The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-09-19
DEMOCRATIC MEETING IN THE CITY
OF NOREOIK

by calling CHARLES III. SHIELD. Esq, TO the
Chair President, and GILES b. Cook and
AARON MILHApo, Esqs,. were chosen Vice Presi-
dents. A. +. CUNNINGHAM, Of Portsmouth, and
JOSIAH WILLS, Esq, of Norfolk, were appointed
Secretaries.
The objects of the meeting were stated by Mr.
Milhado TO be for the purpose of enabling the
Democratic Party of Norfolk, Portsmouth and
vicinity to express their appreciation of the meas
ures of the present Administration Of the General
Government, which all hope will be of permanen,
benefit to the country.
Col. John S. Nilsson then rose and in an elo i.
quent address Of an hours Duration which was
frequently interrupted with bursts of applause.
introduced The following Preamble and Resolu-
tons, which were unanimously adopted by the
meeting.
The Democratic citizens Of the county and
city of Norfolk have met together ACCORDING In
the approved usages of the Republican party, to
take into consideration some of the import pro-
ccedings of the late session of Congress- Since
they last assembled in public meeting, events
have happened. and measures have been copsum
mated, deeply affecting the honor and interests of
the American people, both in their relations with
f'reign governments, and in the administration of
their domestic affairs. A sister republic has been
Incorporated into our federal union; long pend
ing and perpexing controversy with powerful
nation has been amcaby terminated; state of
war has been declared to exist between our own
country and neighborng people; the system of
imports, established by the Congress of 1912, has
been superseded by one greatly reducing The rates
of taxation and altering the principles upon which
they are to be assessed the operations of the 90.
havo hoo ,oJ IT.. r. ~
banking companies, and the receivers Of the pub
lie taxes prohibited from handing them over to
these associations and uther changes in the inter
nal administration of the government have occur.
red, calculated to exert an important influence
upon the interests and welfare of the people As
these great measures have been established. in
part, by the agency Of those whom the Demo
cratic citizens Of the county and city of Norfolk
concurred in elevating To the high stations now
filled by them, they deem it proper to make this
public declaration OF their views and opinions in
relation to their justice and policy 1t is there
fore
Res0tued, That the annexation of Texas to the
United States, was sanctioned by the constitution,
and imperiously required by the true interests of
the whole people; and though subsequently, made
The pTetext of an aggressive war upon us, neither
violated the rights, nor gave just cause of com
plant To any other Power.
ResotUed, That the settlement of the contro-
versy with Great Britain, in relation TO the terri
tory of Oregon. has been effected upon terms adj
vantageous to the United States and honorable
alike TO both the contending parties; and that in
the treaty which has been happily negotiai ed i,
the just rights of the country, so long the subject
at unfruitfnl diplomacy, have, at length, been
fully recognized and secured.
Resolued, That the repeated acts Of injury and
insult. committed by the Republic of Mexico. to-
wards the government and people of the United
States, would well have justified and but for her
feebleness and unhappy distractions, would seem
Ia have required declaration of war against her:
that the course of the United States towards her,
has, however, been of singular forbearance and
magnanmty and that in commencing war with
us, upon the impudent pretension that her rights
were affected by the annexation of Texas re-
public more independent than herself and over
which she had long since abandoned all hone of
dominion, she displayed spirit of aggression and
an eagerness of hostility towards the people of the
United States, which enttle the Administration
to the warm support of every patriot in its efforts
to vlndIcate the national dignity and restore an
honorable peace.
Resolued, That it is the common right of the
people 10 trade amongst themselves and with for.
egn nations, and 10 sell the products of their labor
and supply their necessary wants, wherever the Y
can most advantag eUus!y do so |: that the power
given To Congress 10 g Law and collect taxes du-
Ties, imposls and excses.' simply authorises the
collection of revenue from this trade, and gives
no authority to destroy impair the trade itself.
and that every such adjustment of a tariff of i'm
posts, as is designed to hinder the people from
supplying their wants from such sources as thew
would themselves prefer, is fragrant abuse of
power, IN applying means given to effect par
lcuar object. TO another not only different from
bnt actually destructive of the one really designed
and is, therefore, plain violation Of the consliu-
ton.
Resolved, That this system Of restrictions upon
commerce., elegantly called - The Protectiye
System" and now happily abont to be abandoned
by the chief nations Of the world is impoliiic and
unwse, unsound IN principle and mschevous in
practice
l. Because, Instead of leaving all men to Dur
sue those emplOyments, for which, from natural
or other causes, they may be best fitted, it as
sumes that the government is the best regulator
OF the Industry Of The people, and in effect levies
exactIons upon the many, 10 be distributed in
bounties To few, in order to sustain them in oc-
equations, which they would be otherwise com
PEELED to abandon.
& Because, The cost Of protection far exceeds
the benefits proposed to be secured to the country
lhe yearly amount paid for the protection of a
part only ot the protective interests being officl-
any stated by the Secretary Of the Treasury, To
be more Than seventy FIVE millions Of dollars
3: because, The increasing population of the
world requires a corresponding increase in the
ProduciIveness of human labor and to compel
the employment Of the less productive labor,
merely for the sake of its employment, would not
be less unwlse Than to secure snch employment
by the destruction of all labor-savinQ machines
q. Because, In consequence Of the greater diff
Guilty and expense Of producing in this country
many Of the protected commodities, the loss
thence sustained by the mass Of the people, far
exceeds the gains of the manufacturers, much
being paid by the former, TO secure a compare
lively small portion Of the amount to the latter
80 mat in many cases, it would be less burden
some to the people, to support in absolute idleness
lne manufacturers Of snch arficlne and he at Lin