Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-11-15

within two short years, the whole sys-
tenn is denounced as an entire failure.
What better assurance a you give
US now, than you offered then?
Why may not your new scheme
fail? believe that it must, inevitably
must, if attempted now. And when it
does fail | a imagine no possible re-
source left, but that which our new
convert so earnestly deprecates. |
pray you to xcuse me then, if | do
not see with his eyes.
Sir, in attempting these b-Treasu-
ries now, the Government, il | may so
express it, is retreating TO the citade!
at once, in the great battle with a Ma
tional Bank. | see nothing but danger
in the neutrality-suspicious. differ amongst
your best and ablest advisers, whether
you can now make the position good /;
and if you do not, there is no escape,
no choice, but in unconditional surren.
der.
One word more, sir, to the honorable
member from South Carolina, and to
those to whom this portion of his ad-
dress is directed. | understand him as
making an appeal to the democrats of
the north, to rally around this Sub.
Treasury scheme, as their surest and
safest protection against the oppression
of northern capitalists. He tells them
that they are looked upon as the natu-
raj allies ofthe south, because their la
Dor holds the anne position to capital
in their country, that our slaves hold
to their owners at the south.
How these northern democrats may
relish the doctrines of their new ally,
need venture no prediction. doubt
whether they can be brought to rally
around the standard Of a leader, who
denies them any place, ever in the
common scale Of humanity.
Is it upon principles such as these,
that the northern democracy is invoked
to lend their aid TO the measures cor.
templated by this bill? These are
they, | presume, who are appealed to
in the occasional addresses of certain
newspapers, as the "democracy OF
numbers," contradistinguished we find
now from any democracy of MEN-who
hold no place in the thinking, acting
part of the community, out are classed
as mere dead weight, to be thrown at
will into either scale of the political
balance.
If there be any such party in our
favored land, | thank heaven it is un.
known in the quarter of the country
from whence | come. We have there,
sir, am proud to say, as honest and
sturdy a rae of democrats as ever the
sun shone upon. ofintelligent, think
ing, independent, and free men each
doing and acting for himself, in all
questions of public interest. Having
perfect equality of right, and participa-
ting to the fullest extent of q free citi-
zen, in the direction and control of ali
public affairs.
This, sir, is the character of the de.
mocracy with which | am familiar {;
nor | apprehend are our true northern
democrats of a texture any whit inferi-
or. But | desire my constituents at
least to know to what sort of democra.
cy the merits of this bill are addressed
by its friends. Not to intelligent and
thinking men, but to a class who are
counted only by their numbers, and
are estimated to have no influence in
public affairs, save as a mass, holding
a certain position toward capital.
lMr. Pickens here asked the floor,
and was understood to say, that he
did not lay down the proposition as
broadly as was stated by Mr.. Mason.
He meant only to say, that the tenden-
cy of the institutions at the north was
to organize capital, and to make labor
tributary to it and unless such tenden.
cy were checked, would finally reduce
labor there 10 a state Of vassalage.
Having thus given my objections to
the passage of any law at this time,
which has not for me of its principal
objects a reformation of the currency,
or | should more properly say, which
VIII not by its operation, lead back the
banks to a resumption of payment, |
proceed briefly TO suggest what my
opinions are of the ultimate attitude
which the Government should assume
toward these institutions. | have no
expectation or belief, Notwithstanding
the cry which has been raised against
the banks, through the press and other.
wise, that by any action ofthis Govern.
ment these institutions can be DESTROY.
ed. 1t is no in your power to do so,
sir, If you would, and if attempted by
any means direct or Indirect, every eff.
fort that you could make, would even.
tuate in defeat. They are created BY
the sTATEs-are incorporated, and
have life gwen to them by their sepa.
rate law-for their being they lean
upon tho STATES, and are MS entirely