Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-11-25
FROM tAs Petersburg Tnisiiignesr.
WING MEETING IN DINwIDDII

WdiG MEEElNG IN DlNWlDDlE.
At a meeting OF the Wings, held a, Dinwidd
Court House, on the 18th OF November, il teir
Court day, Captain EpwARp l.. PEGRAs was cal
ed to the Chair, and Jous w. GILLIAN appointe
Secretary. Capt. Pegram explained the object
the Meeting in u few but appropriate remarks. q
motion, Committee consisting OF Edward III. Smitl
Marvin r. Griswold, James M. Goodwin, Gree
Hill, Abner Adams, Hastwell ii. Lewis, Sloma
Davis and Edward q. Wyatt, were appointed
embody the sense OF this Meeting in Presmbl
and Resolutions " hereupon, after consultation
they reported the following, which was unanimous
ly adopted
To examine fully the measures OF Government
and TO watch and scrutiniso the conduct Of publ
tunctonaries, whether in high or low stations, ar
among the dearest rights of freemen. The Peepl
Of the United States will not surrender them, SO lon
rs they value liberty. We, being portion OF tn
sovereign People, deem this hl occasion for Tn
exercise Of these rights.
The great Wing Party ofihe United States late
ly came into power pledged TO use their best
lions TO relieve the Country from the effects OF tn
odious and ruinous measures Of the two last ad
ministratons Of the Federal Government, and t.
carry out an extended system of Reform, which
was considered essential TO the very existence o
free Government among us. Some OF the grea
principles to which they solemnly professed thel
devotion and mporiant and salutary measures which
they were pledged to support, were the following
viz:
That the President of the United States ought tC
serve but term of four years and their elected
Chief the venerable and excellent HARRIsos, did
often declare the hearing of his coUntrymen that
earthly consideration should tempt him to serve
a second term in the high office OF President.
That public Offices were created for the benefit
OF the people of the United States, and for the
benefit Of off -hoders and should be conferred on
homes; men. who are capable of rendering public
service.
That Infatuated political partizans, who neglected
tn. duties OF Offices IN which they had been placed,
aud devoted their time and talents TO politics and the
service oparty, ought 10 be, and should be removed
fom Office.
That the power and patronage of the Federal
Ex .cutlve ought to be diminished; the Federal gov
eminent kept within its proper spheres; and the
rights OF the States at all times respected.
That public officers should be held to strict
account; especially such receive public money,
and entrusted by law sIth the custody oft
That the Government ought to be administered
pTuientIy and economically.
That provision ought TO be made by law for i'm q.
proving our much neglected defences, both by sea
and land.
That provision ought to be made by law, for re-
levng that numerous and respectable class OF our
fellow citizens who were reduced to hopeless bank
ruptcy, principally by unwse legislation, and by
the runous experiments on the Currency OF the
country, 10y the two last Administrations.
never to he entrusted to the same hands; and when.
ever there is Il union Of the two, liberty Is in dam
ger.
That the act of Congress commonly called the
Sub treasury act, should be repealed.
And thata Bank Of the Unite States, well guard
ed against abuses, should be established; which
was deemed necessary I'm the pressing eIIseacies
OF the country to enable the Government TO col
ect, safely keep, and properly disburse the public
revenue, and TO improve the currency and equaze
and cheaper the exchanges
These were some OF the principles and promised
measures OF the great Republican Wing party OF the
United States, before they triumphed over the
Pseudo State Rights Republican party, in the year
1910. They manifested their devotion to them by
q steady, industrious, praiseworthy and determined
opposition to the two last Administrations.
They saw the Jackson and Van Buren, dynasties
struggling, nth zeal, constancy and energy, wor
thy OF a better cause, to maintain themselves in
power beyond the term OF four years; and, during
the last four years OF General Jackson's admins
tration the same vigorous efforts were made to Sc
the election Of his sUccessor-ano that the pat
Tonage and power OF the Executive were employed
for these unholy purposes.
J hey saw that the offices of the Government
used being the property of Office holders,
and not of the people-lhat they were regarded as
tue "spoiis OF victory" with which the adherenis oil
the dominant party were unscrupulously rewarded;
and that, in besiowing their offices, no enquiry was
ma !e but such as the following: Is the applicant a
jackson mani Is he Van Buren, man? Has he
rendered service to the party2 Will he be able to
render service TO The party IN the Office which he
seeksl
They saw that the Federal office-hoders were a
disciplined corps, constantly in the active service OF
;hcir party and subject the orders OF their leaders,
and that their public duties we're often shamefully
neglected.
They saw that the power and patronage of the
Federal Executive were pushed TO the uttermost
for the purpose OF Furnishing opponents and re-
~ardDg friends and supporters, that the Federal
Government was overpowerIng the States and
State COMMANDMENTS n sovereign State was
arbitrarily deprived OF her Representatives and, in
the paroxysm and madness Of despouc power, was
struck from the last OF confederated States in the
Union-and that doctrines were promuIged by the
President during both OF the Two last AdmnIstra-
lions, subverslve VI the principles Of our Gnyern
inent and Of all free Governments.
That there waSteful expenditure OF the
public money; an unnecessary increase OF the
number Of public officers; and also that notorious
delaulters were not removed from office, but (be-
cause they had influence themselves, or inf uen ia
inends) were retained IN the public employment
long AFTER II was known that they were defauiters
10 a large amount; and las might have been anti
cplted under such cIrcumstances) that the Joss TO
the United States, through the dishonesty and
frauds Of public officers, greater than had ever
before occurred, or ct Is hopedl will ever again
occur.
That our defcuces, both by sea and land, were
grossly neglected-sO much so, that tie petty In
dian war in Florida has lasted many years, ant
cost the Nation many millions Of dollars, and was
left unfinished by MIR Yam Bufen-so much So
that Navy The strong arm Of the Nftlon) was
90 most depOrable condition, and our 70 thcatlOns
and defences, almost everywhere, rendered nearly
useless.
That, in our large Commercial and Manufactu-
ring Towns, there were scenes Of widespread ruin,
brought on our industrious and enterpr sing Cit
zens by the tyranny Of unwise legislation and the
rash experiments on the Currency Of the Country,
made by the two last Administrations
They saw Gen Jackson seize on the public
Treasure, and remove t from the place Of deposit
fixed by law; and both him and his successor hold
ing the Purse and the Sword Of the Nation
They saw tina, the Government and People were
reduced TO bankruptcy, by the weak and wicked
measures Of the Jackson and Van Buren, admins
uatOns that we had no National Cu.rCncy-and
that Exchanges we're such to forbid commercial
intercourse between some pats Of our Country, and
70 cripple II between all.
These, and muny more public evils and guevan.
ces, we're seen by the Wings before they came into
power; and, by their united, persevering and sire.
nuous opposition 10 the two last Administrations
(~hich caused them,) they pledged themselves
most sOiemnly to thsIr COuutrymen, that they
would Bfford relief against them, or remove them
by prudent and wise legislation, when they came
into power.
since the 4th Of March, 1871, they have been ia
boring m good faith, 70 redeem their pledges. They
have, IN part, redeemed them.
The administration Of Mr. Van Buren, Ief tis
Government IN debt, and no means provided for
paying IT, The Treasury was empty. The l-
mented Patriot who succeeded him found IL rsres.
sary 10 call Congress together at an carly day, fo-
the purpose Of providing the means for paying this
debt, and carrying on the operations Of the Govern
ment. Congress assembled az the appointed time,
and earnestly and industriOusly entered upon the