnire whether calling such an institution !. Fiscal
Bank" or "F,scul Agent" or "F.scai,y' or any
ether preferable name, can at all affect the const'tu'
,ional pnwer of Congress ~ authorize snch corpora
ton If its functions designed as they are avow-
edly, tn be co.cx:cnsvc with the power and duty 81
Congress to collect, keep and disburse revenue y
would be equally useless, it seems TO u.s. OUT tna'
has been otherwise deemed by men in oince, and nav
ing consequently perhaps some niinence 10 discuss