The North-Carolina standard., 1838-07-04
COMMUNICATIONS.
FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA STANDARD.
Bank Liabilities Of Members of Congress
Right of Instruction. &C.


Mr.. Editor: The speech of Mr. Allen, which
appeared in your paper OF last week, is pro-
duction likely to be generally read, and is cal
culated to produce a strong impression. The
orator deals not in tropes and figures of speech
but in facts which cannot fail to astound the pub
lie. The statement he gives from a report made
to Congress by Committee of the Senate, of
the loans made to members by the Bank of the
United States pending the discussion for the re-
newal of its charter, is of the most alarming cha
racter: ONE MILLION SIX HUNDRED & FIVE
THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN
DOLLARS, loaned to TScO Hundred and iSirtu-
Jfce Members Of COmgre during a period of
five years to wit 1872, ,161 dollars to Sc mem
bers in the year 1880 322, 1919 dollars to SO
members, in the year 1881; 47s,o69 dollars to
"A members in the year 1892; 974766 dollars
to SO members in the year 1888 23e, $50 dol
lars to SO members in the year 1884.
Is 1t matter of wonder that a majority Of
Congress should have voted for the re-chartering
of a Bank to which so many of them were so
largely indebtede Nor is it to be wondered at,
that the Bank and its supporters should have de-
for putting his veto upon an act, obtained by
means so liable to the charge of corruption-
The Judge who presides and the Juror who
tries a cause in our Courts of Justice, are ex-
pected to be free from bias or prejudice; and the
witness is re jected as incompetent who has an
interest in the result. Why is this So ? that the
law and justice shall be impartially administer
ed. But here we have the lawmakers liable to
the most dangerous influence, when called upon
to vote on a question of the utmost importance to
the public at large. Can such a vote be respect
ed as the result Of an impartial judgment2 But
this heavy debt owing by Members of Congress,
contracted at such time, establishes two things,
which it becomes the public especially to bear in
mind:
Ffrst-that the Bank is willing to bribe mem
bers by way OF loanS when it becomes her inter-
est to do so
SecOndIy-shat Members of Congress are will
ling to be bribed by such accommodations at such
periods.
1t may be objected there is no proof that these
debtors to the Bank voted for it's re-charter-nor
is there any proof they did not so vote for the
Bank. The fair inference is, they were in favor
of the Bank, as the Committee who made the
report, were the friends of the Bank, and sought
rather to excuse its many improper acts, than to
hence the concealment of the names
But the mere fact that Members of Congress
could so far forget their claims to public conf
dence, as to negotiate loans from Bank whose
very existence was to depend upon their vote, is
in itself sufficient to establish the danger of such
an institution. The Whig" party profess to
entertain great horror at the corrupting influence
of the Presidents patronage. Yet here is an in
ffuence direct and palpable, and of the most cor
rupling character, which, with them, is perfectly
harmless.
Let every man in the State remember, that
these same selfcreated Wings" are now using
every effort to gain the majority in our Legisla-
ture, that they may INSTRUCT our Senators in
Congress to vote for this United States Bank
Yes, even the Honorable WILLIE p MANeUM,
W no was member of the Committee who made
this Report to Congress, and for aught we know
was one of these debtors to the Bank, is, if elect
ed, to vote for these Instructions 1t would seem
he "whig" party in every thing they do. or at
tempt to do, are resolved to set the understand
ing and spirit Of the people at defiance After
what has taken place in this State; their denial
Of the right to instruct and their refusal to obey
when given; does it not now argue
an audacity unacquainted with shame for such
men to think, much less to talk about instruction
Let the F'reemen of the State pause and reflect
1pon these things. and then ask themselves if
hey are thus to be deceived and imposed upon
~ those who call themselves Wings ?" We
rust in God they are not, and that our Legisla-
ure will be found filled with men too honest and
irm, to give their support to any such proceed
ngs. A FREEMAN. {