Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-03-01
Richmond. Saturday, March 7.
THE BANK.

We mean to put no interrogntory that is I" min
rious to Mr.. Leigh" We wish to do him every JUS
tice. we should scon tn dcrogate from his c,nr
acer or to msreTrescnt his opinions. We 20 further
and say at once, that though he our choice
IN the election on Wednesday last, wish to see
INN nr'nyed fairly against the Bank-vindcating
Tue principles OF the Constitution, against The usur.
pa'ion That has been Tractiscd upon it-and giving
no quarter to that usurpaton in any vote which he
may render in the Senate of the u. s.
But we cannot close our eyes to the pbraseolo.
gy OF the Mecklenburg Letter among othcrs IN
mitigate Ivy sure and safe tlegrees"-not eradeo,.
II. We cannot close cars TO the r,uours ,I,o,
nre afoat-,lat MIR. L. is for cutting down the Bunk
by degrees-unt it be reduced to a capital of 10 or
10 or 70 millions-and keeping il at some such re-
duced SCALE II these r,imours be incorrect-and
II MIR. l.. has made up his mind 10 oppose the pcr-
manent continuance of the SYSTEM" we should he
happy for any one Of his friends to give an author-
taiive stamp to such declaration In such times as
these, all possible fi1nkness is desired and expected
AS to the idea of continuing the charter of the
Bank, Tor 2, 3, or even years. we beg leave to dis
sent from the proposition. The Bank las now two
years more to run, AMI then two years more to
wind up its affairs. Is it to he allowed further time
to take the chances for re-carter? to wait perhups
till Gen. Jnckson's term Inns cease,I-or tiiI some
more convenient President has come in to dmns-
ter the Government? We rather repeat now what
said i'm 1911: -
We fear, however. that the struggle il not We, past,
Inc monster seems TO die In its last sgonrs-yct il will
pray for our charitable comps ion. Like the
criminal, will beg for little rpprieve, to lind nm
Affairs, and make its peace with heaven. Not an hour
no. moment should be given it,. Continue it for two
years 'ongerand like an incubus IL will hang upon ma
forever An interval will only be allowed Tor in,,ipur
ana corrupion-and 1t will next demand right whs,
It has solicited as fauor. Away with Tins cours,
o indecision-'e us have no season Of renay in our
political calendar"
The question of the renewal of tho Bank more
and more strongly addresses itself to every reflect
ing man.
When the virtuous Madison i'm moment O pub
i,c panic, signed bill for incorporating bank of
I'D inIions, Tor twenty years, il obvious to ma
ny that would be imprnccabe TO arrest the course
OF such an enormous machine at the limited period
without producing great distress on the people of
this country. Indeed, so confident werethe stock
holders OF that Institution of an extension of their
privileges, that the value of stock remained exceed
ingy high, until was discovered that the President
OF the United States would put his veto ON any bill
to extend the duration of great monied corpora-
ton, which is managed by persons irresponsible
TO the people for their conduct he that what il ,nov
Those managers have only to make money ont or
inc people, and the stockholders will, from seIinfer-
eSt, sustain them in any measures they may adopt
however those measures may interfere with political
elections, or tend TO debase tile morals of the coun-
try: Can the people of Virginia calmly look on.
anu allow their representatives to perpetunie so sore
mn EVIL on The community? A mighty agntion has
been excited by certain politicians divert the at
tentlon OF the great body of the yeomanry from te
true obJcct-the re-chartering of this grand Bank
to the conduct Of the Executive i'm removing the de-
posltes from that Bank, to the State Banks-Wbe-
ther t1at was wise or an unwse measure il is not
now necessary to enquire. The is done and what
possible benefit result from the restoration Of
the Deposites, unless that restoration be nccompn-
MED by an assurance that the Bank of the u S. shall
oe re-chartercd! Even MIR. Webster, tile ahlest
ana most candid Of the advocates of the Bank
has declared that the restoration of the De-
posites, without some Interior measure will not cure
the disorder under which the monetary system of
the country labors-And is for the patriotism
of the people TO decide, whether thew will submit, n
nave money made scarce abundant at the plea
sure OF moned corporation, under the direction of
persons irresponsible to them, whether they will
Patientiy submit to temporary inconvenience TO
get clear of so great an evil That is the gis of the
whole question.
Much has been said of the tyranny of Gen. Jack
son in removing the Depositcs, and taking posses
sion of the "purse" of the country But ho,o can
the President use the public money in any other Ynv
now, than he could while it in the vaults of the
Bank of the u. S.? 1t is the province of Congress
tile House OF Representatives, the Senate AM, the
ney-and il is the province of the Executive 10 d;,
purse IT according to law. Were tile President
TO use single cent of the public money contrary IN
law, lie IS liable to impcnchincnt-to punishment
even unto death. But how is it with the Bank? Tboi
institution may apply part of the public ,noney
10 subscription TO make road, to buy up prin.
ters or squander in elections, or dispose of in any
other way it thinks fiji, and the Directors liable TO
impeachment or punishment of any kind? Thev
say "No." They are the sole Judges of what is or
ought to he done They can force their debtors or
bribe their dependents do their bidding. Tbev
can make the property and earnings of the peopl,,
valuable or worthless at their pleasure They con
control the government to keep at peace under the
grossest insults, by Withholding money They can
unite with corrupt administrations i'm consoIidnting
and perpetinting power for their Joint oI,iect-nnI
by what regular established law can YOU try con-
denim and punish them This is serious oues,on
~and seriously must the People answer it to them
selves. The gross annual amount of profits of This
grent Bank, from discounts and premiums ore n,
least three and half millions of dollars levied os
tax upon the people, which the institution receives
on ITS specie of ten millions and its credit of finn mil
lions. Can the people of the South murm,ir about
the constItutionality and opprcssiyeness of tariff
ievcd by their own representatives, and passiyely
submit to such an unconstitutional burihen, imposed
ny the arbitrary will of twenty five irresponsible men
in the city of Philadelphia?
The regulation OF "a oircuIutjpo medium IF Tho
country, is an attribute Of sovereignty. and ca,no,
properly be delegated to a few men, who arc no;'
iher responsible to the General Government nor 10
INC STATES IL is mere nockery say TINT Bank
ing incorporation, for the benefit Of private stock
noimers nj nome and abroad, to the amount or %
millions OF capital can be necessary for lie fiscal
operations OF the General Government. And be-
sides, where Is the clause in the Constitution TO war
RAM the establishment Of such corporation? The
diihcuiy OF getting clear Of this huge monster is
obvious enougb.-Butth this difficulty ought to be met
ana u ought TO he overcome. Ii il for the People
10 make up their minds-We say over and over
again, IT is for them to decide, whether the Cons,;
tuition or monied Charter shall prevail? Wbe.
tlIerthey will rule the Bank the Bank rule heu2