The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-13
THE FREE-TRADE CONVENTION.

THE FREE-TRADE CONVENTION.
Our political readers need not be alarmed
by this title. 1t refers 10 no convention
destined to endanger the Wilson act. We
nave to bring forward the history OF the
interesting and important convention Of
September. 1881. which has unfortunately
been forgotten by some OF the leaders OF
opinion in our own time. II is not 50 much
as mentioned. however. in Colonel Benton's
Thirty Years." in Bryant and Gay, or in
the Critical History"
1t represented the antagonism TO the tar
in Of 1898, as felt by the planters OF South
Carolina and by the merchants in the for
eign trade of New York. II was ridiculed.
with futile and ignorant misapprehension.
by the newspapers which represented the
American system in Philadelphia and Bal
timore. Pennsylvania was the stronghold
OF the protective system:
But the ridicule was misplaced. When
the convention met two hundred and two
delegates represented themselves very
large number for those ante-railway days.
Fifty-one were from Virginia, forty from
South Carolina-all but two or three from
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES were from New
York city, eighteen were from Massachu-
SeIIS-mOSl VI NlOl nClC STU
sixteen from North Carolina, fifteen from
Philadelphia, and these were the only dele
gates from Pennsylvania The other dele
gates were from Alabama, New Jersey.
Georgia, Maine. Connecticut. Maryland.
Tennessee, Rhode Island and Mississippi.
The Massachusetts, delegation consisted
OF the following gentlemen: Henry Lee.
Samuel SWEET, John L. Gardner, Henry
williams, Edward Croft. William Goddard.
Ebenezer Breed and William Foster. OF
Boston,; T. s. Pomeroy, Horatio Byington
and Theodore Sedgwick, of ~Stockbridge;
George Peabody. Pickering Dodge. Joseph
Ropes, Thomas p. Bancroft, Gideon Tucker.
John w. Rogers and Isaac Newhall, OF
Salem. Massachusetts, men will observe
that among these names are those of some
merchants of distinction and public men OF
influence. AS in most such delegations.
there were two or three who were more
or less cranks. But there were many lead
ers of opinion.
The proceedings OF the convention were
conducted with dignity and unanimity. IL
met on Friday. the Both OF September. 1881.
Albert Gallatin nominated Philip Barbour
for president of the convention. and he
was chosen. On Saturday what was called
a federative committee was appointed. con-
sisting i'm most instances of two delegates
from each State. The members from Mas
sachrsetts were Theodore ~Sedgwick. OF
Stockbridge, and Henry Lee, Of Boston
This committee was instructed TO prepare
drafts OF a memorial TO Congress and the
American people. On Wednesday, at 4 in
the afternoon, their address was finished
and was read. It was favorably received.
but exception was taken to tina part OF IL
which declared a tariff unconstitutional.
Mr.. Gai,atin did not think the tariff uncon-
stitutional. and he proposed to m these
passages. Thirty-two members voted with
him and one hundred and forty-nine against
him. Among the Massachusetts members
Theodore Sedgwick and Joseph Ropes voted
with Mr.. Galiatin. The question was then
put on the adoption Of the whole address.
and it was adopted by a vote of one hum
dred and ffty-eight in favor and twenty
nine against it. The twenty-nine were sub
stantially those who had voted with Mr..
Gallatin on the amendment.
On motion of Mr. Berrien a committee
was appointed of one member from each
State to prepare a memorial to Congress
to collect evidence in support Of IL and at
tend personally at Washington TO urge
the injustice and unequal operations OF the
tariff. This resolution was passed by a
vote of one hundred and ninety to two.
The Pennsylvania delegation insisted on
bearing the entire, expenses of the conven-
ton. and refused all participation of pay
ment by other portions Of the convention.
They received the thanks OF the conven-
ton.
The committee of one from each State
was appointed, and Mr.. Henry Lee, OF Mas
sachusetts, represented this State there.
The convention finally adjourned. after a
session of a week, on the 7th OF October.
Those inquirers who were curious TO know
why Mr.. Henry Lee. of Massachusetts. re-
ceived the honor of a vote for Vice Presi-
dent from the Legislature OF South Caro-
lima in the next year viii find their answer
in the prominent position which was ac-
corded TO him in this convention.
1t is amusing to see now that the New
York Inquirer OF that date says definitely
that the Massachusetts delegates were
more extravagant than those from South
Carolina. You will be surprised when I
tell you that the South Carolina nullifers
are sane. reasonable men when compared
with those from Boston There is a COM
ical anecdote told OF three true-blue South
ern nullifers laying hold, one OF each arm
and a third by the tail of his coat. and
keeping one Of the red-hot Boston nullihers
quietly in his seat, in spite Of his attempts
to make a flaming speech. A Southern null
liher only believes that a single State has
a right to nullify a tariff law. The Bos-
ton nullifer goes much further: On the
| Unionr says he. Who's afraid? Not only
| a State. but a town. a county. nay. a single
! man, has a right 10 nullify a law OF Con-
gress and secede from the Union"
We find this anecdote I'm Niles's Register.
Mr.. Niles says: w wish 10 be consid-
| cred as placing little confidence in what Is
said in the New York Courier and Inquirer,
except when speaking against itself or the
| party that it happens for the time being
to adhere to-" This IS Mr.. Niies's uncom-
plimentary reference to MoIdecai Noah.
EDWARD L. HALE.