The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1824-05-21
PUBLISHED BY HENRY PfTTMAN...MONDAYs.


who gave tina, construction To the con.
stitntion, but surely this was not binding
upon their own party or any other party,
subsequently called upon to decide; for
10 man or body Of men. are bound and
tied down, by the opinion of others, upon
a doubtful point, until it is reduced to
mathematical precision-such doctrine
would at once, shut out the light of reason.
But il the error was IN its inerhediency
Aen.it does not follow by parity of reason
ing, that it is fncrtedienf now. For let
any dispassionale man look at the great
increase of mushroom banks, for the last
twenty years throughout the country-let
him inquire the rate Of exchange between
the several states, and he will very readi-
ly conclude, that something bearing the
iniiress OF the national credit should be
substituted for the vast amount Of the
spurious emissions ALI over the union, to
enable the government 10 carry on its
fiscal concerns. Let him take a survey
of our coasi-our harbors-our towns.
our imports, and our great accession of
territory, embracing almost every cline,
and then ask how the revenue arising
from import & tonnage could ever be col,
lected in satisfactory manner, without
the Intervention OF national bank. But
did these almost iDsurmountabie difficult.
ties exist anterior to the establishment
OF the first bank of the u. States If
they did not, then it was not expedient,
because the crisis had not arrived; but if
they did erfsf at the time the present
bank was established, then it was cxpe.
dient, because the crisis had arrived
To the first of these heterogeneous, the
answer is, they did NOT, and TO the Cd the
answer is, they did, and that too, to a
most alarming degree There is crisis in
the affairs of government as in the affairs
of men, which if embraced at the proper
time, leads to honor and profit: and from
The little knowledge which have OF this
institution, and the talent and integrity of
those who manage it's concerns, l have
little doubt but that its adoption will yeri
fy the maxim.
The republican party is also charged
with having opposed anavy, admitted
but why did they oppose it : Because
they thought that they discovered in the
alien and sedition law, the love of q
standing army and large navy, 1.-THE
ruling passion of the leading men of that
day. abundant cause to suspect that all
was not right-that something was 'rot,
ten in the state of Denmark, and that if
they once got into their hands sufficient
power, that they would be very ant to
use it to purposes fatal to the happiness
and freedom of the states. That the
germ OF dristocracy at least, had strongly
manifested itself-that every disposition
was exhibited to engage in a war with
France and that,iD fac,,it required the ut
most vigilance to prevent the augmenta.
ton both OF the army and navy to great
extent, when no adequate cause seemed
to require it. The same opinion was
held, and the same course pursued by
the democratic party, touching the in.
expectancy of keeping up in time of
peace large navy and standing army,
until the period when we engaged Sc
cond time in war with Britain; but what
was correctly deemed improper before
that efioch, was then deemed indispensa-
bly, requisite and was promptly provided,
and the result was MOI only more fayora-
BILE than the most sanguine mind could
have anticipated, but it established for
the American navy an imperishabIe fame,
which ages yet unborn will never cease
to admire and applaud. Here then it is
evident, that what would have been
wrong yesterday, may be right to-day,
and hence we should accommodate our
wants to our circumstances, and not like
the bed of Procrustes, make our cireuu.
stances suit our wants.
We are told 5y'A Virginian', thet Mr..
Crawford proposes to elevate himself to
the chair of state, the chief Of a faction,
and not the president fthe nation
To this | will only observe, that if he
is elected by faction | apprehend
that every candid mind will readily adj.
NIT, that it can boast of many important
and estimable constituent qualities, to
wit-talents, virtue and high standing
| combined with majority of the whole
nation. Would "A VirgiDian' reject or
refuse the suffrages of such fsction, ;
were they to offer to place him in the
'chair Of state ? | presume he would not ;
and yet be condemns in others, that
which he would most cheerfulIy Justify
in himself! From such principles and
doctrines, we might truly exclaim in the
language of the church lilany, sGood
Lord deliver u.s. Some gentlemen are