Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-12-24
MIR. RIDDLES LETTER.

II is possible that there may be some justice in
the objection urged by some persons to Mr.. Bdde',
admirable Letter to John G. Adams that it ber,y,
rathertoo much egotism--that it is rather too mucb
alter the fashion of the bulletins of Napoleon which
more frequently illustrated the genius of the Gre,,
Captain than the PROV ess oflhe Grand Army.-ys,
it must be allowed that fany man ev.r had justi6abe
cause for selEad1lalion, Nicholas Bddle is tia,
man and lhat if sell-praise, evenly ndirecon ever
failed to dim the lusio of brilliant intellect or ,o
derogate from tie dignity Of great actions it is in
the Instance before Ii "a good man strugpln,
with the storms offate, be object worthy of an.
gelic admiration, he is not less entitled to the s,ne
tribute who cut Of such a contest no, only viz
olous his enemies, but over himself; VINO.
the hot crucibe through which he has passed. has
preserved an equanmiy OF temper which Zeno might
have enyled and which contrasts beautifully with
the vndiotlve ierceness and the brutal coarseness
with which he has been assailed. Say what thew
will of Nicholas Bidde, he is great man-and pos
tfrliy will decree when the passions and prriu-
dlccs of the present day shall have subsidized and TIM
actions of the prominent pefsonages in the events Of
the last lew wears shall be viewed through the colt,
bur { ear medium Of unbiased aud uuconded ,e,.
We design to off criticism Mr.. Biddlc'.
letter. Like every thing from that genemens pen
it IS too lucid to require word either IN exul,pa-
ton OF defence. But we will take this occasion 10
say that we rejoice TO hear that the Bank over which
he presides with 50 much ability aud usefulness has
determined to retire both from the field of politics
AMI from he cotton trade Into Il connection with
both, we know, that il Ia, been in manner coerc.
cd-into the former by the instinct of sclfdelrncc
when belongs bauks, albeit they have 10 souls,
as well rs to men, WHO have; aud into lhelael by tie
depofable condition ollie country, whose interests
it has greatly promoted by It's timely inerposiop,
and whose honor pucked up by the roots from the
OF debt into which it had been hctde,sly
plunged. and which at Que period threatened uni
versal bankruptcy and loss Of credit.
Baaas can never connect themselves with politics
OF enter INTO the combinations and sufes ol parties
without injury both themselves and TO the com
ny-and this fact. which hey well aware
OF as those who manifest ST uepldaon at the pos
slbllty OF such connection, furnishes the strongest
guaranty OF all absence Of danger from this quarter.
The L. 5. Bank, before aud since its Incorporation
by Pennsy ydad, has, We admit, somewhat VIC
lated this general rule; but, we before re-
marked, it VAS forced INTO this unnatural position by
the assaults Of its enemies, who constituted for
midabe,nay, an almost onnpoteut political pary-a
party, whose chef never altered threat OF drnuuc-
allQn which they were not ready to echo,-who NJ
yer marked victim lor de strucuo that did fall
under ms attacks, except This Bank Here indeed,
he was leied for he net, in it, presiding officer,
''loemaa worthy OF lis stecl; man, who, with C.
quail native genius. possessed spirit, II less fierce,
stubborn his own, and, though = mild as the
zephyr, resst'css as the Storm" The same great
ruling motive, Therefore, WHICH, in general, keeps
Banking institutions free from party connectons,-
seit-intetest ,-iuduce tbs Bank to !oim such con
uectoa. i he stlle has at last ended, however;
and repeat our gtatidcatlou HAT MI Il iddle avas
Inns Il OF It's Cessation retire from a contest, in
winch, II he has suffered mach obloquy, lie has reap
ed may laurels.
Banks oughtro have little to do with trade as with
politics. They have 10 right to interfere with the
merchant in his legitimate occupation, and 10 drive
him, as, by their immense capitals, hey enabled
to do from the marts OF traffic. Bat while this
position vi" be universally assened to, is not less
evident that Mr. Biddlt by deyIang from the gen
eral principle, during the laie commercial conVuI-
SION rendered essential service his county, and
particularly to the South, the price OF whose great
staple he sustained, while by his advances to the
planters, lie rescued them from insolvency and run
Having accomplished his " duy to his country as
good citizen,' by ihls we-timed uterposilion o(ls
vast resources and boundless credit, becomes
him To retire from position which he can no longer
occupy in justice TO the community, and without
proyohil he bitter hostility Of hose who have been
his staanchest friends. Sasacious enough to per
ceive this well as Influenced by high sens Of
obligation, which seems always be his run
principle Of action, he announces his withdraw.
from this field with promptness and without reserya-
lion, and thereby removes one Of the most lofmiJa
bic objections TO his Admiralty conducted iustliu,
ton. And tlus ends the Experiment. so far as
the L. S. Bank is concerned
MIR. ATuERTON'S RESOLUTIONS.
The Washington correspondent OF the N \
Journal OF Commerce takes a correct view of the