New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-11-23
THE CHAMBER or COMMERCE.
ANNIVERSARY DISCOURSE
DELIVERED 0S TUESDAY EvESiNc Before rHf
NETWORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

addrfssfG tub society a. its annual meeting propose
t0 o. attention Tor the brief hour allotted % such
occasions hasty sketch Of the Origin Progress and
Condition Of Of the oldest Associations OF
our Cty-One which. by its connection with many Of
the stirring events end prominent Of past his
tory seems 20 have natural association with this 30
ccy Of which great object is 10 perpc,uaie and
clucdsie all that pertains 10 that history.
The Chamber Of Commerce Of Newi0rk ia my
theme The date of the Association reaches far back
our young anna' aud older by many years than the
Republic and the Constitution which makes one
people.
ny merchants OF this City in the year l7ds 10 is,
therefore dentn It's origin 10 the Res Ouou that
,mancpsied the Colonies.
II IS remarkable fact ssd one significant of the
method and which are such essential elements in
the commercial character that from the dag Of lis orr
gin until this day the Records of the Chamber Of Com
nercs nave been preserved unbroken aud unmuilsted
sn1 1t Is 81 the Books OF Minutes of the Chamber that
am indebted for very much OF whatever may prove
attractive IA this address.
The period in which this Association was formed
was one deep interest For several preceding years
the feelings Of the COl0niss had been deeply reused
By the pfetension Of the Mother Country 10 impose
taxes upon the COOuies-the stamp Act, which
fnscted early ia the year 1863 had excited the spirit
,i people habtuated to consider representation
the Counterpart Of taxation Hnd who not being repre-
scented the British Parliament would not consent to
be- taxed by IT,
New York took the lead IN opposition, aud among the
persons prominent in topposton were several distn
among the founders and officers Of the Chamber of
Commerce.
The stamp Act to take effect on Nov !. 1905
But previous 10 that day, the first Congress OF the
American Colonies was assembled in this City. on the
7th Oct IN opposition the Journal Of the proceed
nes has it 10 the tyrannical acts Of the British Para
tneut
ii concerns not little the honor of New.York aud
essentially the renOwn of the Chamber OF Commerce.
that the moving spirits who prompted the assembling Of
this Congress should be Identified. IL stanCs the
cord c history that the first Congress OF the American
Colonies Congress not uuaptly characterized the
Egg If the Republic. Republican was assembled
on the accommodation Of the Legislature Of Massa-
chust its and literally this IL true But anecedent To
this recommendation, which bears date June, 100,
a Corresponding Committee OF the Ncw-fork Assem-
bly, appointed ia October lot had made the proposal
tor holding Congress Of Delegates, and, upon their
application the project was sgtaied in different Legis
laturts Although therefore, the final action took place
upon the explicit recommendation Of the Massachu.
ets LEGISLATURE that recommendation was influenced
aud hastcned If not determined by the New York Com
initteo Of Correspondence. Who composed that Com
mitee and what relation iis members bear 10 the sub
iect now to be treated will appear in the sequel.
The fret measure OF the Congress OF s. was Decd.
ration Of The Righfs dad GreraHccs n The Colonies pa
per asserting for the COlOniss all the rights and ber
Ties Of subjects born within the Kingdom OF Great Brit
ain among which arc the exclusive power to tax them.
selves and the privileges OF a trial by jury
At this time Lieut.. Gov Golden exercised the iunc-
tons OF Governor, and made himself exceedingly OBJ
noxious 10 the people of NewYOrk by his determine
y A
ton 10 enforce the stamp act The stamps had arrived
in merchant ship; but finding the evaporation 80
great they were transferred from II b one OF the ships
Of war In the harbor and subsequently for saekeepng
10 the Governors house within the fort which was a
place OF some strength and under the guns moreover
Of the ships of war IN the harDOT.
On 3st October Congress then sitting the mef'
chants had a meeting and resolved not 10 import goods
from England This decisive step-hrst taken by the
New.York merchants-wss followed elsewhere, and
led % general non intercourse. The next evening
large concOurse of people assembled 10 the eds "nere
the Park now is and hung the Lieut. Governor IN egy
while another party broke open the house OF
the Governor under the muzze OF the guns OF the Tort
drew forth his carrisge, and tearing up the wooden
palings which surrounded the bo"lus uIeeh' haoe
bonfire OF them, into which was thrust the carriage
With another effgy OF the Governor seated In II 10 be
consumed IL Is certainly to be taken As proof OF the
unwilngncss Of Gov. Golden to resort 10 harsh mea
surcs that these popular excuses were permitted 20 be
contaminated under the guns OF Fort George, where
was a garrison amply sufhcien, 70 sweep the not
ers from the streets.
