Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-01-30
GENERAL DUNCAN's DEFENCE

40 the Editors OF the SaDgamo Journal:
( Observing that you re-publshed soc
OF the numerous ill-naturcd remarks l.
Gently made on me by Mr.. James G. I'd
wards and Charles Jones Esq.-the tic
editors at acksonvile-induces me tc
request, as matter of justice, that you 1d
they, publish this reply. When / fist
. saw Mr.. Edwards paper of the Cd o!
November, commencing this extraordia
Ty tissue OF Misrepresentation about ne.
the object or cause of which ! was thin
unable fully to perceive, wrote a haiy
letter to friend residing in Jacksonville
which he may or may not have had p'b-
iished. Since then, Charles Jones Ea..
editor of the Banner, has vouched for he
truth of, and enlarged on, all the stae
ments made by Mr.. Edwards. The coarse
vulgarity in the manner of their attalks,
and especially those made by Mr.. Jqnes,
,55~-most forbids reply; and really fell as
if an apology should be made for TIN no.
tice which lam bound TO take of then.
1t appears that these two editors lave
been thrown into perfect frenzy at the
4 idea Of my having become hostile to the
z oHitCu - dtco DdIB, anu ldCkCu uiCli
brains and strained their conscience, (l
they have any, to coIjure up charges
and invent stories, with the view OF cree
ating all impression that have beenbrib
ed or improperly influenced, to oppoe the
re charter of the United States BanI. To
help out with their work of detraetion,
Z they charge me with deceiving my cons
stituents, and every species of dupIicliy.
They attempt to prove my hostility 10
The Bank, by publishing part, and ms
representing private conversation had
with some one in Jacksonville, about the
time ! first saw the paper read by GEL,
Jackson to his cabinet 10 September last,
in which paper the President and Direc-
TORS of the Bank were charged TO have
passed a resolution, giving Mr.. Biddle IN
limited control over the funds of the Bank,
to pay for printing &c. and that he had
actually expended a very large sum in
printing documents, speeches, pamphlets,
&c. with a view of influencing the Presi-
DENTAL and other elections of the country.
On seeing these charges from SO high a
source, felt indignant, and expressed
great disapprobation Of the conduct Of
Inc President and Directors Of the Bank.
| then said, which now repeat, that !
would never vote for re chartering the
Bank, without guarding. in the strongest
manner, against a:y future exercise OF so
dangerous power. Aud | hope never
to sec the time when the people of this
country will Justify such conduct as was
charged on Mr. Biddlc and the Directors;
or that they will sustain any set of men
CHANGING to control, either the monied or
political powcr,-who shall dare 10 en-
ploy either for the purpose Of influencing
or interfering with the freedom of cleo
tions.
NY views of the-utility and value Of the
U.States Bank, have never been conceal
ed; they were fully expressed in my cir
cular of 1882, and have not undergone
an, change. There is no human institn-
lion, however wisely conceived, OF howev'
er beneficial its object, that is not liable
10 abuse; and if the President and Direc
tors Of this Bank, however valuable may
consider the Institution, shall seek by such
means las are charged to perpetuatc It's
existence, OT W NitCiiNiS "ith P''''i'o ~
their corporate capacity, shall be among
.tbe first to condemn them.
For the purpose Of giving plausibility
to an institution, that the Patriotic Bank
Of Washington had attempted to bride, or
influence me to oppose the re charter of
the United States Bank, they published Il
most exaggerated account of small sum
of money in the notes ofthat Bank, which
| passed off about the time left home.--
They charged me with having forced
large sums Of them upon the community ;
of having placed large sums in the hands
of one or more persons They state that
The President of the Bank is my relation
that he is a large fand-holder in Illinois.
&c. &C.; most of which statements are
utterly false, and all are exaggerated
The relation OF the Patriotic Bank TO the
u, States Bank, was matter of indiffer'
ence and unknown to me, until since saw
these publications. am now informed
that the President and a majority of the
Directors arc, and have ever been in favor
of its re-charter. This fact alone, utter
ly refutes all their base insnuations.
These worthy co-operators. with the
same motive, have trumpeted tothe world,
partial accounts Of conversations | had
with several persons in relation to the
rt,li rs hr