Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-03-19

MEETING or Tng MERcHANTS.-A meeting
Of the Merchants Of this city was held at
Liberty Hall, on Saturday night, and was
largely attended.
On motion Of E. T. Wilmer, A. W GRAY
was called TO tho Chair, and VIM. II. Fowle,
.jr., appointed Secretary.
On taking the Chair, Mr.. Gray thanked
the meeting for the honor conferred in call
ing him to preside, and stated the object Of
the meeting to be, to take action in refer
ence to the bill imposing Special Licenses
on Merchants.
On motion of J. M. Stuart. committee Of
FIVE was appointed by the chair to prepare
business for the meeting. The chair APP
pointed j. Nj. Stewart, Patterson Bayne, G.
K Wilmer, Granville Triplett, and William
Miller.
Mr.. Kinzer stated that there were seAeral
present who had not seen the bill or had
time to consider it, and he desired that if
any one understood the provisions he would
explain them.
The chair said he had a copy Of the Rich
mond Enquirer containing memorial Of
the merchants Of Richmond, adverse TO the
bill. which if desired would be read.
The Secretary read the memorial.
The committee through their chairman,
Mr. Stewart, then made the following report:
Whereas, the House Of Delegates have passed
the so-called special license" law, which is cal
culated to effect radical change IN the settled
policy of the State, and which imposes heavy tax
alton on class of merchants whilst II excludes
from similar burdens another class: and believing
that it is but just and equitable that all classes of
persons and property should bear equally the bur
Ia 81 tha he off
tection--and believing that many of the proyi-
sions of said bin viii seriously affect the interests
of 4 large number of the merchants, whilst they
may confer special and exclusive benefits on 4 few,
therefore,
Resolved, That We heartily concur with the
views expressed by the merchants OF Richmond on
this subject in their memorial the Senate OF Nir
GINA, and trust that.thUse views may prevail wlth
the branch of the legislature which they are ad-
dressed.
Resolved, That we rely with confidence on tho
conservatism of the Senate OF Virginia, to avert
the radical changes proposed to be inausuratei
into our State policy, and to prevent by their ac-
ton, the imposition of heavy burdens upon one
class to the exclusion of another.
Resolved, That it is more than idle to attempt
to restrict or control Trade by Legislative enact
meuts and the experience demonstrates the Fact
that Merchantile and Commercial interests are
more surely promoted by leaving the private enter
prise of tho citizens uutrammeiled by legislative
acts or legal impediments.
Resolved. That copy of these resolutions he
forwarded to the Senator OF this District Us expires
siye of the views of the merchants OF Alexandra.
At the suggestion Of Mr. kinzer, the words
special license" were stricken out of the
preamble, as it was understood that the spe-
cial license bill had been defeated, and
tax bill' inserted, that bill containing the
obnoxious feature.
w. Z. AtwelI opposed the passage OF the
resolution and was followed by Andrew
Wiley on the same side. Mr.. Wiley sub
seouently apologized for speaking in the
meeting as he had learned after his remarks
that it was exclusively . merchants meet
ing-he being lawyer.)
The resolutions were advocated by Il. w.
Wheat, L. L. Wilmer ". IL. Fowle, VIM.
Miller and c. +. Lee and adopted, after
which the meeting adjourned.