American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-04-03
PUBLIC MEETING.

fCDLlC mLEIlNU.
The following, though not in official form and
subscribed by the officers, is understood 70 have
been reported by the Secretary Of the meeting
for the Republic Of this morning:
SMALL NoTEs.--A meeting of citizens took
place last night, ut the City Hall On motion
OF Mr. H. b. Robinson, Silas III. Hill was called
to the chair, and L. A. Gobright appointed Sec
rotary.
Mr.. Hill, on taking the chair, said that he
felt under obligations to his fellow-citizens for
the honor just conferred upon him. The OBJ
ject for which they had assembled was certainly
a very meritorious one 1.-The suppression of
small notes, as currency, in our community
a nuisance which, if suffered to continue and
increase, will become intolerable. He was
therefore, glad to see that our citizens are gem
orally, if not unanimously, agreed in condem-
nation of this kind Of currency 1t was very
questionable whether, under any circumstan-
ces-whether in times of great public emer-
gency, such as the existence Of war, or during
a suspension of specie payments by the banks
it was desirable to resort to this medium Of
circulation. IA; 1lls fnani.
Some of our wisest political economists main
tain that no time, or any circumstances, justify
a resort to this currency, the evils resulting
from it being SO great. But at period like
this when the country at large is in state of
prosperity, and there Is only partial and tenn
porary depression Of the precious metals--at o
time like this, for community to resort to small
notes, is, to say the least, extremely unwise.
He had given little attention to the particular
subject now before them, but he understood
that an attempt had been made to issue small
notes below the denomination of one dollar. 1t
was due to our business relations, and the COM
munity at large, to raise our voice of remon
STRANGE against this mode Of doing business.
Twenty-Five cent notes, payable in Virginia
money, when presented in sums Of FIVE dollars
and upwards, !" is an outrage !; and, if assented
to, others will resort to issuing them; and thus
will be created an intolerable nuisance. He
said, in conclusion, that lie should be happy to
do all in his power to suppress their circulation.
Mr.. Augustus +. Perry endorsed most fully,
what had been said by the gentleman who had
asserted that small notes, at any time, would
operate injuriously. They would lead to the
displacement of the smaller denominations Of
specie or silver change entirely. He had had
some experience, and had lived through the
Marc Dubant reign. Laughter He meant
no disparagement to him, and others of similar
character. In those days q man doing small
business had to take n straw hat in which to
gather the days operations. He had thought
that disease was sometimes caused by the hand
ling Of the dirty small notes, and that if ever
there was nuisance it was small notes. He
offered preamble and resolutions in condem-
nation of the small notes as q circulating me-
dium; which, having been read
Mr.. e. B. Robinson proposed an amendment,
viz: {" That the. attention Of the Grand Jury
and the constituted legal authorities be respect
fully invited to this subject" which was ac-
canfad by tho paptlan,on who inf tho
resolutions He said that he was not willing
to take up this matter by piecemeal, but was in
favor of entirely roofing out all the small notes.
Congress passed a law making it penitentiary
offence to issue notes under the denomination
of five dollars. But this statute had been placed
ut defiance, and those who pretend to be the
City Fathers are silent! 1t is, therefore, time
for the people to take the subject into their own
hands. Gentlemen may talk as they please
about one nuisance, while they tolerate another;
but q one-dollar note Mt one end of Seventh
street is as much n nuisance as a twenty-five
cent note at the other. In establishing prin-
ciple we must assert it, If banks are neces-
sary, let application be made to Congress for q
proper banking system. Do not give the priv
lege to Tom, Dick, and Harry, to plumber US,
as has been the case in this community, us
many poor widow and workingman knows.
The Chairman made few remarks, in the
course of which he said he was clearly of opin-
ion that all the small notes ought to be redeem
able in the constitutional currency of the coun-
try.
Mr.. E. B. Robinson conceded in this senti-
ment.
Mr.. Joseph W. Davis moved an amendment
to the resolutions so as to call the attention Of
the grand jury and the constituted legal author
tiles to this Nuisance, (instead Of subject
Mr.. Perry. Better call in the Board Of
Health Laughter.
The Chairman. Does the gentleman accept
the amendment?
Mr. Perry. With all due Difference must
decline.
The amendment was then put to vote and
rejected.
The preamble and resolutions, having been
amended to read as follows, were then unani-
mously adopted, viz:
Whereas, the introduction Of small notes as a
circulating medium, whether by individuals or
by public institutions even when convertible
into specie, is, on account of their effect on the
standard of value and general inconvenience
and ultimate loss, greatly to be deprecated at
oil times; and whereas, in the absence of any
public exigency or of any general demand an
attempt is now being made to circulate in this
community notes Of this description, convert
BILE not into specie, but into uncurrent bank
notes, when presented in sums Of fire dollars and
upwards. Therefore
Resolrcd That the introduction Of these notes
as currency, and all others not redeemable
in specie, is an offence not only against public
law, but one highly detrimental to the business
and other pecuniary relations of this commu-
nifty.
Resolred, That the citizens composing this as
sembly pledge themselves to discountenance the
circulation of such issues, and request the CO.
operation of their fellow-citizens; and that the
attention Of the grand jury and the constituted
legal authorities be respectfully invited to this
subject.
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