The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1837-06-16

Thousands on thousands have declared
themselves individually bankrupt-as ia.
ton we are VIGOROUSLY and miserably
bankrupi-and we have hardly foreign cred.
il enoug Oh lett to make it either safe or de-.
cent for an American TO cross the Atlantic.
And how is il with Society," Society
has not escaped from the inevitable desra.
dation following this wretched state of af.
fairs. Expense-extravagan
equipage-plate-silks and satins-salmon
and turtle-French and German wines, and
all this in places where, ten years ago, moth.
ing was TO be found but the charred stumps
Of the original forest trees. Take two points
only-Bangor and Buffalo for instance
aud you find that Boston itself, two hundred
years old as she is, has been far behind
either of those cities in the general style,
expense and luxury Of living.
So il is with n. York. There have been
throughout the country class Of men not
known before the day of General Jackson
spectators by professiOn-men in very nu-
merous instances Of neither means, char.
acter, education or resources, who had been
living all their days in obscure poverty, be-
cause they were unwilling or unable TO earn
an honest livelihood by honest labor. These
men found General Jackson precisely the
President they wanted. Thriving on the
sudden and violent changes by his measures,
taking advantage Of the peculiar and unnat.
Il 0Ft ba Of than,
sprang into an apparent and temporary al.
fluence, and some into the possession Of &C.
tual wealth. This sfiiuence came upon
people unaccustomed 10 i,-and incapable
of improving or enjoying it. 1t was among
this class that the first examples of this
runous and demorallzing luxury aud ex.
travagance were displayed-aud such a
rustling of silks, and such glitter of plate,
as were heard and seen among gentlemen
and ladies' who had been hitherto happy in
homespun pewter-were without prece.
dent or parallel in our previous history. All
this has given an undue interest, influence
and importance to mere wealth. Every one
had caught the mania. 1t penetrated the clO-
set of the scholar-and was fast breaking
down the character of the professions-by
merging lawyers, doctors, and ministers, IN
the great tribe Of SPECTATORS. The effect
Of all this on society has been 10 the last
degree injurious. II has turned the top 10
the bottom. Charactcr-capacity-
rty-publc spirit and public honor-eyery
thing respectable and desirable, seemed 10
have lost its legitimate weight, and wealth
has constituted the paramount claim TO IN.
tiuence and consideration.
Ia Government there has been the same
revolution. Our highes, public Offices have
been filled BY men OF profiigate character
spectators and gamblers IN politics. Con.
gress has been mere stepping stone 10
lucrative appointments, and the session has
been merely convenient reunion OF ITS
members for the better arrangement OF their
land speculaiIons, and the more convenient
distribution Of the Government DeposItes
among the most accommodating Banks
The heart O. our Government Is rotten TO
its core-and Ike our Society, our Currency
and our Trade, 1t presents but miserable
present contrast TO the condition OF 1929.
And all these revolutions have been brought
about by the uncontrolled aecendency OF
Jacksonlsm-and by no other agency un.
der Heaven.