The daily union., 1846-09-28
PoLITI0AL.,
~ FlOm the roasmoalh Ws.l New EIs.

Charles H. SHIELD, esq, 10 the chair as president
and Giles 3. Cook and Aaron Milhado, esls, wer
chosen vice presidents. A. +. Cunningham, o
Portsmouth, and Josiah Wills, esq, OF Norfolk
were appointed secretaries. r rt
The objects Of the meeting were stated by Mr.
Mhado 10 be for the purpose OF enabling the dem
oeratic party of Norfolk, Portsmouth, and vicinity
20 express their appreciation Of the Of h'
present administration of the general government
which all hope will be Of permanent benefit to th'
country. E1sFb
Col, John S. Millson then rose, and in an elo
qlent address Of AN hours duretioD which fl 10
quently interrupted with bursts OF applause, in
trodueed the following preamble and resolutions
which were unanimously adopted by the meet
ing
The democratic citizens Of the county and city Of
Norfolk, have met together, according 10 the ap.
proved usages OF the republican party TO take into
consideration some Of the important proceedings ol
the last session of Congress Since they last assem-.
bed in public meeting, events have happened, and
measures have been contaminated, deeply affecting
the honor and interests Of the American people both
IN their relations with foreign governments, and In
the administration Of domestic affairs. sister
public has been incorporated into our federal
Union--a long pending and perplexing eonlro-
yersy with a powerful nation has been AMIGA
bly, termnated-a state Of war has been declared
10 exist between our own country and neigh
bonng People-lhe system Of imposts, establish
by one greatly reducing the rates Of taxation and al
tsnng the principles upon which they TO be as
sessed the operations Of the government have been
diseonne ted from those Of all banking companies,
and the receivers ofthe public taxes prohibited from
handing them over 10 these associations and other
changes 10 the internal administration Of the govern
ment have occurred calculated to exert important
influence upon the interests and welfare Of the peo
pie. As these great measures have been establish
ed, IN part, by the agency Of those whom the dem
ocratio citizens Of the county and city Of Norfolk
coneurred m eleyating to the high stations now filled
by them, they deem Il proper TO make this public
declaration Of their views and opinions in relation
to their justice and policy. IL is, therefore,
RssOirsd, That the annexation Of Texas to the
United States wus sanctioned by the constitution,
and imperiousy required by the interests Of the
whole people; and though subsequently, made the
pretext Of an aggressive war upon US, neither yio-
lated the rights nor gave just cause Of complaint to
any other power. ....
Rs Iced That the settlement Of the controversy
with Great Britain, in relation to the territory OF
Oregon. has been effected upon terms advantageous
10 the United States, and honorable alike 70 both
the eoniendIng parties and that 10 the treaty which
has been so happily negotiated, the Just rights ofthe
country, so long the subject Of unfruitful diplo-
macy, have at length been fully recognised and Sc
cured. i Oh aft'N
RssoiDed, That the repeated acts OF injury and in
suit, committed by the republic Of Mexico towards
the government and people Of the United States
would well have justified, and but for her feebleness
and unhappy distractions, would seem to have re.
qnIred declaration Of war against her; that the
course OF the United States towards her has how
ever, been one Of singular forbearance and magnan-
unity; and that in commencing war with US, upon
the impudent preenson that her rights were affect.
ed by the annexation Of Texas, a republic more in
dependent than herself, and over which she had
long since abandoned all hope Of dominion, she dis
played spirit Of aggression and eagerness Of
hostility towards the people Of the United States
which entte the administration to the warm sup
port OF every patriot in lis efforts to vndcate the
national dignity and restore an honorable peace
Resotred, That II is the common right of the peo
pie to trade amongst themselves and with foreign
nations and to sell the products Of their labor and
supply their necessary wants wherever they can
most sdvantageousy do so; that the power given
to Congress to clay and collect taxes, duties, i'm.
posts, and excises," simply authorizes the collection
OF revenue rom this trade, and gives no authority
TO destroy mpai the trade ITSELF and that every
such adjustment of tariff ofimposts is designed
10 hinder the people from supplying their wants
from such sources as they would themselves prefer
Is fagrant abuse Of power in applying means given
to effect particular object to another not only diff
ferent from, bu. actually destructive OF, the one
really designed, and is, therefore, a plain violation
ofthe constitution. 'HHh,
Resolved, That this system of restrictions upon
commerce. elegantly called "the protective system,
and now happily about to be abandoned by the
chief nations Of the world, is impoic and unwise,
unsound in principle and mischievous in practice
i. Because, Instead Of leaving all men to pursue
those empoyments, for which from natural or other
causes, they may be best fitted it assumes that the
government is the best regulator of the Industry of
the people, and In effect leves exactons upon the
many, to be distributed in bounes to few, in or
der to sustain them in occupations which thew
would be otherwise compelled 10 abandon.
=. Because, The cost Of protection far exceeds the
DEMENT'S proposed to be secured to the country the
yearly amount paid for the protection of part only
OF the protected interests, being officially stated by
The Secretary of the Treasury, to be more than sew
cnty-hve millions of dollars. 4
3 Because, The increasing population of the
world requires corresponding increase in the pro-
1ucnyeness OF human labor; and to compel the en-
ployment Of the less productive labor. merely for
me sake OF Its employment, would not be less un
wise than to secure such employment by the de-
of all labor-saving machinery.
a. Because, In consequence the greater difficult
ty and expense of producing in this country many
of the protected commodities the loss thence sus-
ained oy the mass OF the people, far exceeds the
gains oil the manufacturers, much being paid by the
former, to secure a comparatively small portion of
he amount TO the latter; SO that in many cases, il
would be less burdensome to the people, to support
n absolute ideness the manufacturers of such art-
lies, and be at liberty to supply their own wants in
he cheapest markets Of the world.
5. Because, Though il is contended that an arti-
iclai home market for agricultural productions is
quilt up by this system, in addition to the natural
iome market, which has existed in all ages and 10
Ill countries, yet it is evident, that as this artificial
market ~ only kept up by the sale of protected
commodities, the greater the Market the greater the
oss to those who sustain it. s4igtss n{ H.g t.-r
6. Because, Providence, in giving to each nation
IS own peculiar soil, climate, and position, man |
testify designed that none should produce, within
tself, allthat it might have occasion to use; but
hat by mutual dependence, peace should be CO |
nented between them, and, by the necessities of |
mutual intercourse, civilization and christianity |
hould be extended throughout the world. al |
Resoipsd, therefore, That this meeting warmly an |
rovcs the passage Of the tariff law Of 1886, re- |
'ardng il MS only the first STEP on the part Of the
United States, towards that more liberal and en-
ghtened system Of international intercourse which
; about to be established throughout the world
nd believing that it will ere long be followed by
nch further reduction Of duties as are impera,iyey
snanded by the spirit Of the age. r- |
Resolved, That the public revenues were never
designed to be fund for private speculation, and