The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-18
MR. RIDDLES LETTER


From the conspicuous station this gentleman has
long occupied and the subject which treats this
letter cannot fail TO command general attention.
Justice to ourself, and our readers in consequence
OF limitations we have heretofore thrown out, re-
quires that we should make some remarks upon pub
fishing which VIC do upon our own responsibility in
all fairness and candor and with respectful Difference
to the opinions OF Others which may be found al va
Rance with our own, in all parties, not excluding The
Conservatives. @
Mr.. Biddle is acknowledged by many who have
read his productions, or who are acquainted with
him, TO be one Of the first beeslettres scholars in
the country; and from the elegance Of diction this
like most other papers coming from his pen is well
calculated think to captivae the reader and lead
him TO overlook whatever errors of fact or OF argu
ment if any, il may involve
To begin our notice Of this letter with its concu-
sion; II appearsto be sort of valedictory address,
and intended for the gentlemen to whom il is d.
rected, "The Hon. John q. Adams" which The
writer says is !" to close our correspondence" And
yet il would seem to reach still further and bid a
final adieu TO former friends associations. For,
says Mr. Biddle, " il Qhe bank) has no longer any
controversies with the Government of the Union
II now desires only repose and will take its rank
hereafter, dS SiHpe Stale INSTITUTION, devoted
clusively to its own special concerns" We have
before referred to the FACT that the agent Of Mr. Bid
die has been here frequently during the last few
months, alleged, for the purpose of efecting
treaty of amity between the bank and the admins
traon. That his propositions we're received favor
ably here. was evinced by the silence, for long
time, of the official organ and its affiliated presses in
respect 10 the bank and an entire cessation of hos
hair th,t,x 81
quiet, the Globe Of the Goth October said, eve war
against the abuse Of the money power by the bank,
or by the merchants or bankers. Let them conine
themselves within their appropriate spheres, and
they will find US ready and willing to take such
course in regard to them will be most for the pub
lie good" Knowing as We did, that negotiations
were going on we could not but regard this declara
ton in the official organ of the Government as full
of meaning It's true, that during the last week or
days, the Globe, the Richmond Enquirer, and Alba
ny Argus, have opened their batteries again on "the
bank" Still, whatever may have been the antece-
dent cause it is announced by OF the contracting
parties that, at Qhe bank) has no longer any con-
troversies with the Government What else are
we to infer from this, than that the bank and the
Government are no longer antagonists, but friends
and alliesl ~. n.y..
honestly attached to Mr.. Biddle, in its remarks on
his letter in Saturdays paper, tells us, as one having
knowledge or authority, what the result may be- 1t
says the Bank, with the facilities it may render
to the Government, may we'll aspire TO the post Of
the chief of the deposte banks; and will, no Doubt
in the course OF short time, by insensble process
become the fiscal agent at the government" When
we listened to the reading in the Hall Of Represen-
| 49, sc ~ 3anftS in
which, even under the Sub-,reasury scheme our
Chief Magistrate would have IT. "when the Govern
ment can accomplish financial operation better with
the aid of the banks than without it, it should be at
liberty to seek that aid as il would the services OF
private banker other capitalists agents, giving
the preference those who will serve it on the best
terms" we then thought we saw drift. Events
have proven at least condolences which will GER
tainly excuse us for SO thinking
But the " insensible process" What is i2 How
is it to be put in operation to accomplish, ain very
short time" that which many months of diplomacy
found it difficult to acquire. We have charged
but last week in the Globe, that legislators whose
names were mentioned at length, had been convert
ed, by an insensble process" from bitter enemies
to warm advocates, and that through these changes
and the results in the Pennsylvania Legislature, the
Bank Obtained charter We have also seen it
| charged in the organ on various occasions,
that through this "insensble process" sudden and
extraordinary conversions were wrought in another
quarter. 1t has no longer any controversies with
the Government of the Union ~ " and will no doubt
in the course of very short time become the fiscal
agent of the Government I" ''INsENsBLE PROCESS !"
Who resorts to the insensible process" by which
the Bank is very soon to become the fiscal agent of
the governments Who is to profit by it, ii that
event shall be consummated? Can ii be Mr.. Biddle
who seeks the alliance, after his declarations, made
TO the stockholders when presenting them with The
new charter from the State of Pennsylvania, that
I. its total separation from all the officers Of the Go
neral Gorernment-aS an unnatural c0nnerion benc-
fetal TO neither the Bank the Government" that its
connexon with persons in Office was an association
dangerous-utul 10 neither party 'mJnri0usto both?
Can it be Mr.. Van Buren, who seeks 10 renew the
association between the Government and the Bank,
which Mr.. Biddle declared on the occasion referred
to- was now safer STRONGER, and more prosperous
than epcr" and inheiits circulation of t,retytpo
millions of dollars?" Can ii be Mr.. Van Buren,, who
subsequently to the above representations OF Mr..
Biddle, declared Incorporating hostility 10 the
Bank of the United States"
The answer is affirmative. The bank, no doubt,
and very naturally, wants the money of the Govern
ment to trade upon, and the increased credit which
the connexion would give it in Europe, and the aug
mented circulation he would thereby acquire for its
notes at home. Mr.. Van Buren, regards his
own fortunes as somewhat perilous, and therefore
wishes TO increase his friends and the re-estabsh-
ment of his power by all the means that offer: and
knowing that he power of money is great he is not
only willing to have it; but, though seeming TO
quet, actually courts it.
While we oppose the Sub-treasury scheme, and
are the thorough advocates for the State Bank de-
,,osite nlan. we are nnnnsed To a renninn of the