Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-04-14
MEETING OF TIE WING MEMBERS OF
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

At n meeting of the Wing members of the
General Assembly in the city of Richmond. on
Saturday, the 9th of April, on motion Of VIM.
D. Massey, Esq., of Alexandria. A1Ex.NprR
RIvEs Esq, of Abemare, was called to the
Chair, and OLIVER P. BALDWIN, ESQ.,, of Rich
mond, appointed Secretary. ..f ...t- IS
On motion of S. Patrick ESQ.,, of Kanawba.
it was resolved that commtte be appointed by
the chairman to prepare and report resolutions
and an address to the people of Virginia. The
chairman appointed the following gentlemen -
Messrs. John D. Imboden Nicholson Johnson
Vincent Witcher, Hugh w. Shelley, Joseph
Segar, and Thomas Creigh.
On motion of Mr.. Patrick, the Chairman WAS
added to the committee.
The following address and resolutions were re-
ported by the committee:
An Appeal TO the People of Virginia
Constrained by sense of responsibility to
their immediate constituents and the people of
the State, the Wing members of the General
Assembly earnestly invite public attention to cer-
tain acts of that body, manifesting in an alarm
ing degree, the mischievous policy of the Demo-
mocratic party. They would make this appeal
in no mere partizan spirit. The acts of which
they complain deserve in their opinion, the con.
domination of all candid and independent free
men, who maintain and exercise the rights of
private judgment. against the dictation of party
organs and lenders. 1t can be truly asserted thas
no paltry desire to secure party advantage has
suggested this appeal; it has sprung from higher
motive; it has been coerced by sense of duty to
the whole people of the State, without distinction
of parties, under perfect knowledge of the ef-
forts that will doubtless be made to close the pub
lie mind against its fair consideration by the
usual war-cry that is emp Dyed arouse the pas
sions and prejudices of the party. Apprehen-
sions of this sort cannot deter them from this
challenge of the public Judgment and scrutiny to
the course OF the Democratic party in the AS
sembly; and if no other voice shnll be raised in
its reprobation they will not be the less satisfied
that they have discharged their duty to the pub
lie, nor less repaired to ascribe such result to
the unfortunate tendency of high party excite-
ment, to smother the voice of reason and Justice
1t is not to be understood, however. that they in
tend hereby to relax the bonds of their party Or
ganization to court the suffrages of the people
On conditions inconsistent with their principles.
On the contrary, there is every thing in the
course of the State and Federal administrations
to admonish them of the duty and necessity of
cingng the more closely to their organization
as great national, conservative party, and of
cherishing the more earnestly that sound genu--
inc Republicnnism, which lies at its foundation,
and which opposes to the license of Democracy,
the wholesome restraints of a sober, hnbtual
gard for the peace, the honor and the stability Of
their free government. Struggling in the mi
nority, they have bated not one jot or title of
courage or of hope ia their reliance the event.
ua triumph OF truth and correct principles; but
they have not always enjoyed the privilege of
remonstrance against the course of the dominant
party;-on questions of the deepest and most
general interest, they have been inexoraby de-
MED hearsay, else their voice sthed 10 debate
by the legislative gag. 1t is to be presumed that
the measures complained of have already en-
gagged much of public attentions; that brief
enumeration OF the most rromnent ofthem may
suffice to arouse the vigilance, and provoke the
Investigation of the people ia all sections of the
State.
Cursed and afflicted as the people of this State
have been, and still are, by the circulation of an
illegal small note currency OF the worst imagina-
BILE kind the assembly under the control of the
Democratic majority, has failed to provide rem-
edy for this great evil; and, as if ready at any
time and upon any pretext to sacrifice the pub
lie interest to some abstraction their creed, has
| sternly denied the only relief that could be-
given, in refusing to authorize the Banks to sup
| ply safe, convertible currency in the emission
| of notes under the denomination of five dollars.
| The inevitable consequence ensues that a new
brood of swindling shops will spring up without
and within the borders of the State, managed by
unknown and irresponsible men, to tax the ira :
ding community and cheat the aboring classes
with the most unsafe currency that the wit of man
| can devise. Perhaps, yet more pervading mis-
chief attends it,, in the depraving effect upon
the morals OF the people, of an open and continu-
al violation oflaw, which finds no small justifca-
tion from the culpable liberation of this of
things by the democratic law makers OF the
| State. iat
The democratic party commits many absurdi-
ties, IT not crimes, sooner than allow the infalli-
bility ofits political faith to be- drawn in question:
Thus, having once declared, under vastly differ
ent circumstances, its opposition to a distribution
of the proceeds of the public ands it will not now
surrender that tenet of its creed, though it now
obstructs the very policy it was designed to pro-
mote. 1t will be recolected that the State was
isduced to forsgo or dscaim her share of thid