The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-10-15
MIR. RUSHS LETTER.
SyDENnAM, near Philadelphia,
September q, 1884.

August, L received the Middlebury Argus contain
ing the proceedings of the democratic district
vcntion for the second congressional district of Yer
mont, held at Sudbury the 10Th of that month";
and notice with the proper sensibiliy among those
proceedings, the resolution to which you have called
my attention respecting my humble eXertions in the
cause of the country against the bank. The appro-
baton of our fellow citizens is the best reward for
discharging our duty and beg to assure YOU that
have deep and grateful of the estimate
which this convention in Vermont has been pleased
to put upon what | have believed to be mine.
In the course of your letter you ask me my views
OH the recent act of the bank in withholding part of
the dividends due on stock which the United States
in that institution, stating your opininiont
be, that it is of an alarming and just tendency. |
agree with you but at some loss how to treat the
subject, and cannot do fully, i'll the absence of Of
fetal documents relating TO it, that have yet
transpired | confess that was slow at first to be-
lieve the fact but must now, IN common with the
country at large, take ii to be true. In Macbeth, we
are with nothing more struck than the change of
character which the hero undergoes the play adj
vances, his guilty ambition constantly increasing as
Lady Macbeth stimulates it. So we had seen the
bank go on, slept by stept following up preen-
ton by another. Last spring, seeming to forget all
Its original subordnation under the law, seeming To
forget totally its true relationship To the government,
viz that of an official servant and its natural and
full responsibility i'll that capacity to the supervising
authority, we saw it engaged here i'll Phadcp phIa,
as if coequa power in the state il, day a-
ter day. treating for terms, through IFS ministers
and at last deliberately refuse to let the Representa-
tves of the Nation have access to its archicvcs-s
lIedgers, journals blotters, scratchcrs and cklcrs
dignifed memorials of cOequal sovereignty for n
proud and powerful Republic to be confronted with
Still although had Witnessed all this, witnessed
assumptions the most unexpected, with infractions
match for them of all primary principles applicable
between sovereign and citzen must say, that FOR
" one, not prepared to witness the seizure Of the
d public dividends. / should have thought that too
= broad and palpabe stretch of power; too undis-
guised assault upon the public authority and
rights. There extremes upon which the bodest
will not venture, and should have thought that one
of them.
d Admitting for argument sake that the bank had II
just title all the money it claimed under the
action growing out the French Bill the claim
at all events denied This bill, one for about nine
" hundred thousacd dollars was drawn by gov
ernment that of France for monies which the lat
IS ter owed beyond all dispute under a treaty which
e their King had sanctioned. Not being paid by tho
l., French government through default of timely ar
rangements its part, the bill was taken up by the
= agents of the bank IN Paris which operation tn,
e bank charges fifteen per cent in the light of DANA
&c ges, although, far the public know, there ha,
C been proof of actual damage to any thing lik,
: that amount. This in "A word, is the case. | vii
sion its original merits. Such n course would be
i, utterly aside from the main point to be dealt with
Of II would be airont to the Nation, whether
CARDS its undoubtcd rights or highest dignity, to in
vestigate details as the stands at present. Tn
bank has cut itself off from this benefit if benefit
'' be. The case meets us under another and NOR
s. startling aspect. The claims being resisted by tin
er United States; shows that at least there were tw
n sides to the question. II was a case to which thcr
80 were two parties. And who were theyl Not TIN
bank and bankrupt, not the bank and privat
'' and respectable merchant even as might have hap
pened in the ordinary course Of business but IN
=; bank and THE NATION. II might reasonably hav
been thought that an issue between such parties
the parties claimant would have waited the prope
o. decision of the proper tribunals.
ms The party respondent was not likely to run away
a. and It's ultimate ability to answer without bail,
Just award ought scarcely to have been questionc
ny by any artificial entity that sprang from breath
n It's nostr. Admitting farther that the bank had ol
y tanned judicial decision in lis favor, or dcclso
as by the accounting officers Of the Treasury under t
Il confirmation of the Executive head of the govern
nent, every body knows, and no portion of the puf
er' lie better than the bank that the money could M
ar have been paid out ofthe Treasury but under La
pt. expressly passed by Congress for that purpose
-o There is indeed small annual fund for miscelli
Il neous and unsatisfed claims but not applicable
. anywise to "A case ike the present Yet, in def
a. ance of these ncontestible principles and the n
nd stranng considerations that should have rcsulto
from them in defiance of all dccornm, well
;co law, does the bank decide upon It's claim ]
sezing for It's actual sequestering for It's conti
gent payment, the public money happening to
ave within its reach. II is impossible that J can we
en-, such conduct a. other than unwaraniablc III u
EN- last degree. II is not difficult to charactcrne
yb liz true principle es'upon the surface It's tha'
violence. II is throwing society back uson ITS orr
inal elements II gives an image of the state
things when private will took the place of u pub
code. It amounts to a dissolution, 50 far, OF go
erIunent. If such act can lie sustaincd the t
bunas Of the country may as well be all clos
'er- II is revolutionary. To take the law into on
and own hands is at all times fundamental lnirinl