Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-09-13
IVoI. XXXvIII---No. so.

A y
between the States, and to provide {
general standard of value, or medium
OF exchange, in gold and silver; but i
is not its province 10 aid individuals il
the transfer Of their funds, otherwise
than through the facilities afforded by
the Post Office Department. As Justly
might it be called on to provide for the
transportation of their merchandise. -
These are the operations of trade. -
They ought 10 be conducted by those
who are interested in them, in the same
manner that the Incidental difficulties
of other pursuits are encountered by O.
| Their classes of citizens. Such aid has
not been deemed necessary in other
| countries. Throughout Europe, the
domestic as well as the foreign oxchan.
ges are carried on by private houses,
oilen il not generally, without the as.
sistance of banks. Yet they extend
throughout distinct sovereignties, and
far exceed in amount the real exchan.
ges of the United States. There is no
reason why our own may not DO con.
Quoted IN the same manner, with equal
cheapness and safety. Certainly this
might be accomplished by those most
deeply interested and few can doubt
that their own interest as well as tho
general welfare of the country, would
be promoted by leaving such subject
IN tho hands of those TO whom it prop.
erly belongs. A system founded on
private intercourse, enterprise, and
competition, without the aid Of legisla-
tive grants or regulations by law, would
rapidly prosper, IL would be free from
the influence of political agitation, and
extend the same exemption to trade it,.
| self; and it would put an end to those
complaints of neglect, Partially, and
oppression which are the unavoida.
bic results of interference by the Gov.
eminent, in the proper concerns of in
dlviduals. All former attempts on the
part of the Government to carry its lc-
glslatlon in this respect, further than
was designed by the constitution, have
in the end proved injurious and have
| served only to convince the great body
of the people, more and more, of the
certain danger of blending private in.
forests with the operations OF public
business; and there is no reason TO sup.
pose that IA repetition OF them now
would he more successful.
| IL cannot be concealed that there OK
lists, IN our community, opinions and
feelings on this subject in direct oppo.
sition TO each other. A large portion
of them, combining great intelligence,
activity, and influence, arc no doubt sc.
cure in their belief that the operations
of trade ought to be assisted by such a
conneAion =; they regard national
bank as necessary for this purpose, and
they nre disinclined to every measure
that docs not tend, sooner or later, 10
the establishment oil such an institution.
On the other hand, majority of the
people are bellevedto be irrcconcilably
| opposed TO that measure /; they consid.
| or such concentration Of power dan
gorous to their liberties and many Of
them regard it as violation of the con.
stituton. This collision Of opinion, has,
doubtless, caused much Of the cmbar.
rassment 10 which the commercial trans
actions OF the country have lately been
exposed. Banking has become a poll.
teal topic Of the highest interest, and
trade has suffered in the conflict OF pur-
ties. A speedy termination Of this
state Of things, however desirable, is
scarcely to be expected. We have seen
for nearly hall a century, that those
who advocate national bank, by what.
ever motive they may be influenced,
constitute a portion Of our community
too numerous TO allow usto hope for on
early abandonment OF their iavoritc
plan. On the other hand, they must
indeed form an erroneous estimate of
the intelligence and temper ofthe Anne
rican people, who suppose that they
have continued on slight or insufficient
grounds, their persevering opposition
TO such an institution or that they can
be induced by pecuniary pressure, or by
any other combination Of circumstan.
ces, to surrender principles they have
SO long and so inaexiby maintained.
My own views of the subject are UNI
changed. They have been repeatedly
and unreservedly announced TO my fell
ow.citizens who, with full knowledge
Of them, conferred upon Inc the two
highest offices Of the Government. On
the last Of these occasions felt it due
to the people TO appriso them distinctly
that, in the event Of my election,
would not be able to cooperate in the
re. establishment Of national bank.-
To these sentiments, have now only
to add the expression Of an increased
conviction, that the establishment OF
such bank, in any form, whilst il
would not accomplish the beneficial
purposes promised by its advocates,
would impair the righilul supremacy OF
\ the pnpular will tntpra tho cbnra qfar