New-York daily tribune., 1844-10-02
neeting OF Mec chan,c. and Workingmen

Pursuant 10 call signed by One Hundred aud
Seventy. Five Weavers. Hatters, Carpenters and
others, of both political parties, Meeting OF the
Mechanics and Workingmen of the Sixth Ward
was held last evening at Temperance Hall, corner
Of the Eighth Avenue and Eighteenth street. for
Il tispassionete discussion Of the subject OF the
re-ifi' in It's bearings upon theiE own interests and
the welfare OF the country. The Hall was
crowded to sufi0caton BY hard handed and intel
ligcut Mechanics : majority OF whom ~cre Doubt
css Whigs though considerable number Of
Loco Focos were present. The meeting vas
fs4u4ed BY the choice OF CYRUS RoMER as
Chairman WILLIAM JoHNsos and eight others as
Vice Chairmen, and JAMES ASDERsoS and three
others as Secretaries.
Hon JosEPn L. WHITE was the first speaker.
In d clear, forcible and eloquent speech, he de
fined the respective positions of Messrs. Polk and
Clay upon the Tariff, showed how the Protective
policy is identified with the welfare of the Coun-
try, par,icularlyuf the Manufacturing and Labor
ing Glasses, and made strong and effective ap-
peal 10 ms hearers to rise above all mere party
considerations and support the men whose cleo
ton was necessary to guarantee the permanence
of the measures by which alone the prosperity of
The Country could be secured. His speech was
model of fairness toward his opponents, and an
appeal TO their calm Judgment and honest patriot
ism which could not well be resisted. We could
no, resist the conviction that Mr.. White had spo-
ken from The right pitch precisely, and we axe
nersuaded that his remarks will lead many, who
have heretofore voted against US, 10 that serious
reflection which will be almost sure to result III
their conversion 10 the Wing cause. He was
mos, rapturously applauded, both in the midst OF
his speech and when he sat down.
Mr. n. REyxoLns was about 10 follow NJ,
White, when
NELSON CHASE, Esq. co-Foco, asked for a
hearing, which was chcerfully accorded 10 him.
His main object was 10 show that NJ. Clay had
put forth one set of opinions at the South, and
other at the North; and to prove this, he read
from the Morning NcrS certain extracts from
Mr.. Claws letters and speeches. Thcsc extracts,
however had precisely the contrary effect from
that which Mr.. Chase intended TO produce, and
drew forth the hearty applause Of the Wings.
One or two sentences, wrestcd from their proper
connections and unexplained by attending circum-
stances. were all that even seemed for a moment
to favor his purpose. He seemed painfully con.
scous that he had utterly failed to establish his
point, and sat down, abashcd and coniounded
Mr.. WHITE replied in the happiest manner,
vindicating MIR. Clay most triumphantly from the
charge of Inconsistency, and sho"ing tie tcs-
tinony of Mr.. Polk himself that Mr.. c. had ever
been the s;eadfast friend Of Protection, and had
supported the Compromise Act for the very pur.
pose OF saving that system from permanent and
hopeless ruin. We have never witnessed more
signal triumph opponont than Inv,
achieved by Mr.. White on this occasion.
Mr. J. n. REYNOLDS was in the midst of an
eloquent speech when VIC were compelled 10
leave.
We understand ii is the intention Of those who
called this meeting TO hold similar discussions,
every week TIL the time Of election. The move.
mcnt is admirably adapted TO the cxgency Of the
times, and cannot fail of doing great good,