The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-06-02

wa h+c pl-iDsorDlng Topic winch agltateu
the public mind. 1t continued 10 be so suisse
qnently. I'M less than two months after the
date OF his letter, the proclamation was sent
forth by a distinguished opponent of the State
Bank Deposiie system d OF the administration,
and circulated throughout their ranks, from
one end Of the country to the other declaring
" eternal r@ against such a principle; yn
could mol be ouerihroUn to-day, lett be attack
cd tomorrow, and year after year until IL pas
operthropn !" The supporters Of General
Jackson one and ALL united in the conflict thus
waged, for the purpose Of breaking down the
most important measure Of his whole admin
istration. They resisted successfully the ef-
fort. The deposite act Of June %, 1886, was
passed by Congress. which, said Mr. Van
Buren, in his letter to Sherrod Williams in
July following, "uW be regarded By the people
as aptedgc fran all parties, 10 giue 10 The erist-
ing system uhich precludes The idea Of a nation
al bank, a fair nial"
II was under these expressions Of senii-
ments and pledges, that Mr.. Van Buren, Sc
cured the influence, support, and votes, of
those men denominated Conservatives, in his
favor; which assisted TO elevate him to
the distinguished position he now fills.
The Conservatives had read the declara-
tons made by General Jackson, and witnessed
the course Of. his policy in relation to the great
measure, which he denominated as " his o,cn,"
from the date Of and including his cabinet
paper, up 10 the time they bestowed on Mr..
Van Buren, their suffrages as his successor
They approved Of his policy; and approved
also, of Mr.. Van Buren's threading in the
footsteps" of the same policy, which he had
pledged himself to do on the faith Of which,
they gave him their confidence and support,
which contributed to his final success.
What was one of the most important as
surances given by Gen. Jackson TO the nation
preparatory to the removal of the deposites,
and the employment of State Banks' Why,
said he, "Me funds Of The Government wiH
not be annihilated by being transferred. They
~iH be Immediately ISSUED for the benefit Of
trade"
How has Mr. Van Buren, trod in the foot
steps of his predecessor in respect to this
great and paramount consideration at least
so considered by Gen. Jackson when endea-
voring to pacify the cabinet and satisfy the
country in relation to it! We will show. In
his last message he said " 1t is undoubtedly
in the power of Congress SO to regulate and
guard it, as to prevent the public money from
being applied to the use, or intermingled with
the affairs of individuals" But, said he, cit
will not give the Government that entire con-
troll over its own fundS which desire to Sc
cure to it." He, therefore, proposed plan
to Congress in respect to the management Of
the public moneys, which was, "to withdraw
those moneys from The uses Of private trade,
and confd them to agents constitutiOnally Sc
lected and controlled by laT."
Here is recommendation made by Mr..
Van Buren, of a directly opposite character
to that which had been practised by his pre-
decessor, and which he himself stood pledg-
ed to adhere to And what were the people
led to suppose from Mr. Van Buren's Ian
guage respecting the deposite act of 1886!
Why that he looked on it with as much sa-
credness of obligation as he would upon a
treaty. He emphatically declared it to be a
treaty, to which all parties stood pledged, to
giue the system embraced in it a fair trial"
Who has been the first to break that treaty?
Who the first to violate it! Mr.. Van Buren,
and the followers and supporters Of his re-
commentators which are directly contrary to
the spirit Of it. And now, because, the Con-
servatives refuse to act faithfully, and to vio-
late the solemn pledge, they are held up as
i" 1ederalisis," " enemies to the administration
and enemies 10 the people"
The banks have been charged with pcrfdy
and treachery," in high quarter. Such
denuncation might,in our opinion with greater
proprety be applied to another quarter. But,
we say, it is false, in respect to the banks
Nor will we cast those epithets on any quarter
whatever. We will, however, say this, that
Mr.. Van Buren, has not adhered to his
pledges, under which he obtained the votes Of
such portion of the people; which, if they
had been withheld from him, would have led
to his defeat. Who will dare to stand up now
and say, that, had Mr.. Van Buren, in his sher-
rod Williams letter asserted principles and
doctrines like those contained in his two mes
sages at the extra and regular session, that he
could ever have reached the Presidency? No