Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-01-17
A DEMOCRATIC MEETING IN JEFFERSON

AL large and respectable meeting of The Democratic
party of Jefferson county, held pursuant notice.
the Court House, Monday the 10Th day Of December
le42-On motion of c. b. Ila'dng, WIN. Lucas
appointed chairman, and on motion of Jacob Morgan,
Benjamin F. Washington, Secretary. whereupon it
was moved by Z. b. Harding and carried, that the
chairman appoint committee often TO prepare and
port an Address and Resolutions for the consideration
OF the meetlng-who appointed the following gentle
inca, viz: c. B. Harding, Richard Parker, William
Smullwood Geo. McGinsry, Samuel Cameron John
Seely, James Grantham Braxion Davenport John {.
r. Taylor and Henry Bedinger, Jr, who after retringa
short time, reported through their Chairman, &. b.
Harding, as follows:
Hhercas, among the invaluable privileges secured IN
all cit:zens, by the Constitution Of country, is tie
right 10 assemble together, and 10 give full ard free
expression Of opinion in reference the measures Of
Government, and the conduct Of public charged
with its administration, have hesitation in avow
ing that under the policy advocated and maintained by
the ruling majority in both Houses of Congress- the
Government has in our judgment widely departed from
the Republican simplicity and purity which marked
IFS policy in ;hc days Of Jefferson. We lament 10
perceive revival OF the broad and latiudInous
structon of the Constitution held by Hamilton, the Adj
ansrs and all the leading Fcdeals OF the early period
Of history in the attempt asten upon the country
a National Bank and high Tariff measures which
have been repudaled by the Democratic pprty We
need not examine in detail the causes of the fnan.
ciaI and commercial revnsions Of the years 1887 and
1888, which enabled the Federal party and its allies,
under the specious name of Wings for time TO seize
the rens Of the State and General Government. IL
will be sufficient TO allude to the most prominent of
them as the struggle with the United States Bank,
which entered the political compel renewal
of lis chucr-he effect of redundant Treasury, afteg
the payment of the National Debt, produced by lhe
operation of high protective Tariff, raising sum be-
yond the wants of the General Government after its
quidation-the immense sales TO settlers and specnla
tors of the public landslide inordna,e increase OF
banks in the various States of the Union far beyond
the business wants of the country, and entirely dspro
poroncd to the capital and specie basis, upon which
alone any system Of banking safely depend-and
the consequent over issues and dscontcnts-the reck
less spirit Of speculation pervadng ell classes Of
citizens, excited and urged by The facility for obtain
ing bank paper, in immense issnes of stocks by Tho
several Staes-and Tue splendid and mprovident
schemes of Internal Improvement in which they n
gaged-te suspension Of the banks and the lsappont
ed hopes, aud excited and angry feelings caused by the
bursting Of the inflated credit SYSTEM instead Of calmly
weighing the consequences Of their acis-mcn
looked elsewhere for the of their distress and
embarrassment, and political demagogues we're loudly
declaming against the Government incting all the
Ills which suffered, and many induced TO be-
eve that change in the councils and Of tho
General and Stale Governments would produce nme.
date relief.
II was not surprising that disafTecton 10 the Demo
cratic party should to extent be produced by tho
above ated-tha interested individuals SHOULD
conIesce with former opponents feet chang.
that the struggle OF 20 and 40 resulted in placing
the Government in the hands OF u party v no have so
grossly misnanaged cur affairs, exhausted the funds
increased The debt and Frustrated the credit OF the
Government tarnshed lis character and bestowed tho
highest official stations their gift not the reward
of merit, but the price of Servity and corruption in
the acqureme Mt Of their fraudulent and i'll gotten power
Instead of the promised change OF better tines an!
plenty Of money, which were to follow the success of
Whggery, the General Government has been unable
10 meet its daily expenses. The condition Of the PEG.
nj has III hem i'm we'd hnto Al
nancia difficulties have been ncrcased--our agficutu.
raj, manufacturing md commercial interests are he.
coming unprecedented measures are proposed
in national councils 10 ailpd relief The public
business is neseced, and The talents which should be-
exerted TO relieve the Government and people are pros
t;uted TO disorganizng and factious purposes. The
whole course OF our opponents IN Congress calcu
lated 10 disgrace the eyes Of the and Of Tie
world: Therefore
Rtsotrtd, That not only is The Constitution both in
letter and spirit utterly hostile TO the establishment Of
National Bank, but il is universally admitted that
the sagacnus patriots no framed that sacred insiI
mcni, refused 10 include among The powers delegated
To Congress, authority to incorporate any institution Of
the Eind. We therefore feel ii our duty if such in
tinsament Of tie Constitution is ever pcrpetrated To
devote our whole encrges 10 restore il 10 lis original
purity, and TO transmit II uneued 10 pos,eri,y.
Rfs"lced, That the power, which, by The establish.
men Of National Bank, would be entrusted 10 an IT.
responsible corpoatan is nimca 10 The priGcp and
dangerous to the continuance of our Republican Go.
vernment The regulation Of the currency 10 be vested
by in the associates Of the bank paror would enat!
the by turn Of the screws by Alternately expand
ing and contracting, TO involve tie fortunes If the pr
vale citizen the business Of the active and pr.g
to cause excessive fluctuations in the facilities OF credit
thereby controlling the wages Of labor, the prices Of
property, and the value Of securities.
RtSoiUed That Congress has constitutional power
10 foster any particular interest the expense Of and
to the injury of others; and, that by the present Tariff
a direct opposition is given 10 manufactures, while 1t
cripples agriculture and commerce
Resofred, That this Tariff is in effect, taxation on
the hardy yeomanry Of couutrywho trust 10 their
own industry alone for suPport-causlns them 10 pay
nearly double price for every article imported that
enters into The daily consumption Of Their families, HAT