Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-04-10
" 100 kilogrammes is about 1872 lbs. (Amer


" 100 kOgommcs is about 232 lbs (American)
srs~-~--
TO THE EDITORS OF THE ENQUIRER.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the first time in my life feel that
1t IL duty which owe TO myself make an EXPOSITION
TO the Public, in relation TO incident in my political
course.
Hitherto, have felt, that owed an accountability on
~ to my constituents TO them, il has been my GOOD for
tune to have rendered which satisfactory
and from them 10 have received the reward their aDo
baton.
Recently, however, particular subject has been
brought, prominently, 10 the public vew that the com
munity must, and WILL pass judgment upon it, either of
approval or disapprova and but think an act of
sheer justice to myself 10 present them the facts ana,
circumstances oil the case, TO enable them decide
Understandings, as know, that they will imparally
The subject to which alludc, is the objection which has
been urged against me- for having voted against the
charter of the Bank of the United States" do not COM
plain of this because the public of every man are The
fair subject of investigations but objection which
implies censure and as able seventeen wears AGO
to vindcae myself before my constituents so at,er nv
SELF that shall be able do it again. before that greater
tribunal, the whole community feel the more socde
to do as have been ga,ed by the declaration that
his was the only objection my political friends had urge
against
II there were conceded fault imputabe to me
think that might put very strong claim to i,,dd
gece, when it is recollected that the representative
Of the people from 1914 1880 inclusive with the
ccption of the 10Th Congress that during that ne
the most difficult and important questions were aeated i'm
the Federal Legislature. Upon that admission might not
ask and iumphantly ask who is there who could venture
to cast the first stone? But higher claim than
that OF mere Indulgence excuses set up one 10 justf
Dc in
doing this, may arrogae too much that question not
for 10 decide. To enable others do So now procccb
to state the facts and circumstances of the take it for
granted that the charge was not intended TO refer TO the
Bank which was chartered in 1876 i'm relation 10 that
Bank did vote, and voted against the passage OF the BILL
also in favor of its indefinite postponemcn viii ,l
amendments of the Senate, will appear bv the Journals
of the first session of the h Congress pages 4s9 593
presume ii has reference to the bill which passed the
House on the 9TH January, 1875 to that therefore NV
statement will be directed
took my seat in Congress the session which com
menced on the 18th September, 1911. AT this mint
must pause Tor moment and take short Retrospect
1t is in respects not altogether pleasant one: but
it is necessary TO the purpose which have in view in this
communications mean the vindicaon of the part which
acted upon the subject question To be able TO
decide the propriey OF others acts, must place our
selves, at least in contemplation, in the situation i'm which
they sood and the question be asked and decided is
not, what would do i'm our present circumstances
but what ought 10 have done under the
in which they were placed, whose acts we are called
TO Judge!
The war was then raging in all its violence both by sea
and land. The enemy hac, within a few weeks made an
rrpon into Washington, and had burned the Capitol and
Presidents house, those splendid monuments of the
arts which were then smouldcring in ruins Within
week previous to the opening OF Congress- the enemy had
attacked Baltimore; and, within had also attack
ed Piaburg: to the honor of arms both these inva
sions mad been valanty and triumphany repelled Rich
mond was believed too, TO have been object of thu,
enemy's attack but why particulars 1t will
be enough briefly say, that Admiral Cochrope nder
pretencc of liberalization, had issued order TO the naval
force under his command the 18th August 1914 SOTO
destroy and lay waste such towns and districts upon the
coast as might be found asaiabe and that the presj-
dent bad issued his proclamation, exhorng the people to
join heart and hand TO expc the invade had appealed
TO the duty they owed themselves TO their country
and TO the glory acquired by Their fathers Even at this
time, the political horizon wore lowering aspect No
one doubted the courage and patriotism OF our people or
the heroic valor OF army andnavy Ample proof of these
had been afforded Baltimore, Pasburg on The Niagara
frontier and on the lakes, well on the hioh seas
Nevertheless, the prospect before us was for fine
somewhat clouded, and soon overcast with deem
and settled gloom. There was indeed no reason for do
pair; that is not, and not ever be elt bv brave
"A hat, 4.
OF the country, urgently, nay, mperousy demanded that
all the energies OF the Government the nation should
be put into active operation avert the imminent dan.
ger which threatened
| The Treasury had become almost as empty as an ey-
hausted receiver The public credit had sunk 10 such
point oil dcprcsson that according my recollection Il
have not documents TO refer to,) Governmental stock
bearing an interest of six per cent? had sold in the
market as low $40 for the 800. All the Banks i'm he
unon save few in New England, had suspended specie
payment; and, in consequences the country was deuocd
with Hood OF paper money, which, having specie ba-
SIS had undergone different degrees of deprecation
cording to varying circumstances. AS the district of
Columbia, there had been the highest ood-ide of paper
issues, then, there the lowest ebb OF deprcca,on
the Paperof that place, compared with that of the East
ern Banks, having been, tits believed, 20 per cent dis
count.
To such point had things come-that it is said-and
believe 1t TO be true, the very with which Mr.
Monroe then Secretary OF War, pro fempore, furnished
some aid TO General Jackson for the defence of New Or
leans, were borrowed in part upon his private credit of
one of the district Banks; and with all exeron of Inc
department. and all the zeal of the men, the Kentucky
!
the great battle of the Sth.
| The poverty of the Treasury necessarily produced
corresponding result in the ranks of arInymen could
only be enlisted with mOncy-hat money we had not
II Could not be rased in the then Of public credit
/ by loans, but at ruinous sacrifices, if at ALL
The causes of our financial embarrassment and dc.
preston OF public credit may be easily assigned | will
here make short DEPRESSION to do So
From unwillngness in times Of difficulty TO tax
the people, beyond what necessity required, the plan of
finance, established at the commencement of the War was
TO make the revenue of each during its continuance
equal TO the expenses of the Peace establishments and the
interest on the old debt aud the War loans RELYING upon
loans to deray all the extraordinary expenses OF War
Experience, however, proved that this system could not
be long continued ior the demands of the Government
required loans and treasury the year ending in
September 1913, TO the of almost S21 900 900
and Tor the next year, between 20000,000 and $780,
| 900 900.
Every loan, too was contracted upon worse terms
than the preceding; the public debt being in constant in
crease, and the revenue far depended upon GUS
as low as about $6OOO,OOO accrung from thd source
upon the recommendation of the President i'm his
sage oil sept 1874 and the strong representation of the
distressed condition Of the finances in the Treasury Report
congress made earnest and Jealous efforts remedy the
evil The Treasury Report recommended the means
Of relief National Bank with capital of $50 600, 900
an increase OF 100 per cent TO the direct and internal
duties, and the imposition of taxes TO the amount of
toVosoOW mus calculating upon an annual revenue Of
~ VOUOUO The tax bills generally passed. The
Bank, (te subject OF this communications after being
reduced in its capital TO $50 900 900, passed and
Jected by the President, account Of the in
which the capital constituted and s supposed nefi-
cheney, in assisting the operations Of the Treasury
After which the Bill hereafter more particu1arlv