The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-03-13

Wednesday, the Ist Of March instant, g to adopt
such measures a. they might deem expedent for sup
porting the Administration Of present Republic
can Chief Magistrate, and for advancing the inter-
eats, and perPetuatins Tho principles OF the Demo
cratic party" On motion of George ". snsyth, Esq,
the meeting was organized by the appointment of
isiLA DRAKE, Esq, President.
n Mas.As sr nso.sI s. ESQ., yes President"
HENsr ID. SwArzE, Esq, Secretary.
JAsEs DEWITT, Esq, assistant Secretary.
On motion of GEORGE w. SMYTn, Esq, a com
mttec Of three persons was appointed 10 prepare
and report resolutions expressive of the Of the
meeting. Whereupon the following gentlemen were
appointed, viz; George w. smyth, Anthony b.
Robson, and David w. Keinhans.
The committee withdrew, and in a short time re :
turned and announced themselves ready to report
George w. Smyth then rose and prefaced The read
ing Of the resolutions with humorous, witty, argu-
mentative, and eloquent speech Of about two hours
IN which he defined his own position in the Demo
cratic ranks, exposed aud denounced the false and
caIumnious statements Of the Belvdere .qpoilo, de-
Tended the justice and sound policy Of the present
movement oil The Democratic party in favor Of Pre-
sident Tyler, showed that il originated with some Of
the Oldest, wises and truest men in the party, vind
Gated the character and conduct of President Tyler
and went over most Of the ground covered by the fol-
lo"ing resolutions. At the close of his speech Mr.
Smyth read the resolutions, which we're, on his mo-
ton, adopted in mass, viz:
Resored, That the liberties Of no pcople are secure
SO long as the Legislative power is med by
any system of nvioIae constitutional rules defining
and securing their rights.
Resoired, That the Instrument, which is by cour-
uenOmluateu he tuti If oc
New Jersey" is unworthy Of that dignied appea-
tiSn-tha It was hastily adopted by the Colonial Con-
gress as mere temporary expedient without being
submitted to the decision of the people--tbat at ths
time OF ITS adoption the theory of well ba anced
Republican Government was not understood-that it
leaves the sovereignty of the people open to usurpa.
ion ny the Legislature, who omnpotcnt and sub
Ject TO no re>ponsbiily--that ii is arstocratc and
absurd IN requiring freehold qualification m men,
bers OF the Legislature, and clear estate of fifty
pounds proclamation money" in every voter while il
omts The important requisite of citizenship and quail
Ines ah Inhabitants of this colony of full age whe-
Their white or black native al en- on one wears re.
sdence IN any county-that it unjustly depryes the
people OF the privilege of choosing their Governor
and other important officers both State and Coun-
ty-hat i vests in the Governor the important and
Incompatible Offices of Supreme Executive Chancel-
| Tor oil The Colony, Captan-G eneral ind Conman-
der-ln-chie: OF all the militia and other military
| force IN lhs Colony, Ordinary Surrogate Gene
raj, and Constant President of the Cuuncil and Pre-
soent Judge oil the Court of Appeals the last re-
sort IN all causes of law that il makes less than
| majority oil council " a quorum for doing business
-uat IL requires the Legislature TO convene ut an
unreasonable period, thereby rendering an adjourned
session necessary, and increasing the taxes of the
| people about $1,000 annually beyond what would
otherwise be sutticent-that il contains no bill of
rights Tor tile security of the citizen and is in many
other respects palpably defective aud unworthy of
The intelligence and spirit Of the age.
htsoired, That however ingenious and plausible
4 nd snpIrn n ,bo,
oi The Committee OF the Legislature who re- orted
that ian amendment 10 the Constitution is not de.
manded by the people, and that the legislation asked
Tor by The petitioners, (for ian act to ascertain the
sense OF the people In regard the proprety of call
ing convention TO alter amend the Constitution
oil inns Stale, is al this time inexpedient; said
statements and reasoning are, in the opinion Of this
meeting, false, futile and absurd
Resofred, That the Lcgs atirc in adoptn,g the s,,v
gestons OF the said Committee, sulted the ptelll-
gehce and trampled on the rights of the people and
carried out the old Federal doctrine that the people
are their own worst mics and dare not be trusted
with the government of themselves
Resofrtd, That of the first and most i'm mort ant
duties, winch The people OF New Jersey TO them
selves and their posierIty IN order 10 secure the
blessings of liberty, is TO follow the example Of all
her sister States and establish a new Constitution
Tree from the defects of the present and founded on
The broad basis OF the sovereignty of the people
hesoired, Thai all the great interests of the coun-
Try, commerce, Agriculture and Manufactures ought
/ d W
eminent against ruinous competition with the pau
per labor Of the "old world >; aud in regard to the
farm OF duties, we agree with John Tyler that
union IN sentiment and feeling can only be pre-
served by he ado lion of that course Of policy which
neither by giving exclusive benefits 10 some nor i'm
posing unn, cessary burdens upon Others shall con-
suit the interests Of all, by pursuing course OF mode
ration, and thereby seeking TO harmonic public OPT
n'on aud Causing The people every where 10 feel aud
to know that the Government is careful of the inter
esis If III alike"
Rfsofred, That while we recognize the power OF
Congress "io establish uniform laws on the su ec
oil bankruptcies throughout the United States" we
const0er the Bankrupt law lately force alike I'M
constitutional, unjust and immoral impalriog the
obligation of contracts and intigating debtors TO the
commission of fraud and perjury whereby TO release
] themselves from the Just claims Of their creditors,
and that its repeal necessary alike to the honor
and wei are of the country.
Resolved, That the Public Lands are the property
of The nation either ceded 10y the several States for
| the common benefit Of the whole Union or pure based
by treaty from foreign Powers with money taken
from the national Treasury and that the money ars-
ing from the sale thereof belongs Of right 60 the en-
eraI Government, and ought to be employed for ma
uona purposes, and not distributed among the seye-
raj Stses, long the other revenues of the coun-
try insufficient for those purposes-such distri-
button being equivalent TO assumption of the State
debts.
Resoired, That any assumption by the General Co
verDment, either directly indirectly, Of the debts
OF the several states, no matter how contracted is
unauthorized by the Constitution, unjust in principle
and would excite beart-burnings, Jealousy and sedi-
ton, and prove emncnty hazardous to the existence
| Of the Union.
| Resolred, That VIC regard the Constitution e the
| United States as the noblcst monument Of human
wisdom and patrioti-m which the world has ever
seen that the alterations TO II, proposed by Henry
Clay, breathe rather the spirit Of an pirng dema.
gogue than of profound and vrtuous statesman and
if adopted they would destroy mot a,nondJ some OF
| It's most valuable conservative principles
Rtsofred, That the "yeto power" possessed by the
President, indispensable safe guard Of the rig Is
and liberties OF the people and that the exercise of
a nv 1ar ,,II al ri.