These and other demonstrations however were de-
cisive. The Governor consented 10 give up the 90
noVious clamps and on the 9Th November the Common
Council through their Mayor, John Cruger. received
from the Governor all the packages OF stamps sent out
from Englsnd-sud thus the people triumphed.
Early IN the next year, 400 the stamp Act was r..
pealed under the influence OF the fret Pitt (aiterward
Earl Of Chatham and The JOY dirGsed IN America oy
hat event caused the people % overlook Tor ne the
dcclara0ry act accompanying the repeal which assert
bind the Colonies ia all cases whatsoever.
The dclightoi the people OF New ork with the re-.
pcsl Of the stamp Act was excessive. ON 81 june
65 tho LEGISLATURE of the Colony voted that An kqucs
trsn Statue be erected in the Bowling Green % George
900 % pcrpCtuatc to the latest pOstcry the deep sense
mad of his goodness ON the motion OF John Cruger 4
delegate from the City and acting under the instruc
tons of his constituents an appropriation was also
made for a statue Of Chatham, which was placed IN
Wallst II the junction Of William u ou lth SePicn
bcr l17o On the south side OF the pedestal was TINS
inscription ....,.,, mn, -, .
t.slm ef-isi puti. testimony 'i t- .rti-' sense E
ta Anerss rifii.iaf5 m promoting zoe '7ir- 81. '' f "
Neither the statues nor the gratitude Of those Who
etsd III IN outitei the generation that voted them
The marble statue OF Pitt was tumbicd from ts Pedts
tal the head was broken from the body and the mutt
'ated trunk had until within lew years. been thrown
among the rubbish Of the public yard oil the Cor
pofatlon
The statue Of King George. being Of lead served a
better turn It was broken into pieces during the leso
iutiouary Va, sent up % Connecticut "htie IN ihe
family al the late Oliver Wolcutt the ladies' assisting
the metal into bullets to be used against tie
iroop. OF the same King George
Elshty-oue years ago commenced the existence OF
toe Chamber OF Coumerce. There are yet A'ins some
.ew-yery few-who were IN being with the men that
t,pr3ed this Association there survive very many %
he relatives and desc,n dsns Of those founders snl
tor all Il will be natural desire 10 Know "no were INC
merchants OF that distant dsy that gave form ani vial
X d :
times no small influence not only upon the mefc4nuie
character aud prosperity Of this City. but upon me po
lica desiuies OF the nation. In difference % saen
feeling the annexed extract from the nrs' no9A oi Ns
u,s i presented setting forth the names OF me io1ne
ers the objects proposed 70 be Accomplished a' 'n'
miles for the government Of the Chamber
H. sr-.nt sa-u-. have he.l iolai very us-i- y "a
-,~. 81 rroilflas AT slcoursLn. Nyailsfee s-tf-
49, a8ss,in- 3.gat-s r-sr. % Irtfe .ni "a
clrns .urh ass add r-g1'silus a. ansf - s--' ~
hcn-hf of trade ssnrfsL
For which purpose and u establish sucn sOcie'yl
he civ of NswYork the following persons con'ep,o
IN the rsi uesdsy H. and being the ON day o. APi
i76S - e.t
Jhn truE-r. 0-c'.- foA-t - 49,
klss n~shra=---. MH NJ tltlnf -.
jams lalr-s, samuel f.4ltAf
- - ff--rs.. ytt- rhoults Rsli-.,
Har, -hrTtrlokr. " l MALL
Is.sc Lo~ AnfLo1y Naa Dan
who agreed that the said society OF Merchants sno1
consist of President, VicePresident Treasurer, -
rotary and sucn merchants already are, OF hsiesi
ter may become members thereof 20 be called Ahs
known by the name OF THE NEwioRX CHANsEA %
CoxNERcK. The members present UNANIMOUSLY enos'
the following officers tor this year 10 eommsIes "a
hrst Tuesday OF May next: John Cruger, president
Hugh Wsllsce Wee President. Elias Desorofsss
Treasurer Anthony Van Dam, Secretary