Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-03-20
no rue People or 7HE.U. ST1TES.
1continned tom our last


b.en misconduct, such as would warrant punish
rnent by judicial agency, why has IT not been,
why NAV il not yet be, resortcd TO! But ii mol
such step has been taken, or can be sustained,
how can the undersigned justify the assumption
OF the powers Of jury, Judge, and executionerl
Is he 10 punish unheard, at bis own pleasure, and
without being able TO assign to Congress reasons
for such an arbitrary act! Is it consistent with
the principles Of Justice, or the genius of our in
sttutions, that any man should be able 10 consii-
tute himself dictator, in matters affecting the
character Of the country, the welfare Of the Poo
Pile, and the fame Of men, who arc entitled at
least to the rights Of felons?
The undersigned has been, like other men,
under excitement, in relation TO the Bank OF the
United States, and upon public grounds has been
DESTROYS to see its existence closed; yet he
would not, under excitement. exercise such a
power as is now conferred upon him; much less
viii he, now ia high station, and under the
guidance Of deliberate reason, do any act, that
has not the stamp Of manliness upon its front.
He does not think that the end justifcs the
means, or that there is any distinction between
moral and political integrity. No doubt, the Pre-
sidcnt believes the proceeding, under considera-
tion, to be fair, manly, and sound The under
signed has learned not to say Dramatically, that
he is right, and that another is wrong; il Is suih
cient for him, that, whilst he sincerely respects
the sentiments Of the President, the undersigned
cannot at his pleasure change his own conYic
tons, or present TO Congress reasons for an ac
IL is true that Congress gave TO the uudersign-
ed the right to this arbitrary power; but for
what purposes' Surely not 10 enable him TO
usurp executive or judicial authority. IL is the
right Of the President to arragn, and the right
of the Judiciary TO try, the Bank. Upon what
pretext can the undersigned wrest these powers
from the legitimate organs, Or, can it be fanci-
ed, that Congress transferred to the Undersigned
powers possessed by themselves? What. then,
IS the fair conclusion, in the absence of all ex.
PLANTATION, to the motives of Congress9 Surely,
that, dictatoria power conferred on the Sc
cTctary OF the Treasury, for occasions demanding
sudden and extreme action, or as salutary
check upon the Bank, or a mean to promote the
conclusion Of its affairs. II never could have
been conferred to enable an individual, whose
appointment has not yet been confirmed by the
constitutional advisers Of the President, to exc
cute yindictiye justice.
Is there, then, any cause for sudden and cx.
IRENE actiona The undersigned admits, that the
views in the Presidents letter very striking;
they must, when presented to the People, or
their Representative, have a powerful influence
upon the question of the renewal OF the charter;
but he does not believe that they warrant the
undersigned in resorting TO the proposed mea
sure. 1t must be very strong case, indeed i,
that would justify the Modification of contract,
made by all the departments of Government.
2. The measure would be considered extreme
and arbitrary, because the last Congress acted
upon complaints against the Bank, and because
the next Congress may follow the example of the
last. Ii cannot be pretended. that the last Con-
gress doubted the ability OF the Bank to meet its
engagements; the House of Representatives, by
a vote of 100 to 40, decided that the Bank was
a safe place Of depositc; and one of the last acts
Of Congress authorized the Secretary Of the Urea
sury 10 lend million of dollars to the Bank
without security. What has since occurred, that
should warrant the undersigned in treating the sc
evidences of confidence with contempt What
reasons could the undersigned give for reversing
the Judgment of those, Of whom he is the mere
agent? What has occurred, since the last session
oil Congress, to change the ground then held? If
any thing occurred, prior to the entry of the I'M
dersigned into Office on the first of June why
was not his predecessor called upon to act? And,
il nothing occurred pri Tor TO that time, what has
since happened, that could justify the uudersien-
ed, who has not yet become acquainted with his
duties, or been above forty days in Office, in ex
erting powers, affecting not merely The Bank
but the whole Community? Is he to take il for
granted that the last House of Representatives |
was ignorant, or corrupt Or is he 10 conclude |
that there has been fraud or Encouragement on
the part of the Bank? He does not pretend, that
an adequate investigation was made by the last
House of Representatives; but that House decid-
cd on the evidence produced. 1t not com
petent for any agent to furnish adequate proofs;
the minority Of the committee of investigation
declare that, a full and protracted inquiry by /
Congress is necessary to the development of
truth; and yet il is expected that the underSign-
ed shall either have faculties superior to those of
Congress, or hardihood that disregards their cen
sure; il is supposed, that although body with
power 20 send for persons and papers, were I'M
able to come TO decision, unfavorable to the
Bank, or even to express disbelief Of its safety
the undersigned, without any such inquiry or
power to inquire, is first to do what Congress
would not do, and then refer to The reasons of the
President justification. Such a reference
would not and ought not to, answer as defence;
the undersigned is thrown on his own reasons, |
and, II ne acts, and has none, he must stand in |
posture before the world, not more honorable TO |
the President, than grateful 10 himself 1t would
In these malevolent times, be said, that the Pre-
sident had purchased the conscience of the un-
dersigned, and that the undersigned had basely |
sold for office, the only Inheritance that he NAV
have TO leave 10 his children, the unblemished
integrity Of their father. If it does not become
the Undersigned to treat with disrespect the de-
,ision of the last Congress, why should he refuse
10 await the interference Of the next. ANY pro.
ceeding now, especially in the absence Of ade-
Iuate reasons, would seem 10 arise from an an
'rehension, that the Representatives of the Peo-
lie are incompetent or eorruptble-and that the
People themselves are incapable Of preserving
he institutions Of their country in the event of
general depTavity of their agents. The under
signed is not willing, by an act, on his part to
give sanction TO hcresies, as groundless in them
selves as they are pernicious in their tendencies
he would despair Of all that is calculated to cheer
and exalt mankind, if he could fancy that his act
or the act OF any man, even If endowed with |
Intellect, or crowned win glory were essential |
ly necessary TO save The People from themselves !
He cannot have the arrogance to think, or TO give
color of conjecture, that he thinks that he can
save the Republic, or that, without him, il would
be lost. Is it his duty, the contrary, TO fol- |
low the Presidents own example, who instead
Of proceeding, as he might have done, by scire
Jdetas, against the Bank, waited until the repre-
sentatives ofthe People assembled, and submit
ted his complaint to them. In the absence of
peril, the undersigned does not consider il his
duty TO forcstall the opinion of Congress nj
there is just ground for complaint, il is consistent
with our love Of our institutions and our jealousy
of their purity, to believe that an inquiry, I'll
made, will be fairly conducted; and that the re-
of the People will act, in conso
nance with their duty TO Heaven, their country
and themselves.
But if, contrary TO the lessons Of experience.
the representatives Of the People should be faith
less, the bare suggestion Of which the undcrsgn- |
ed regrets to utter, the People have the inclina
ton, as well as the power, TO change them, and
10 annul any act, that may have been the progc-
ny Of fraud or corruption. Have they not the in
clination. as well as the power? IF not, then the
boosted excellence of our institutions must be a
phantom. But, if it is substance and not
4 n adOy. the undpFsiuned thi,,Ls Il :. =