Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-01-30

/ N'~'S"NAtbf tut buHh Cbt1tC5 OdCk on f0l
drawer, and demands the customary dam
ages due, according TO the course Of al
such transactions. The complaint Of III,
Secretary is, that the Bank took up tn,
bill TO save its own credit. and that il die
not do il on account of the Government
in other words, that the Bank did not ad
vance at Paris $4,000 10 the Govern
ment, on account Of bill for which i
had already paid every dollar at Philadel
phla. Why, sir, has the Secretary read
the charter? Ii he has, he must have
known that the Bank could not have adj
vanced the 100000 for the Government.
at Paris, without suhjecting itself 10 a
penalty Of three times the amount (sa .7Co..
O0O) The 18th section Of the charter is
express and positive: "rhat if the said
corporation shall ddrance or lend any sum
Of money for the use or on account Of the
Government Of the u. States. to an a.
mount exceeding 100000" all person.
concerned in making such unlawful ad
vance or loan, shall forfeit treble the a.
mount, one fifth TO the iniormer, Sc.
9. The last reason which shall notice
OF the Secretary is, that this ambitious
corporation aspires to possess political
power. Those in the actual possession OF
power. especially when they have grossly
abused it, are perpetually dreading its
loss. The miser does not cling to his
treasure with a more death ike grasp.
Their suspicious ore always active and on
the alert. In every form they behold a
rival, and every breeze comes charged
with alarm and dread. A thousand spec
tres glide before their affrighted magma
tons, and they see, in every attempt 10
enlighten those who have placed them in
office, a sinister design TO snatch from
them their authority. On what other prin-
ciples can we account for the extravagant
charges brought forward by the Secretary
against the BankP More groundless and
reckless assertions than those which he
has allowed himself to cmbody in his re
port never were presented to a deceived,
insulted, and outraged people. Suffer me,
cir, TO groupe some Of them: He asserts,
chat there is sufficient evidence to prove
that the Bank has used its means to oh.
tain political power" that. in the Pre.i-
dental election, "the Bank took an open
and direct interest, demonstrating that il
was using its money for the purpose of
obtaining hold upon the people OF this
country" that it "entered the political
ARENA" that it circulated publications con.
tanning "attacks on the officers Of Govern
ment,' that sit is now openly in the field
as a political partizan;' that there are
positive proofs" Of the efforts OF the bank
to obtain power. And, finally, he con
cludes, as demonstrated proposition,
Fourthly. that there is sufficient evidence
to shew that the Bank has been and still
is seeking TO obtain political power, and
has used its money for the purpose Of in
huencing the election Of the public ser
wants"
After all this, who can doubt that this
ambitious corporation is candidate for
the Presidencyp Or. if it can moderate
Its lofty pretensions, that IL means AT least
to go for the office Of Secretary of the
Treasury, upon the next removalp But
Sir, where are the proofs Of these political
designs? Can any thing be more reck
less than these confident assertions OF the
Secretary? Let us have the proofs; call
for the proofs. The Bank has been the
constant object Of years of vituperation
and calumny. 1t has been assailed in ev
cry form Of bitterness and malignity. Its
operations have been misrepresented; its
credit and the public confidence in its in
tegri:y and solidity attempted to be de
stroyed; and The character Of lis officers
assailed. Under these circumstances, il
has dared to defend itself II has circu-
lated public documents, speeches of Meb.
bers of Congress, reports made by chair
men of committees, friends OF the admin
istraiion, and other papers. And, as II
was necessary 10 make the defence com
meGsurate with the duration and extensive
theatre Of the attack. il has been compel
ed 10 incur heavy expense TO save itself
from threatened destruction. II has open
ly avowed; aDd yet vows. its right and
purpose TO defend itself. All this was
known TO the last Congress. Not soil
tary material fact has been since disclos.
ed And when before, in a country where
the press was free. was it deemed crimi
nal for any body TO defend itself?
Who invested the Secretary of the
Treasury with power 10 interpose himself
between the people and light and intelli
gencep Who gave him the right to die
tate what information shall be commu
nicated TO the people and by whomF
Whence does he derive his jurisdiction?
Who made him Censor Of the public press?
From what new Sedition law does he de
duce his authority? Is the superintend.
ence Of the American press part OF the
financial duty of Secretary Of the 1'rea-
suryp Why did he not lay the whole
case before Congress. and invite their re-
yival Of the old Sedition law? Why an
ticipate the arrival of their session. Why
usurp the authority Of the only depart
ment of the Government competent to ap-
Div a remedy, if there be any power to
abridge the freedom Of the press? II the
Secretary wishes to purify the press, ne
has a most Herculean duty before him.
Aud when he sallies out on his Qu.xot's
expeditions. he had better begin with Inc
Augean stable, the press nearest 10 him.
his organ, as most needing publication.
"a y.