Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1837-10-03

Z Luencc gave lTESn VlgOr 10 industry anO
i trade; and the new National Bank was
C considered very efficient fiscal agent
Il Of the Government, as well as the restorel
s and CONSERVATION Of the currency of the
# country. OF its great usefulness in an
D. swering these important ends, there seem
r ed to be no doubt, until general Jackson
r came into the presidency. The opposi-
r ton which then arose against this institu-
r ton, is too well known to require explana-
t ton.
n There is nevertheless great proper
G tion of the nation, whose faith in Ma
: tioaal Bank has never been shaken; and
{ it embraces men of high character and
E standing, who would we'll sustain COM
! Eparison with Mr.. Van Buren,, on the score
! of either talents or patriotism, that do
| look upon such an institution with intense
anxiety, as the only practicable measure
slthat can be adopted with a prospect of
STsuccess, to eXtrlcate the country from the
embarrassments of the present pressure.
The President, however, strcnuously per-
sists in opposing such measure, without
proposing, or even suggesting, any other
for the same end. The truth is, Mr.. Van
. Buren, finds himself in tight place in re-
lation to this question. However clearly
he may now perceive the expediency or
necessity Of a National Bank, he knows
not how to acknowledge it, partly on ac-
count Of his being pledged to oppose it,
but principally because he fears to deviate
one step from the course marked out for
him by his predecessor. The Hermitage
is, virtually, still the source Of a control
ling executive influence; and here, rather
than with the people, lies the effective op
position to National Bank.
This state of things between the late
and present executive, places the country
in deplorabe condition at this trying
crisis. The latter cannot brook the dis
pleasure Of the former; and hence arises
an insuperable obstacle to the adoption
Of remedy for the disordered state of
the currency, which proved successful in
a similar case on a former occasion. Less
difficulty would be found in the fact, that
Mr.. Van Buren, is committed on the ques-
ton by his declared hostility TO Bank of
the United States. He is man who can
change with circumstances; and he might ;
avail himself Of great example, which it
would be no discredit to him to follow.
This has been set by Mr.. Madison on a SIM
liar question:, and in very similar case. .
Mr.. Madison also had committed himself
on the question of National Bank, when
it was agitated for the first time under our
federal government; and when that ques-
ton came up again, after lapse Of more
than twenty years, he was President of
the United States. There was his cele-
brated speech against the first bank, pre- ,
sented in print, and staring him in the
face, when the bill for the late bank was b
presented for his approval. What man I
on earth could be more careful Of consis- n
tency of conduct than Mr.. Madison, who G
was the principal architect in the design o
and erection of our political edifce, and
one Of the most digniied and disinterested Il
statesmen that ever lived? Yet he was t.
ready to sacrafce the pride of opinion to C;
he good of his country. He saw in dis n
ordered currency, and an empty treasury. a
he necessity for such an institution as a n
National Bank, and he hesitated not to h,
give it his sanction. W
But Mr.. Van Buren, says, that large 10
majority of the people are deliberately to
md decidedly opposed to national bank. N
This do not believe. There have al m
Ways been many public men, chiefly of N
he Virginia School, who were in princi- r.
lie averse to such an institution, and cc
you'd on the proper occasion speak or ~
ote against it, but they were temperate IF
nen, and did not feel it their duty to agi- Sr
ate the country or the question. AS to the h,
eople at large, in private life, although ~
ave seen many of them in most Of the NJ
tates, | have no recollection of hearing ~
ne of them express sentiment hostile 7 IO
Bank Of the United States. After the 80
tie Bank was established, | had still no ~ ~
mall opportunity Of learning the public ""
pinion on the subject; and it is not within w
~ memory, that heard single private ,'
ldivdua complain of the measure. ,G 10
eleve no act Of Congress ever produced ne y
ss discomfort. The people were satisfied III !.
it'll the relief which the Bank afforded VIII
lem; and so they remained until the Tic
tie President made war upon the institu- me
on. The effect of this, however, was mu
OF change of opinion, but a change of we
eling-not conviction, but excitement, OF
hch became contagious, and infected the me
olitics of the day. Nor did political ad- por
onturers fail to avail themselves of this OF
orbld state of the public mind. Decla- MOI
alton, destitute of reason and fact, reused ado
? the passions of a party, and soon thai
mpest ensued. The truth of the matter Con
Just thls-General Jackson virtually put cast
e elements in commotion, and Mr.. Van ne
lren rode bravely on the storm. etfe
There is probably more in this call Of tho'
'ngress than the message shows. The pres