Thirty Years' View (Vol. 2 of 2): or, A History of the Working of the American Government for Thirty Years, from 1820 to 1850Benton, Thomas Hart
History
Thirty Years' View (Vol. 2 of 2): or, A History of the Working of the American Government for Thirty Years, from 1820 to 1850
Benton, Thomas Hart
United States -- Politics and government -- 1815-1861
Returning to New York, the committee convoked another general
meeting of the citizens, as required to do at the time of their
appointment; and made their report to it, recommending further
forbearance, and further reliance on the ballot box, although (as
they said) history recorded many popular insurrections where the
provocation was less. A passage from this report will show its
spirit, and to what excess a community may be excited about nothing,
by the mutual inflammation of each other's passions and complaints,
combined with a power to act upon the business and interests of the
people.
"From this correspondence it is obvious, fellow-citizens, that
we must abandon all hope that either the justice of our claims
or the severity of our sufferings will induce the Executive to
abandon or relax the policy which has produced such desolating
effects--and it remains for us to consider what more is to be
done in this awful crisis of our affairs. Our first duty under
losses and distresses which we have endured, is to cherish with
religious care the blessings which we yet enjoy, and which can
be protected only by a strict observance of the laws upon which
society depends for security and happiness. We do not disguise
our opinion that the pages of history record, and the opinions
of mankind justify, numerous instances of popular insurrection,
the provocation to which was less severe than the evils of which
we complain. But in these cases, the outraged and oppressed
had no other means of redress. Our case is different. If we
can succeed in an effort to bring public opinion into sympathy
with the views which we entertain, the Executive will abandon
the policy which oppresses, instead of protecting the people.
Do not despair because the time at which the ballot box can
exercise its healing influence appears so remote--the sagacity
of the practical politician will perceive the change in public
sentiment before you are aware of its approach. But the effort
to produce this change must be vigorous and untiring."
The meeting adopted corresponding resolutions. Despairing of acting
on the President, the move was to act upon the people--to rouse and
combine them against an administration which was destroying their
industry, and to remove from power (at the elections) those who were
destroying the industry of the country. Thus:
"_Resolved_, That the interests of the capitalists, merchants,
manufacturers, mechanics and industrious classes, are dependent
upon each other, and any measures of the government which
prostrate the active business men of the community, will also
deprive honest industry of its reward; and we call upon all our
fellow-citizens to unite with us in removing from power those
who persist in a system that is destroying the prosperity of our
country."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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