Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-06-28
MEETING AND MEMORIAL OF 1872

MEETING AND MEMORIAL. or 1912.
| Al meeting of large number of the citizens of
Richmond without regard tn political party, held Mt
the Exchange, on Monday evening, goth June, 1912,
on motion Of Mr. Samuel Myers, Archibald Peasants,
Esq was called 10 the Char, and motion of Major
Jesse Snead, Joseph X. Anderson appointed Sc.
cretary.
The Chairman having explained the object of tho
meeting; motion Of Fleming James, Esq 1t was
Rrs0ircd, That Committee OF nine be appointed by
the Chair, 10 recommend such memorial aud resolu-
lions they may deem expressive of the sentiments
and feelings Of this meeting The important subjects
for the consideration CT which it has been convened
And the following gentlemen named by the
Chair to compose the Committee viz: Messrs. Fleming
James, Jesse Snrad, John r. Tplett, Joseph Mayo,
John Maben, J. F. Barnes, f. B Deare, A. Woodbridge
and Dr. Chamberlayne.
The Committee retlred fora short time and on their
return to the meeting, reported by their Chairman, Mr..
james, the following memorial and resolutions which
received the unanimous assent Of the Committee
MEMORIAL.
To The Senate and House Of REPRESENTATIVES C0ngrrss
A meeting of Citizens OF Richmond held on the Goth
day of June, 1872 respectfully presents the following
memorial:
Ii is not our purpose, this time to enter into any
general consideration CT the state Of the country,
to give expression TO any sentiment having refer
ence in the least degree 10 the political parties Of the
country. We propose merely TO call the attention Of
Congress 10 the depressed and languishrg condition Of
al domestic interests, threatening the destruction
Of some of them and 10 invoke such aid 10 them Con-
gress NAV lawfully bestow IN the exercise Of lis
doubted powers to regulate foreign commerce and TO
law duties imports, and the control for good ill.,
which necessarily results thcrefrom over the internal
BUSINESS of the country.
The power over foreign commerce, including that Of
laying du.ies imports, has always been exercised
in other countries not with view revenue and tho
pro,ec ton Of commerce merey-nr in all instances
manly but with view in great number of instances,
directly aud exclusively 10 the protection and regnla-
Of the private industry Of their people, in disregard
of revenue, nay often the utter de sruclion Of many
sou.ces of revenue Else here this power has furnish.
ed the COMMON familiar and crc,ua means OF guard
ng domestic industry OF all kinds, agricultural, manu-
featuring and mining. against foreign rivalry, and has
hce u.s. not less extensively for that sole purpose
than for other purposes having reference commerce
and revenue II retained until the adoption of the
Constitution it retained by lie S;aes, il would I'M
doub,ecly he applied TO the same eud.-Wheiher il be
50 applicable 10 he hands Of Congress, is question
which DO not propose 10 discuss. The public senti-
mcnt of Virginia has been that it ought not 10 be
80 applied Our own opnio would not be found in
un son upon that subject 1t connects itself TO some
extent with the party division of the country. And
in the state OF things now actually existing and very
certain continue, there happily occasion to
slider IT, The public necessities for revenue demand,
and will continue demand, the exercise Of this power
for that object TO extent fully sufficient TO yield in
cdenia'ly nj! the protection which the domestic INDUS
try Of the co1nry seems TO rs /" require.-We shall
treat it therefore po%er over commerce, and to be-
used DIRE city .ur re-, erue alone.
/ We assume ten onv, and assume rs beyond dis
pute that within the hints OF a revenue adequate to
the proper wants Of The Government the power TO I'M
pose duties on IMPORTS be exercised with just re
gard all the interests .. the country We believe
that those limits ample enough 10 afford sufficient
degree II encouragement TO all The interests which re-
cure II And, are persuaded that there IS no such
discnd among them render the adjustment Of the
duties with view incidentally to that encouragement,
e:essary or fit subject of jealousy and contention
That adequate duties for the purposes of revenue
shall be laid, Indispensable The efficient re
venue, present and for years past itself an
evil Of great magnitude; has contributed much to ag
grava,e the distress Of the country, and demands the
speeches, correction However the duties may be LAID,
their direct effort is njurious-,hey impose tax ION
the consumer Wherever this is their only effect, as 1t
is in case the commodity be unsuIted to domestic
production the injury is without any sort Of compea,