Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-09

Thew could not at leas, do worec than the U. 8. Bank had
done, and II was but charitable to indulge the hope tlai
they would do better. But was this confidence wen
founded, and whose fault is il that il was mol! Let lhe'r
treacheiy 10 The government and the people answer
Every DAY thai the directors Of these BANKS met at the1f
boards, they hnew their Liabilities and ,neIE assets !"
nrcl them. They were repeatedly and earnestly eNu
toned by the Treasury Department not 10 oVer'lssue-
their cha lers p.nhibi,ed it-their solemn Obligations 10
the government and people, and every principle u Ho,
raj honesty forbade it. Still, in open violation ., O." IS
obligation, ll:cy suspended specie payments IN j ' .iE =.
profound peacp, robbed The Treasury OF many ih'1.o"'
Of money and cried out al the same time, that the lfee'
sury was bankrupt. ;,;,-ci
Blu, aware ,Iut the Administration cannot be 'nJu,ra
by The charge that confidence was once fepus'o III u.
State Banks, the raw head and.b!oody. bones oil lhe Pui's
and sword in the hands of the Executive IS conJ"ieu W
for political effect. There are none VINO resort 10 Ills
humbup, who believe that The danger exists which tiey
50 clamorousIy depreca.c. Their only wish is 10 dr!ude
the people and obtain their sanction 10 the DOMINATION
of banks and their irresponsible paper Issues. lhey
know that Congress is vested with the power 10 lay ahu
collect taxcs-lo raise armies, Of which the President Is
charged with Tie direction and with the due execution
of The lsws-that by law all money appropriated IL
speedily applied to the objects oil its appropriation, ana
one cent cannot be drawn iruin the Treasury but III Pur..
suance of law and on the warrant oil h secretary I'll
the Treasury, crunters;gned By the Treasurer aud hrsl
ComulrulirI-tha the President is bound by solemn
oath, IL see the laws faithfully executed and that to
every Congress the Secretary of the Treasury is bound
to make an expose Of all The disbursements, which IS
examined by CUngress-tiiat the Pres dent Tor failure OF
duly, is liable 10 Impeachment. Away then, with THIS
raw.head and. bloody -bones. 1t is only a device to con.
tinue the usage oil taxing the people iUr The oeneht oil
Banks-an effort To take The public revenue out OF the
hands Of responsible, TO put it into those OF %lrresponsl.
be agents, Who will use it 10 encourage over issues OF
paper money, and thus rxpose the Government and PEG.
pie perpctua!ly to the injuries we are now experiencing
from the want of a stable currency.
If the revenue is recrived in gold and silver it will
force the banks 10 resume specie payments, keep them
within the hounds of lust banking principles, give the
people Il lnelsllic currency or It's fair equivalent, and put
ali end 10 The overtrading and wild speculation which
have been 80 long the baue Of our country. Is 1t nut
then our duly to rally round such measure, and are we
not wrong in doubling The disposition OF the people TO
sustain what is so manifestly their interest and welfare:
In separating the Government from the Banks, we
secure 10 labor lis fair reward i'll an undertaking tender
of value, every honest pursuit is promoted, The TO
yprnment is relieved from the political influence OF the
money power, legislation is purified, and The republican
feelings of our citizens are cherished, The mint, tor the
support Of which, The people are taxed, will then be EN-
ploysd in lis proper office, that Of coming the metals,
which, in exchange for our profitable commodities, VIII
steadily flow into our land.
On This subject, Sir, | acknowledge that / feel the
deepest interest, as | am persuaded it is pregnant with
consequences Of The highest Importance to our beloved
country. II we are not now ubhe TO occupy the ground
prepared for Us, BY those who framed the Constitution, IN
respect TO The influence Of banks and moneyed nssocla.
tions, ! fear its recovery hereafter will cost the people
difficulties aud disasters, compared to which, those That
Have Ueeu CuSlOUe u y lC lINShto SSpS ho''A " SPNS'N
PAYMENTS will be considered as nothing. The idea that
in the event Of war, if the banks are again employed as
public repositories, it will be in their power 10 stop pay
ment, and thus deprive the nation Of its means OF credit
and support, il sufficient in my judgment 10 enlist The
ardor OF every patriot on the side OF those who will refuse
to commit so great u trust to any moneyed institution.
All experience tells US that money is the sinew OF war,
and that no nation can long he flee and independent
which places this element Of It's power in hands
that are irresponsible in their very nature. Such
would be our situation, il the banks, as al Present
organized, retain The public money. They could much
m0re easily in war than in peace find an excuse
for refusing payment, and violating their pledges
to the Government; aud all who are conyerSant with
history must be aware that there are ex' genci"s from
which we are not exempt in n state ol war when the
bankruptcy Of our Government would tnrce 1t to make
o dishnnurable peace, if it did nut compel lis submission
10 a foreign yoke. Looking at The subject in this light,
indulge the hope that all true Republicans wi!l dis
card the idea Of our ngaiI trusting TIE public money 10
banks. The plan proposed by Air. Van Buren, exposes
US to no hazard. On the contrary, it adopted, 1t will
simplify the operations OF our revenue, purify legis'a'
ton by removing il from the c%nrrupling influence OF mo
ney, and ensure peace, harmony aud prosperity 10 ali The
great and diversified interests of our country.
Excuse the haste in which have been compelled 10
throw together these ideas. They are but an outline ol
the general views which. belong to the subject; yet short
and inpe, feet as it is, feel that it has required quite as
much labor as nv intirm health enables me to beslow
upon it.
Thanking you for your friendly soliciiude for my per.
sonal welfare,
Andrew JACKSON.
Moses DAWSON, ESQ.