Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-03-13

the sentiments Of man, who has latent grief 70
assuage, or an injury 10 avenGe; they are the
opinions Of an individual, who, although Dowing
to the law, as every good citizen should do, ana
respecting the opinions OF others has neveI ~
ted fair occasion TO utter this dispassionate pc
lief, in opposition not only 10 the present, anu ~
the former Bank Of the United states, but 10 al
such monopoics.
| Without any desire, therefore, TO arraign I'M
eharitably the motives OF others, the unuersi
that are complained Of do but justify his uniform
anprcbension Of such Institutions; he conceiyes
lfhat the Bank has forfeited all claims TO favor,
and that If chartered, with such weight Of
complaint against il, the charter might almost as
well be perpetual as limited.
But, whilst these are the sentiments he enter
tains, and whilst individual he might, in
every fair way, utter and publish, in language
becoming freeman, his strong remonstrances and
upbradngs at the per cent. transaction, and
others; he does not consider il proper, as pub
lie officer TO pursue any other than an open, de-
cidcd, and authorized course. He is persuaded
that vindictive justice is much at variance with
the best feelings Of the human heart, that resort
to a measure Of that kind, would, by the rcpug-
nance that il would create, tend to merge the
more essential consideration Of the future des'
tinics of the country.
AT present the Bank stands, if not convicted,
arraigned before the country--it has put itself IN
the wrong, and the stockholders have not mani
tested an inclination even to inquire into the
causes Of complaint against the directors. Pub
lie opinion Is unfavorabe the continuance Of the
institution II is obviously the conviction of dis
passionate men, that no modification can contro
an institution that has the elements of evil IN II
composition and existence. The dictates OF pru
dence and policy, therefore, demand that moth
: ing should be done against the Bank, that NIGH
altogether conceal justice under the veil OF sym
lpathy.
The main question was put 10 the People by
the President, aud left to them, III such terms
and in such forms, as to absolye him from all ac-
countabilty. In this, in other instances $, pos
lterity will do justice to the purity oil his pur-
poses, and the yigour Of his acts. And there IS
no occasion, either for the present or the future,
to adopt a course different from The open and man
ly heretofore pursued. tits not requisite, IN
order TO prevent renewal Of legal life, to resort
to measures that might be regarded as extreme
/ fnot utterly needless.
w. The undersigned is persuaded, that the
measure would be regarded extreme and arbi-
trary, for these reasons:
/ |. The charter is the law of the land; IL is q
contract, that cannot be dissolved, altered,
without mutual consent, or forfeited without in
quiry; the public depositcs are benefit to the
Bank, for which it has paid a consideration, and
their continuance is part of the contract.
Has the undersigned right to recInd this con
traet' II is certainly true, that he has the pow
or to change the depository, but he is bound TO
give his reasons. What reasons can the under
signed give' He must not rely on the reasons Of
others, unless he adopts them his own: he
must be satisfied that the measure is sound in
itself and defensible.
If, indeed, there were not other tribunals, be-
fore which acts involving forfeiture might be in
qured into, and acts involving forfeiture were
Apparent, there might be some apology for an OK
ercise of extraordinary power by an individual
But, if there has been such misconduct in the cor.
lporation warrants forfeiture of its charter
or if there have been such acts done by the di
rectors or officers as bring them within the penal
ties of the act of incorporation what reasons car
be given, for visiting the sins of the officers upor
the stockholders, without trial by jury, or othe
judicial proceeding? How could the undersigne,
Justify himself before Congress, even if his OPT
Mons were sound, in declining Judicial inquiry
and 10 condcmning the accused unheard.
! tTo BE Continued