Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1838-05-19
To the Democracy.


of he most interesting debates aad proceedings IN
Congress; foreign anu domestic news; important
documents the fullest notice oi leading poaical
topics ami the conduct ofpubiic men, Original re-
MARKS, tending % support the cause Of lie Democ-
racy Wi.l constitute the prominent part OF me work.
The publication Is called for al this time by pc
cuiar circumstances which wal be stated with the
utmost succinctness.
The Federal party are again IN tie fed with
greater hopes Of success than ever, since leOO
They rcy upon the money power, with Mr.. Bdd.e
II the head OF lis organized system, operating ON
classes and minor corporations influencing debt
ors. stockholders, traders and others, By the ebbs
and flows Of the currency, which Is MADE 10 affect
their interests, and as a consequence, their political
feelings and opinions so avail hlmselioit the grea-
test possible control which can be obtained from the
operation of pecuniary influence, Mr.. Bilde has
allied his institution with the Bank Of England.
1t is truly said Of this grcai engine, by the Lon
don bankers, that It's political poleer IS prodi-
gioUs" II has shown its dangerous potency in
compelling suspension Of specie payments by OPP
Grating the merchants and banks in our great Ell
teS in forcing the expectation Of specie against
pgbljc opinion; in carrying elections for rs party
bY panic and pressure, in various States, notwith-
standing the unpopularity Of its conduct and in its
successful resistance in the late convention to re.
sumption of payments b. ihe State banks, although
the principal ones have declared their willingness
and ability to pay specie. The Federal party have
hence, as on the establishment of the first bank of
the L. States by Hamilton, become perfectly san
gtine Of success under It's banners, and have again
untiIred their true ensign.
The n. Y. Commercial Advertiser, the leading
federal Journal of that State, print devoted TO the
interests Of MessrS. Clay and Webster, publishes an
article which is extoIcd as proceeding from one Of
the greatest minds of the party, procaning the fed
eral principles i0stered into lie, under the auspices
of Hamilton, by the first bank, and pronouncnr
that these alone can remedy existing evils. We
have room for only few extracts, but sufficient to
show the true issue between the money power,
ich seeks TO establish its aristocracy permanent
ly and beyond the reach Of the popular will and the
Democratic party, which contends for the sovcr-
eighty the people. Here are the doctrines laid
down since the n. Y. elections, by the leaders of
that party who ascrbe that triumph to the rrcsis-
tbe force ofthe money and bank power they con-
troI. First, they say:
"That the immediate cause Of the present de.
rsngement of the currency, and of the ombarrass.
ments Of commerce and manufactures, is the g-
norance, perversty or wrong headedness OF a
few men IN the Administration, is true but that
the primary causes are to be sought in the Con.
sttutlon is a fact too obvious to admit dispute.
No man, probably, will now deny that the pow
ers Of the Chief Magistrate are left without suli-
cent checks no man will deny that the balance
intended to be created by the division Of Con.
greSs into two houses, has proved to be INSULT
cont Tor the purposes required, no man can de-
ny that universal suffrage has been left without
adequate control, prey to corruption.
"Ihere are two prominent reasons 10 be as
signed for these defects in the Constitution. One
is, the want of experience in the patriotic men
who framed the Constitution. The other IS, the
crcdulous reliance Of those men on the virtue and
intelligence Of the people, and Of the men who
should be elected to enact laws and administer
the Government"
Agaims speaking of dependence on the virtue and
| intelligence o., the people, the MANIFESTO says:
"A FORM OF GOVERNMENT which
has no better corrective of public disorders than
this, is burlosque on the reason and intelligence
of men, il is as incompatible with wisdom as it is
with public prosperity and happiness"
"Ihe people are, by principle and the Consti.
tuition. guarded against the tyranny of kings but
not against their own passions and ignorance and
decisions"
The necessity Of relying on some other power
| than the people is therefore enforced.
"Such facts have induced nations to abandon
| the practice of eecting their chief magistrate
preeuing to receive that officer by hereditary sue
cession. Men have found that the chances o.
having a good chief magistrate by BIRTH, are
| about equal to the chances Of obtaining one by
popular election. And boast as We will, that tn,
superior intelligence q our citizens may rende
this Government an exception, time will SHOW
that this is mistake. No nation can be an OK
cepton, till the Almighty shall chance the who'll
character of man.
:" 1t IS solemn truth that when executive off
GERS are dependes&for their Offices on annual, o
frequent elections, there will be no impartial 0
efficient administration of the laws"
sit is vain that men attempt to disguise tn
truth; the fact, beyond all debate, is that the dis
orders in our political affairs are the genuine am
natural consequences Of defects in the Constiiu
ton, and of the false and visionary option
which Mr.. Jefferson and his disciples nave bee
proclaimng for forty years."
The mass Of ncop.c seem moi TO- consdc
that the affairs Of great commercial nation re
qu'rc, ;or ;her correct management, talents Of III
net order.
"0fall this, the mass Of our population appea
to know little or nothing"
"The mass Of the people sednced and dsciE
l'ned by their leaders, are still farther deceived
by being taught that our public disorders are +
be ascribed to other causes than the ignoranc
and perversity Of their party"
"And yet our citizens are constantly boastin
ofthe intelligence of the people Intelligence
The history ofuations cannot present an exampl
Of such total want orintelligcnce as our counr
now exhibits. And what is more, want of in
tegllty is equally surprising"
This appeal is expressly made to men of talent
ofthc first order," and they are invoked to max
common cause, because of " the popular odiul
against wealth and talents" 1t was ascrbed
Chancellnr ana Az, -, tr;Orob oi, H. r.