Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-07-13
WgIG MEETING IN ELIZABETH CITY.

l. ResoIped That the Wings OF Elizabeth City coun-
ty now form themselves into Ben aud Everett Club, the
officers Of which shall be President Secretary and Ex-
scutiye Committee The President and Secretary OF this
meeting shall be similar officers oithis club.
Q Resolred That it would be highly unphilosophcal
and unsafe trust TO any party that has involved the
country in its present unhappy condition OF secuona
strife aud distraction the task Of relieving it from that
condition ss
g. Resolved That any sectional administration OF the
Federal Government come from what quarter 1t may Is
inmica to the advancement Of the general interests OF
the people the endurance of the national concord ana
rep0se and TO the stability Of the union Of the States.
l. Resolved Therefore, that the two great political par
ties the Democratic and Black Republican being both
of them sectional and having staked the result OF the
approaching Presidential contest single and section
al ISSUE the country look to neither for deveance
from present ills for smelioration in the future
s. Resolved, That what the country now most needs
is an entirely unsectona deeply national administers.
ton of the national affairs which, discsrding the idea OF
any single ISSUE shall embrace within its comprehensive
scope all the great interests of the people of this great
nation material and moral and that shall consult studi-
orsly, the development and advancement Of each.
6. Resoived That such administration the Wings
Of Elizabeth City believe will surely be found in the nomi-
nees of the late Constitutional Union Convention, John
Bell of Tennessee and Edward Everett, of Massachu-
of the Madsouian stamp and of the amplest
experience in public affairs tried in almost every grade
of public appointment eminent for ability and virtue,
and that practical craftsmanship which sinks mere part
/ y,
firm ardent lovers Of the Unon the country may turn
TO them with undoubng confidence for escape from the
ills that at the the present act IT, for the restoration
of national good will for the strengthening of the bonds
of the Union and for fostering care Of all the interests
of the people Under their wise and patriotic guidance,
evenhanded justice aud equal rights would be accorded
every section the slavery agitation, for party ends
would cease and the country would have peace with all
its genial fruits and blessed results
4 Resolved That while the Wings OF this county
Of
South in connection with the subject of slavery; and
whils they would at every hazard and TO the last
tremty resist any and every practical aggression upon
those rights they deem il heir duty to declare their set
tied conviction that the slavery question has long had
too great a predominAnce in the national politics; that
the constant aud extreme agitation OF it has been, since
the Compromises OF $780, as unnecessary as it has
been deeterous; that has weakened not strengthened
the cause Of Southern rights; and that one most mis-
chievous result OF this oug-contnued and bitter agitation
has been the utter absorption of all other and scarcely
less important issues Of national policy and bameiul
neglect of many important ntesests OF the nation. 1t is
time, think that this merging OF all other issues IN
the single of slavery had ceased There are other
issues both political and moral that should be revived
and brought again the sober consideration OF the
American people The development of the national re-
sources of the country by the protection of American u
dustry in all its forms, insofar it can be promoted by
Just discrimination in the exercise of the revenue pow
err should once more constitute subject OF national de-
Liberation and legislation particularly in the present
Of the treasury. We need many reforms Our ship
OF State has driled far from its Anglo Saxon mooriugs
We have shameuliy declined fom the standard Of prim
tive simplicity and republican virtue, established by the
Fathers of the Republic The standard of public morals
has been Owered-the grayest i'll that befall 4
ton. The spos system inaugurated under the reign
Of modern democracy, has dom0ralized the country.
