Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-11-16

the naisonal bank had done; the Presi.
Deal "as eonhdent OF this, aud therefore
no rejected the national bank as an 4.
gent, and adopted the State banks.-
And what he so constantly promised us
would happen. he as resolu,oly main
ts'aed. afterwards, hal hSppcned.-I
Down TO his lat message. down 10 tie
ia't hour OF bis administration, he ia.
sisted upon It tba, the State blaks had
fulfilled all hi. expeditions. ard All
neir own duties; aud had caablcd Ito
government TO accomplish. in the very
oe't manner, the great aud important
onleen OF Currency and exchange -
We nave the same head Of the TrcaSu.
~. nr, who LIs repeated and echce
AL these sentiments, whether OF r,o-
phecy or tuiflmeni. in successive re-.
ports. somc Of them not less ,c.scly and
ihteliigioly written shan that low be-
tore Us; aud we have head, of other
departments. Who concurrcd. pre.
sumo, nom tine to time, in the o,iri.
nal statements, and in the faithful
echoes OF them, from ,he Treasury.-
All these func;iona,ica have been Il.
BORING with the Utmost zeal. as they
protested. 20 perform their constitution.
al obligations OF furnishing the country
with a good currency, With a better
currency. with the be.l Currency. AMI
they have d'ag9el Cong,ess. disg.Cd
the country, and dragged themselves.
INTO dihculty. pcrPlexl,y, aud distress,
IN ihi' long and Tot pursuit. And now.
behold. they draw up all a. once. and
declate that the oS,ec. Of all hi, toll
aad struggle is one with which they
nave nothing al all - do
But. az the last message Of the late
fresident was loud aai warm in It's
pia'scs Of the State backs, for the COOL
service, which they rendered to cur.
reoey and exchange, 80, no doubt.
would tho first message OF the prcscnt
rre"iden' nave commended. vith equal
earne''ne,s. the success With vhici.
Government had been able, hy means
OF The State banks, 10 discharge tn,
important part OF ia duties. If The event.
oil May last bad not left that subject no
longer topic Of feliciiaiion. Nv the
suspension Of specie payments. al va,
changed. The duty Of Government
~a' changed, and the Co1s,,u,ioa
Was changed also. Governmen, va,
now TO give up. and abandon forever.
thatveri thing which had been TIE pro.
fessed object o. its assiLuous care. and
most earnest pursuit. Ger eigLt long and
arduou, years
MIR. President, when heard Of The
suspension Of the banks. ] was by the
side Of the Ohio, on a journey, in the
course Of which had occasion. Ge.
quentiy. to express my opinion on hi,
new state OF things; and those who NAV
nave heard me, OF noticed my remarks
Will bear witness that constantly
expressed tae opinion that q new era
mad commenced; that a question of
principle, and aquestion of the hiyhes,
Importance, had arisen, or would i'm.
mediatcly arise; that hereafter tie dis.
Pute would not be so much about,
means as endI; that the extent Of the
constitutional obligation Of the Govern
mont would be coniroyerted; in sho,,
that the question. whether il wa, the
duty OF Congress TO concern Itself with
the national currency, must. ineyi,a.
bly,. become the leading topic of the
tunes. So ! thought, whenever had
the pleasure OF addressing my fellow
citizens, AID so feel and think now
l said often on these occasions and /
say now, that it ia question which
the People, by the regular exercise Of
their elective franchise. must decide :
The subject is one oSto much perna.
nent Importance, and public men have
become SO committed, on ;he ono side
or the other. that the decision must. as
J think. be made by the country. We
see an entirely new state o: things
We behold new and nntried PRINCIPLES
OF administration advanced and aIopt.
ed. We witness an avowed and bold
rejection Of the policy hitherto always
prevailing. The Government has come
not to pause, but 20 a revui..an. II,
rot only stops, bot it starts back. il
aoandons the course which it has been
pursuing for near hfy years. and It e.
Proaebes itself with having been actin
all that time, beyond the limits Q; if.
constitutional power.
" was my second proposition. sir
inlt the Message. The biz. anI The
amendment taken together. DENY, in
substance that this Goyernfnenthas ,py
power or duty connected with the cur.
rency' or the exchanges. beyond The
mere regulation Of tie coins.
md, sir, is this not true, We A.,
to judge Of the Message by Wha, il
omIi'. as well az BY what it proposes.
Congress 10 called together in a great
commercial crisis. The whole busirrs,
ol the country is arrested by a sudden
disorder Of the currency. AMI what's
pFoPo'Sd' Any thing 10 restore ,hi.
currency Any thing, with direct
view Of producing the res.mp,ion Of
payment by the bsnk.2 +, a single
measure offered. orSug5ested. .he main
purpose Of which il general relief g.
the country! Not one. No. nr. no,
one. The Administration conR.e, n.
measures ~ a.. 4