Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-06-22
THE PEOPLE ', PRESCRIPTION.

| PUBPIC MEETING IN PRINCE GEORGE CooNi
Al large AMI respectable meeting Of the CHI
zens OF Prince George county, held al The Cour
| House on the second Thursday in June, lo49
for The purpose Of expressing their dsapprooa
lion OF The removals made by w F. Bowdcn, col
lec,or Tor the Petersburg district, since his ap
poiniment 10 office:
On motion, Tim Rives, Esq, was called L
The Chair, and Capt VIM. (. Proctor, appointed
! Secretary.
The Chairman stated with much feeling lht
object Of The meeting, and the necessity for &C.
lion. He said il was known that William F
Rowden, in his petition 10 President Taylor fol
! the Office which he now holds, had distinctly
stated that he was opposed 10 prescribing honest
! office holders, on account OF their political opin-
| ions. that he Iepudiated and denounced the doc
lrine that 40 The victurs belong the spoils" In
short, that he was opposed 10 prescription, and
vet with an avowal OF these principles in the
neIition which Obtained him The office he now
| fills he had within ten days removed officer IS
under him. who were "honesl, capable and faith
iul. who were known and acknowledged 10 be
such by wings as well as democrats. Amongst
| those who had been removed was Capt. Richard
| McRae. inspector ioi The Port oil Petersburg
The Captain OF mat glorious band OF patriots,
known as The Canada Volunteers" who won or
| Petersburg name thai will live long in ne al
lecliuns OF her people, am! torn bright spot on
the pages Of her history
This aci, he was sorry 10 say, Was perpelrated
, by a citizen II Prince George county, and we
have row met here 10 day, ,c say 10 Petersburg,
10 say 10 The brave ard chivalfous McRac, that
Prince George never raised son who would
practice sucb ingraiilute, that her people de-
nounced this removal, and The others which have
been made, and that we tad met, 10 make known
our Gsapprohalion in this public manner.
The Chairman slated that ne held IN his hand
a Preamble and Resolutions which he would read
10 The meeting, 10 be disposed OF as they might
think proper The paper being read, on motion
of Dr. Theophilus A. Hall, the Preamble and Re-
solutions we're referred 10 committee Tor consl
delalIon, and amendment, il necessary.
The Chair appointed the following gentlemen
as he committee, 10 vii DR. T A Hail. Col Jno
A Peterson Richard S,urdIvanl, Francis Fem,
and George N Halch, Esqrs.
On motion The meeting adjourned Tor fifteen
minutes when the committee reported the Pre-
ambIc an. Resolutions which had been referred
10 them with amendments, which were again
read 10 the meeting in The following words, 10
vii:
We, portion OF the citizens Of Prince George
county, in public meeting assembled having
ncait OF The deep and lasting inaTatilude which
has been pracliced by w. F. Bowden, the pre-
sent collector Tor the Petersburg district, in re-
moving Capt Richard McRae The Captain Of
III. Petersburg Canada Volunteers, from The Of
Zee Of inspector Tor he port ot Petersburg, with
Z view OF chelishine that deep settled feeling Of
affection, which has ever characterized us as
people, Tor those 40 have risked life, reputation
and fortune lor the benefit and defence OF our
common country, do III this rlblic and primary
meeting, disclaim any participation IN The said
removal 81 Capl. Mckae; and that the dishonor
which IS attached 10 one who has nus struck
from The mou oi Capt McRae the bread on
which he lives, belongs 10 VIM. F. Bowdeu, col
leclor Tor Pelefsbufg, who has lately come into
our county and whose conduct III This instance
We are resolved shall not cast upon u, portion
Of the people Of Prince George, the impuiation
Of having discarded from public confidence one
who hea.ed lis, Of gallant souls, who gained
Tor the town ut Pe;eIsbu. HI glorious name OF
''the Cockade 81 Inc Union
Resolved, therefore, as The said William +.