The ancient tests Of fitness for public Office gone
Partisan loyalty has been subs ued for the old Jeerso
Man standards of leay the Constitution honesty and
eapabty Corruption charged in high places
Democratic authority The patronage ofthe Government
has been prosuted to the purposes of corruption
The press has been subsidized and has ceased TO be
universal hand of liberty and virtue. Economy has
ceased 30 be regarded of the public virtues The
sanctty Of the elective franchise the purity Of the bal
lot box that great bulwark Of free people has been in
vaded, and fouly. Votes and political influence
are openly bought beef in the shameless Holders OF
public trust assessed with regular tax to aid the
politicians and corrupt elections. Olhce-hoders
dered from the desk 70 the stump, Men both re-
warded and punished for a sentiment. The bread and
meat Of the bardsted mechanic and laborer are
made to depend political opinion; for Of en- mechan
les and labores dis hrged from the public works for
voting the Democratic ticket. Fat jobs dis
penSed 70 political isyortes. There is growing and
fearful Impotence Of the restraints OF lava spirit of
flibusteiiSm that threatens the integrity Of inier-
national rights and of national faith The repre-
seutatous Of country abroad instead Of being
entrusted to the best Of native ability and virtue is put
out to the low bidding OF obscure and unenlghtened
ioeigism. In instance at least the image of
g0riOCs nStitudons-of Christian Amercs-has been
uirrored from the person Of ayOwcd iufdel whose
religious creed regulating the accountability OF man
GOj, overthtows the very foundations OF morality and
virtue and OF society itself The great magnificent fund
OF the public domain, which in better days solemn
~ pledged the redemption OF existing and future
toaa Obligations and which should have remained for
ever a standby Tor in times of embarrass
ment and emergency never-failng basis of
national credt-has been the object OF ruth
less spoliltion, until the fund has welnigh
dsappeared TO the grievious wrong OF the old States
aud the sacrifice OF every principle OF fair dealing
Justice, and right The business Of the people is sub
ected TO tedious and vexaous delays, and Is the
very sport and contempt OF nsoent subordinate officials
We want, sadly, 1--WE repeat) reform Of these crying
abuses We want, more especially reform of some OF
those abuses graphically set out by General jackson
in his inaugural address In that address looking per-
hAps the public though unjust complaint that the
pendilures OF the Government had up, under John
Quincy Adams administration, to thirteen millions Of
dollars he earnestly enforced the "o5serVanee of
a strict aud faithful economy" and remembering
may be, the popular clamor which had been ras-
ed against Mr. Adams because Of his making few
changes in the printers Of the laws he said that public
sentiment loudly demanded the correction of those
abuses that hare brought the patronage Of tie Federal
Government into conflict ch the freedom Of elections
and the eouRtsract0n Of those hich hare dis
trbed the rigbl course appointment and hare placed
continued IN ,ndithful incompetent hands"
These reforms peculiarly need and the principles that
undere them we desire 10 have re-engrayen upon our
political Institutions and reduced to practice
in the administration of the Government II they were
needed uuder the administration Of Mr.. Adams million
times more they needed now, when the public ex-
pendtures approximate hundred millions, aud when
gold every day sent forth the corrupt and corrupt
ing mission OF buying party ascendsncy But neither
these wholesome reforms any Others dare We hope
under the auspices Of any other political organization
than that of which the nominees of the Constitutional
Union party are the representatives From the party,
certainly that originated the abuses and that has per-
sisted ia them until they have become very fixtures in
its administration, We can expect no reformation.
s. Resolrsd That in the hands Of John Bell large
stakeholder and Edward Everett who was never known
in ell his life, to have uttered sectional sentiment
regard the rights Of the South secure as they could
be- in the keeping Of any living men while in her re-
spects, the country will be largely the gamer by their
election.
8. RssolreI That Cary s Jones' Jefferson B. Sinclair,
John IL. Segar, A. A.. Jones' Samuel Lively, Samuel
Wood, Kennon Whiting, and John Peck, be appointed
the Executive Committee OF this Club, and that the fol-
lowing persons constitute committee TO obtain subscrp
ton to the Campaign Wing, and distribute documents
viz jefferson Sinclair ii. @. Whiting, A NJ Jones,
James Sclater, Samuel Lively, VIM. Ivy, Marshall Ma
ney, VIM A G. W. Topping, VIM. West, VIM. House,
| and Gary Wood.
TO- Resolvsd That this Club meet on every other
Saturday, and oftener if summoned by the President
H. Resolved That these proceedings be published in
the Richmond Wing, and other Wing papers of the
State, and the National lnelligencer
The resolutions having been unanimously adopted,
the Hon. Reese B. BrabSon, member of Congress from
Chattanooga district Tennessee having been previously
invited and being present, introduced the meet
ing aud delivered eloquent and effective address,
him. ...-. --. -
The address being concluded, vote Of thanks was