Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-07-05
MEETING OF THE FRIENDS or FREE TRADE
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MEETING or THE FRIENDS or FREE TRADE
In tic C1y Of Rtcamond
Al, a meeting of the Democratic States Rights Re
publicans of the City oi Richmond, IN the CITY Hall,
on Saturday evening, July %, loi2
On motion of Mr.. Thomas Richie, MI VIM ~.
Wren was called to the Chair, and MIR. Thomas H.
Ellis appointed Secretary.
On motion of Mr. Richie, Committee of Thirteen
was ordered be appointed by the CHAIR to make 10
the meeting such report aud resolutions as might seem
To them proper touching the object OF the meeting
whereupon, the following gentlemen were appointed :;
Robert G.. Scott, Thomas l'tche, George w. Mum
ford, Thomas r. Giles, Philip aayo, Samuel d. De-
noon, William F. Watson, William Wallace, James
Bcsher Charles Ellis, john b. Young, Robert L.
Scott, Jr, aud Daniel Truehcart
The Committee having retired with the exception OF
Mr. Giles, who remained, by request, 10 address Inc
meeting, brought the following Report and teso'u'
tons, which were read, slightly amended, and, then,
were unanimously adopted, as follows
REPORT.
The Democratic States Rights Republicans of
Richmond, alive 10 the hest interests OF Virginia, and
TO the welfare of the Union, called upon mperlous
" by their Of duty to both, soemnly 10 pro-
test against the Tariff bill from the Committee OF Ma
nnfacturcs, before the House oil Representa-
,iyes Of the United States While we perceived the
glarins injustice of such acts, and their deplorab!e
tendency TO iniure the general interests oil the whole
nation we viewed them part and parcel OF system
which we predicted the party now IN power would m
h,c upon the people, and which we were prepared 10
endure until change OF men shonld restore the pfn-
ciples and the measures of our fathers But when
larue and respectable portion of the community IN
which we i've have been induced tn give coun'enance
to such acts, and call upon ms TO sanction them, We
cannot but express our dissent IRON Their reasoh"ss
and conclusions.
Il "a well for our fellow citizens that they did not,
in their late published memorial center into any gene
raj consideration of the state OF the country u they
had they would have found that there exists general
stagnation of trade, languor IN commerce, conse'
qurnt depreciation the price and demand OF agrch-
ua products and distress among the laboring classes,
as well as among the manu:aclurers-a cry OF "hard
times" from one end Of tie Continent TO the other
TEev would have found, that only have the stocks
of manu- featuring companies suffered depreciation onl
the stocks of almost every species OF incorporated COM
panes the stocks OF all the States together with those
of the Federal Government; and that distress, IN
va rious FORMS from debts contracted in liberal eApen-
dtures large investments III land and labor hao APP
proa the hearth Of the farmer and induced several
counties IN the State to pray for the passage oi stay
laws lad they searched INTO the oil this con
diton of things they would have found 1t to be IN
that system, against which we have warned them, ana
which we still tenounce-a system Of verbanking,
over trading, manufacturing, an overstretch o
credit Initiating every thing beyond its natural con-
d,tion and when the day Of retrbutIon comes BRING
inv with II ruin and misery. They would not then
have thought that the manufacturers alone reGnirc
protecton-lhey would have thought, also, ri tue
auricuurist, the merchant the aborer-They wonld
not then have sought 10 protect one branch OF IN
dusry a; the expense OF every Other branch-lhneh
less would they have sought To impose additional ouf
dens upon one class for the reiei Of another-upon
the farmers merchants and mechanics, for the relief oil
the manufacturcr-upon the South for the benefit OF
the North.
Nor are surprised that they uvowed the wish not
to give expression any sentiments having reference IN
the least degree, 10 the political parties OF the country
Had they attempted it, they must have referred to The
history of parties heretofore-hey must have encoun-
tered what they believed to he deep prfJudces,
but what those who possess them believe to be sacred
principles. They knew their policy required, that the
"American System, and the party who sustained II,
should be screened from the scrutiny at least oil Vrg-
mia and the South. They knew, that the people were
patriotic, and would grant any thing TO sustain the 10
vernment and preserve the credit of the nation They
knew, the motto of the South had been "Alons Tor
revenue, not cent for tribute Had they referred
to party they have exhibited their own party as
the frienGs o protection not for revenue merely oul
for projections sake. They must have exhibited their
Leader the author Of the system, at least the CO.
pysi OF system, adopted by other nations, winch tune
and dear bought experience are fast expoding-a sys
tem of all others least adapted to The institutions OF
free country claiming among the other species OF IL
bery the benefits of free tradea country possessed
of Federal Government with few and Limited pow
ers, and embracing large extent OF territory, gfeaI
variety t." SOIL climate, productions and local interests
and country Young and enriched with more fertile
and uncul.iyaed lands than any under The sun ihey
must have exhibited the system identical with the
one recommended by Alexander Hamilton, The great
leader of the Federal party-a SYSTEM embracing pro
tecting duties, duties those foreign articles which
are the rivals Of the domestic intended 10 be en-
couraged prohibitions Of rival articles or duties equ
yalcnt TO prohibitions prohibitions OF the exportalioh
Of the materials Of manufactures; pecuniary bouhes'
premiums; the exemption of the materials OF manu-
features from duty drawbacks of the duties imposed
on the materials Of uactures; the encouragement
of new inventions and discoveries at homes ana .ne
introduction OF such have been made IN other
countries particularly those, which relate to ma
chinrrv; regulations for the inspection OF manuidc-
,ured commodities: facilitating pecuniary remItiahces
from place to place facilitating the transportation OF
commodities" and IN fne an interference win tue
whole business Of society
They must have exhIb I'd the party opposed 70 'heh'
advocating unlimited freedom of trade and freedom o'
exchange, which in the language OF Mr. Jefferson l"e
merchants will manage the better the more they are
left free manage for themselves-reducn Inc oe'
neral Government TO simple organization, and very
unex pensive one-a few plain duties 10 be performed
by few servants
In referring 10 the history OF past times, they must
have exhibited political parties IN heated poi'tca' con
hrcs and must have presented these parties engaging
in n solemn compromise of clashing interests. lney
must have exhibited tie author Of The American Sys'
tenn at the time Of ushering his compromise 10 'ne
world pledging for himself and his party that II shouio
be religiousy observed; declaring I'll the measure
should be carried by the consent OF ooh par
ties We shall have all security History VIII faltnioy
record the transactlon-narTate under what cHcum