Bowden Collector, in his petition Tor The office
which he now holds, expressly stated 10 Inc Pre-
sldenl OF the United States, and through him TO
the Secretary OF the Treasury, that he was on
posed to prescription Tor opinions sake, has By
his own acl, placed himself in the situation oi
acting The par ot duplicity, Or Of showing ne
gIect OF duty The part 81 those whom he has
removed We leave HIM 10 justify his own con-
duel, Of bear ms own dlshounr.
Resolved, That, i'll our opinion, dishnnor at
laches 10 William F. BowGen, Collector after
IN. above named declaration in his petition 10.
office, Tor removing any person from Office under
hin as Collector, unless he shows neglec u -
fetal duly on The pau Of those whom he has 81
may hereafter remove.
Resolved, That we hear with pride, that no
such neglect Of duty has been committed by The
said Captain Richard McRea who has been re-
moved BY The said Collector, buG that he has per
formed he duties OF his office with "honesty, ca
pacity and fidelity.
Resolved, Ina, IN The removal Ci VIM. u.
Bilchelt. Inspector Tor the Por Ul City Point he
said Bowded has prescribed one whom DR.. Alex.
Ri, ant, DR.. Theo Bland, Jas. w. Scarborough
aui Rlchad B. Battle, Esqrs., all ol whom are in
duenlial W nigs, J. w. Scarborough being he as
sislanl eeclor in The county; Dr. T. Bryant the
Wing commissioner who conducted the Presden-
tia election al The Court House; K. b Bate, High
Sheriff OF Inc county, and DIR. Bland, than whom
a more honorable Wing or man does not exist,
have certified 10 his uprighlnesS as an officer, a
gentleman and politician, and thereby, The said
Buwden 4 ,ifed his declaration in his petition
Tor office, lha, he is opposed 10 removals from Of
fee for opinions sake.
Resolved That, in view oithe foregoing facts,
We humbIy ask OF the Unied States Senate 10
call Tor The charges against The sand McRae and
Bifchru, and also for the petition Tor Office hlet
by the said William +. Bo3ten, that they may
decide whether The officers above named, and who
have been removed are or have been guilty OF
neglect 0; official uy-and whether the said
Bowden. when he said IN his petition Tor office,
that he vas opposed 10 prescription, has not IN
his removals forfeited the confidence which should
b. extended 10 a gentleman, VINO la!d down his
own ground OF removals, and il he has, in his
SAID petition, dsclaimed the right OF removal i~r
mere cninion's sake, thai the Senate Of The Uni
ted States reject his nomination as one not worthy
10 be confirmed.
Resolved, That We extend 10 j. Travis RosSer,
late Collector Tor The Petersburg cisirlct, Captain
Richard McRae, Inspector for inc Por OF Peters
tHrc, William G. Birchett, Inspector Ior Cny
Point, and 10 Charles Campbell, lae deputy col
ector al The Porl Of Petersburg, our hearty thanks
tor the prompt and faithful manner in which they
nave discharged heir du IS as utcers OF The Cir
neral Government, and that We believe there =
more honor fue those VINO have been dishouora-
Div turned out OF rife, than to hose who have
by false pfeences been pat into cfh:e.
Resolved, Thai a coos OF the proceedings Of
his meeting hc iorwaf, ed 10 each Ct or Sena-
Tors from Virginia, in the United States Senate,
with request mat thc) nave iHe ABOVE ldC's tn
CURED into before thr body q which iheJ are
honorable members.
Resolved, Tina nc proceedings OF this meeting
he published IN the newspapers OF The town ni
Petersburg, the CITY Of Richmond, and ct Wash.
lnston City.
The question was hen aiken, on the adoption
OF ihr P,eamt!e All Resolutions, As amended.
which were unanimously adopted, and so ordered
on motion 10 be stated IN the proceedings oil The
meeting.
On moon The meeting then adjourned
TIM. RlVES, Chm.
uT,,,,,. Doccrnp Seriu