Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-09
PUBLIC MEETING

but the number was soon increased TO about four hun
dred
On motion of Mr. John " Hardwicke, DR.. JOHN
DOVE was called to preside.
Dr. DOVE in taking the chair, said he did not know the
object of the meeting but would act SO far as to perfect
the organization and would then be guided by crcum
stances.
On motion of Mr.. B. b. Minor, the editors Of the po-
tcal papers of the city requested to act Secre
taries.
Mr. Minor said he was not one of those who called
the meeting but he concurred in the object which those
gentlemen who were of both parties, had in view
Members ofthe Democratic party had expressed the de-
sire that some member of the Wing party should make
the first move The great object, he said, that the
citizens of Richmond might unite together, without re-
ference party TO vndicate the rights of the South
der the Constitution and in the Union 1t was he be-
leved, perfectly good faith operation, and ought to
give occasion to no mputations. In regard the ap-
pontmen of delegates to the Nashville Convention he
regarded the question as prejudged by the Legisla-
ure. 1t would not do for the people to recede from the
position the Legislature had TAKEN He moved that a
committee of l3be appointed to prepare resolutions for
the consideration Of the meeting and suggested with
the concurrence, he said, OF Democratic gentlemen
that there should be majority of one on the commit
tee from the Wing party.
Mr.. ROBERT G. SCOTT said he was one of those who
desired action the grave question of sending delegates
to Nashville He had part in the first movement
for this meeting AS soon as it was suggested however,
he thought became the Capitol Of the State to respond,
either airmatvey negatively to the action of the
Legislature. He here many of our most intelligent
and respectable citizens. He trusted they were ANNA
ted by only one heart and soul. He seconded the
motion for committee. On this great question he
RI
to know each only as an American citizen devoted to
the constitution and the Union 1t rose far above the
petty strites of party He hoped would be the plea
sure OF the meeting pdenty to enrust this subject to
committee and thus he trusted they should have har-
mony. He had been deeply gratifed that evening in
travelling from neghbourng court to hear that the
same outline, upon which might act tonight, had
been Swallowed forth yesterday in the Senate of the Uni
ted States and sustained by the great name of HARRY
OF THE WEST. Ii he might speak in anticipation of
what the committee might be expected to report what
was proposed to be done? The South was complain
ing that the North had done her wrong This had been
conceded by that mighty man of Massachusetts, mighty
in intellect, and, he would add mighty in patriotism
DANIEL WEBSTER. [Great applause] In his boyhood
Mr. S. said he had differed with Mr.. Webster He was
Federalist; Mr.. S. was Republican But Mr.. S.
had lived to see the day when he prepared to bless
his glorious name When saw Northern statesmen
prepared to come up to settlement of this question
was there man in the South so craven as not to
be readyto sustain them! Glue me, said Mr. S., the
scheme Of Daniel Webster, and l am satisfied. Give
it not in words not in empty sentences not in the opn-
ions of men, but practically in acts of Congress, sane
toned by the President. To that extent he would CO.
Short Of it, all would be hollow truce Impressed
with these views he intmated that he expected the COM
mittee, in their report to set forth the causes of
plant, the part OF the South, and to point to the re-
NEEDY, then to affirm the wisdom of sending delegates
to Nashville, but to follow that up with declaration
that the South would be satisfied with an adjustment on
the principles laid down by Mr.. Webster and that such
adjustment by act of Congress would remove the ne
cessty for the Nashville Convention
Mr.. A JUDsoN CRANE demanded more specific ex-
PLANTATION OF the objects of this meeting and the pro-
posed committee and said he did not distinctly under
stand them from the remarks of the two gentlemen who
had spoken. He knew enough about public meetings
and their committees, to know that he must be inform
ed what the committee for, and who were to be on
it, before he could give his He heard the
names of Harry of the West, and Daniel Webster al
luded to-, as sanctionng what was proposed He want
ed something more specific. Until the names of the
committee announced and what they were going
to do, the invocation of neither Harry of the West nor
the luminous intellect of New England, would induce
him to vote for the motion,
Mr.. JAMES WINSTON declared that he had used every
effort in his power to stay away from this meeting and
had determined not to come to it, For he was particu-
lary anxious that his name should 60 down to pos
terty as a member OF any meeting whose Interior OBJ
ject was similar to that of the Hartford Convention
He had he said gone to bed and tried Sleep but he could
not He rose and came here to make motion, in the
outset, that the meeting adjourn Had he arrived in
time, he woulds have submitted that motion, and might
do so now before he sat down. What did gentlemen
propose? To send delegates to Nashville. The Con-
yention might never sit No, gentlemen, said Mr. w.
will mark the who vote for sending these dele
gates and warn the young men who take part in it
that their names will go down with all the odium that
has been attached to the Hartford Convention If nv
age, observation and experience worth anything |
admonish you against having anything to do with Sec
tional convention would not approve it, though it
might be sanctioned by all the Harres of the West and
all the Daniels of the East But what authority is there
for saying that Harry of the West is for the Nashville
Convention?
Mr. R. G. SCOTT explained that he had never said
so. He had only said that both Mr. Clay and MI.
Webster had taken ground for satisfactory settlement.
Mr. WINSTON had no doubt of their anxiety to settle
the question. And was this the proper moment when
they were making their exertons to agtae in the South
Let deter this action and see what Congress will do
He regarded the movement altogether premature =
Mehad Zachary Taylor in the Presidential chair ready
to protect the constitution. Why not rely on him. and
our members Of Congress! He apprehended the
meeting had been got up for ueror purposes He hoped
the resolutions he did not what they were, would
be postponed.
MIR. JAMES LYONS said he was too hoar.e to make a
speech. tie rose only to make suggestion that the
meeting adjourn to future day, and to accompany it
with an expression OF his surprise and regret that his We
nerabe friend, member OF the society Of peace should
be the first to rise here and make declaration OF
war, the first to throw rebrand amongst us, by the
of language and ephets calculated to divide us into
parties more fearful than we had ever yet known He
had had no part in calling this meeting When asked
he thought proper he said yes; he was very ready
to attend and he would avow this participation re-
gardess Of every epithet from any quarter He came
here tonight to express his opinion in regard to an i'm
portan subject, with no expectation Of being offered an
insult in the very opening by peculiar friend Of peace
what ne had said that those who opposed the Nash
vile Convention were Lr0ifOrs2 Thara ,yo,,Id r..