The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-02
From the Ns,c York Herald.
Important Movement.


From the .Nsp York Herald.
Important Movement.
INITIAL MEETING FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF A
FREE TRADE LEAGUE.
In pursuance of the following invitation, cir
culated among gentlemen known to be favor
able to the great object therein designated, to
wit s
A meeting Of gentlemen favorable to the
organization Of q Free trade league, will be
held nj the Irving House, on Thursday, 28th
inst, at o'clock p. NJ, for the purpose of
agreeing upon principles, and adopting a con-
stitution. You are respectfully invited to at
tend. 1E#s fF. '4'@". .&l,'>..
James Lee, j. L. H. McCrackan, Nj. Living
ston, w. c. Bryant, EdwdN X. Collins, J. d.
Van Buren,, Moses Taylor, A. G.. Flagg, Free
man Hunt, N. M. Beckwith, II. C. Murphy, II.
Fuller c. Edwards Lestcr l.. B. Chase, G. II.
Marshall Parke Goodwin, Theo. Sedgewick, R.
]. Walker, John McKeon, T.. p. Kettell, J.
Bigelow, Cnas. O'Conor, r. HI. Morris, J. II.
Brady, J. Pattison, Godf Pattson & Co, J. r.
Whiting, J. J. Boyd, y. Gerald, G. P. Putnam,
F. b. Cutting c. F. Briggs, Saml Beman.
New York, a5th November, 1850. ~
A very respectable meeting in mum ers, and
comprising very large proportion of men of
intelligence and experience in political and COM
mercial affairs, assembled In the Irving House
last evening. at eight o'clock.
The meeting being called to order, on mo-
ton,
Mr.. N. NJ Beckwith was called to the Chair,
and .~ 10.
Mr.. Samuel Beman was appointed Secretary.
The Chairman read the call of the meeting,
and briefly stated its object to be the organiza-
ton Of free trade league for the purpose of
advocating the doctrine of free trade, and the
collection of the revenues for the support Of the
Government by direct taxation.
Mr.. James Lee briefly recaptulated the ad-
vantages Of free trade and direct taxation over
the revenue system of duties upon Imports. 1t
was great movement, and this might be con-
sidered II small beginning for an object of such
magnitude. But the anti-corn law league
began with a meeting of five men in the city of
Manchester, who subscribed to the organization
two shings a piece; and in two or three years
it became the policy Of the British government
The people, to be sure, were with the move
ment; but why may we not anticipate, also, the
cooperation of the people in a similar move
ment in the United States! 1t was sufficiently
evident that the success of the free trade policy
in England had given an impulse to the policy
in this country, which promised its complete
triumph sooner or later. He was ready to aid
in this proposed movement to the full extent of
the doctrine of free trade.
Mr.. Beman read letter from the Hon. Ro-
bert J. Walker, regretting that business at Wash
ington called him to that city, and which would
necessarily prevent his ATTENDANCE at this meet
ing. He was, however, completely identified
with the objects of the meeting for abolition Of
the present system of collecting the revenues
he, pf f.,,a
and of meeting the expenses of the government
of the Treasury, indicated these views.
After some conversation rs to the proper inia-
tory steps to be taken at this meeting, in the or
ganization Of the league, the following resolu-
ton was proposed:
Resolred That it is expedient to organize an
association, for the purpose of advocating free
trade and direct taxation.
The resolution, and various amendments, were
discussed by Messrs. Pcl, Lee, Butterworth,
McKeon, Fuller, Hawks, aud others, when the
following substitute, by Mr. Wright Hawks,
was proposed, and adopted by the meeting:
Res lued, That it is expedient to organize
free trade league, for the purpose of advocating
the abolition Of indirect taxation, and the estab-
lishment Of free trade and Of direct taxation for
the support of the General Government.
On motion, committee of five was ordered
to be appointed by the chair, to draft constitu-
ton and bylaws for the league, to be reported
at the next meeting.
The Chair appointed Messrs James Lee, Jno.
McKeon, H. Fuller. w, c. Bryant and Mr. But
terworth, the said committee.
On motion of Mr.. Lee, anotke. committee of
five was ordered, to be appointed by the Chair,
to draft declaration of the principles and OBJ
jects of the league for publication.
The Chair appointed Messrs. Robert J: Wal
ker, James Lee, IT, P. Kettell, Alfred Pell, and
Wright Hawks, said committee.
And, by resolution, the chairman and secretary
of the meeting were added to both the aforesaid
committees.
On motion Of Mr.. Freeman Hunt, the CON-
mittee on the constitution were empowered to
designate the time and place of the next meeting
And the meeting adjourned.
As understood, the objects of this association
are-to organize free trade party in the United
States, irrespective of existing political parties,
be- inning in New York, and to be followed up
by extending similar societies throughout the |
Union, for the purpose of advocating the policy
ofaboishing the system of revenues fromimports
for the support Of the Government, and Of sub