The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-06-02
Great Meeting of the People OF Brooklyn,
I'm Relation to the Conduct Of Congress con.
cerniuC the Navy.

ner last night, express their opinions in relation
TO the conduct of Congress In cutting down and
Gripping the navy. The room wasfuil, and finer,
harder, or more honest set Of men perhaps were
aever assembled together
Half an hour after the appointed time, Mr.. Smith,
the late Mayor and said that ne perceived that
their worthy, patriarchal friend, and the friend of
our common country, General Jeremiah Johnson,
Was present. He therefore moved that he be re-
luested to take the Chair
This was put and carried unanimously.
Mr.. ID. A. BoKEE then moved that the following
gentlemen be appointed Vice Presidents and oecre.
taries.
VIcE PRESIDENTS
Benz. Blossom JAMES G.. UNpERHiLL,
DAVID CooPE. john A Gross,
Cyrus 2. SMITH JUDGE p @. BERGEN,
ALEXANDER NEWMAN,
SECRETARIES
A. b. BArLIs, S. ALPHEus SMITH.
JONI LEACH jr
The call of the meeting was then read.
Grs. JOHNSON then said that it a wise maxim, in
peace to prepare for war--General Washington had
left this as legacy to his country Brooklyn, New
York. Pensacola Boston, and New Orleans, depen
ana Of the was no to his
Congress had cast 800 men out Of employ here Con-
had been months in session and touched
their pocketshey had done little but cut down the
navy and armybut would not touch their pockets
their eight dollars day. He farmer and before
he found fault with his neighbo garden he ought to
weed his (Cheers) Let them protect their country
by wise tariff and they would have plenty of money in
the treasury iCheersj There was iron in every hil in
the country and yet we ride over foreign iron from one
end of the country to the other The General then spoke
of the and wool trade brieybut the great point
the navy II we left ports unprotected, and
navy rot in the harbor, what was to us! Four
ships of war arrived at O'Clock of Sandy Hook,
and before p NJ. they had taken the city 1t two
hundred years ago. Lord Cartwright governor the
city, and Bronckson and Evars two Dutchmen took the
city four hours Great prejudice existed in regard to
New York city and State she called the Empire
State in contempt and various other epithets ap-
very mistaken policy the part of the SOUTH and those
states which iooshy jealous OF her. In a CONNER
cial financial and political point of view New York stood
proudly preeminent. She was source OF immense
to the whole Of the agricultural and commercial
population of the whole countryside n mine of
wealthan everlasting treasure to the United States.
And strike New York and Brooklyn of existence and
the Union itself would not be worth preserving.
The venerable gentleman sat down amid loud cheers
MIR. J. NJ Van Corr being called upon, and said-
Mr. Chairman-lt seems to have become the fashion OF
late, not only for great men, but also for small Ito
which class belong) to define their position, and mean
sir before entering into consideration of the substantial
question which has called together this evening to
define mine do not appear here sir as party man
to address you party men, am here, sir to sub.
serve the cause OF any man party as such hold and
think every should hold his individual opinion on
political questions but came here not as whg not as
friend to John Tyler, enemy John Ty Ter nor ss
friend or an enemy to the Congress come here
according to the call which has gathered this
meeting together, to consider the situation of
those who have been thrown of employ by the poll
cy lately pursued by the government of the country.
The occasion which has called together
demands serious attention. not only account of the
class Immediately effected but the state of the country at
ser the expedency of this change of policy both with
regard to individuals and the naon 1t but short time
since il was supposed. likely we should be plunged into
with the powerful maritime power in the world
At that time the country was in defenceess state,
dsgraceul to and involving fearful consequences to
the whole line Of our seaboard. While appre.
henled with Great Britain Congress and ap
preparations made to put the country state OF
OF detence and in short time all activity put the
country state OF efficient defence But minister has
been sent to this country to negotiate before any
known before any thing definite has TRANSFERRED before
we can calculate with confidence on the pacific intentions
of Great Britain towards this country these works are
suddenly stopped and that without any material change
having effected the condition defences the
country. Certainly they have been at work upon ships
but they not launched they have too been work
ton for efficient defence. We have gone spending
great deal Of money and sopt short besore we have &C.
fact, accomplished nothing Now the questions we have
consider are what will be the effect of this policy OF
government in disseminating pablo works and in
cutting off the appropriations for the navy and effects
upon OF defence and upon those dependent
subsistence the produce of their labor the public
works There is Disgusting the fact that very large
portion Of fellow citizens entered the employment
of the government in the Navy Yard in the expectation
being employed for considerable time and this sudden
strike this sudden deprivation of employ men has thrown
them the world with their families and has deprived
them of the means of subsistence TApplause There
hundreds of fellow citizens dependent for their
maintenance upon their honest labor and industry
and they are suddenly deprived of the fruits of their
industry. What the consequences of this policy
Nothing plain than that there three alter.
natives-he must either 6es, sdree or steal (appausc
He mast either sacrifice his independence a and go
the poor house to get there his daily bread he
sacrifice that priceless jewel of his soul, integrity
theft and so go in the way to prison. Appause9-I
this the inevitable be 20 to the
poor house steal We look upon the condition
OF these thrown unlustly out Of employment by
action of Congress without feelings of and
without raising our sympathies on their behalf And
tine os To I be ns That wise
thing definite known whether there will be peace war
The boundary Question to be sure in fair way of
Element but what has become of the Creole case; and
what has become of the question OF the Right of Search
which went to before, and which identified
with the interest OF our country Has Great Britain
conceded any thing on that question or has she
expressed any willingness to recede from her position
ifnot the settled opinion of this country that war will
be inevitable say for one, before will abandon to
Britain the question OF the right Of search before
will give up the shelter of that dag which conceive
should be the emblem of national sovereignty on the
land and the ocean, for prepared for war and
believe that the opinion of the whole country
have taken recognzanccs Of Great Britain keep the
peace and have nothing but the hope Of every good
man. and every friend to his country that shalt avoid
that not only possible, but is proba.
BILE Is the country any better position for war than
siuce1 Are forfc atoms in state 10 be
of Great B' % wsh t
on with its steam power and frgates its drilled navy
and its great efficiency nothing is easier than send fleet
after fleet seaboard! Great Britain would be able if
went to TO sweep the of every vessel
rying American flag She could force the passage
the narrows. and enter every port in the United States
and almost lay every city in ashes. ask. fellow citi.
not this disgraceful to country Is not the
country in fearful state Is this economy 1t is
such economy would save the spgot and
the bunghole say that economy consists In
spending well as earning 1t is in fact judicous
expenditure. What is the end to be obtaned1 We in
danger OF and in condition to it, II sud.
den with great Britain breaks she would be able
destroy millions upon millions of our property, and we
told that to few dollars these must be
turned out employment and the country left defence
less as it months ago. Applausc) These, fellow.
citizens substantially my views of the question: and
must call on the government in loud voice and in a
no; to be mistaken, 10 put the country in condition
of defencc TO remember that maxim of George Washing.
ton in peace be prepared for wars our own pro.
lection demands this and IL we refer gallant navy
five refer recolectons of the past of the glory
which achieved. what there that is satisfied
with the appropriations made, to enable the navy be
put condition cope with that of Great Britain and
enable add to those laursls already gained by it,
andth III Iala