The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-07-21


the House Of Representatives, openly TO
state its alarming existence, and emphati-
caly TO rebuke it, Let me tell you, Fellow
Citizens, this would not have been done
unless these aristocratic cioaking against
our Republican institutions had arrived at
startling pitch, and needed bold and public
denunciation.
ISpeak facts. ] Iappeahto your reason. |
would arouse the democracy ofthe State to
take broad view Of the subject--to re-
member that every effort for popular rights,
and every meeting obtained in their favor,
has been led on by the democracy, and can
only be sustained by the union, harmony
and energetic action of the party. But
have not yet done with these corporations,
the crying evil of the times. In their very
nature and constitution wholly antagonistic
TO Republican principles and Democratic
institutions. say with emphasis that they
are dangerously numerous, they are alarm
infly increasing, and ought with firNn ds
to be restrained and diminished. They are
vast machines, of immense power, with all
the most dangerous of passions, but without
principle to restraint or guide-for they
have no souls, and the legal asseveraton Of
my lord Coke is justified by their conduct.
Self interest is their moving principle, and
they roll on like the car of Juggernaut their
destined round, careless alike of who rides
or who is crushed, SO they fulfil their des-
tiny.
Have we not lately seen one Of these
corporations in its high blown pride, with
daring insolence, set the whole constituted
authority of this nation at defiance! Have
VIC not witnessed the degrading, the humil
iating spectacle, of one Of these Behemolh
corporations purchasing charter Of enor-
nous amount from this Commonwealth, in
defiance of the known and manifest will of
the people? Have we not seen the Presi-
dent of that Institution subsidizing if not
corruptng the Press. You all remember
the case of Webb, at the head Of leading
daily print in New York of extensive cir
culation and influence opposed 10 the bank,
but needy and unprincipled, he approaches
the President of the Bank. The powerful
emotion of kindred sympathy drew them
to each others embrace. Webb wants the
triing sum of25,000 dollars, but with the
express reservation of his virtuous prnci-
pies. He is opposed to the Bank--lhat
must be understood. President Biddle,
with the most amiabe respect for his inde-
pendence asks no pledge, expects no favor;
but without consulting single Director
just happening to have $4,000 dollars in his
breeches pocket, hands it over to the true
and unsuspected and unsuspectng editor;
and then forgets, it was such trihe, for
some weeks to mention the fact or put it in
the loan books of the institution. Shameful
prostitutionsl Was there ever a sale in the
shamblos or in market more openl And
Webb forthwith, as in duty bound, came
forth the advocate Of the Bank And for
alludiAg to this poor Cilley lies low in his
murdered grave, and any citizen who dare
re-expose it to public reprobation, does it
at the risque Of assassination.
Follow this corporation on. Behold its
power. The Bank of England has not been
sufficiently accommodating to Mr.. Jaudon,
agent of our Pennsylvania Mammoth in
London, and Mr.. Jaudon in his quiet way
is able TO make the Bank of England trem-
BILE and come humbly to his terms. The
whole Cotton crop Of the South is bought
up with Resurrection notes, the defunct
and ought to be cancelled bills of the old
bank of the United States, most improperly
put in circulation.
Thucydides loug ago remarked that the
plague chased all other diseases from Athens
or obliged them to assume some ofits symp-
toms. So too, this over-ruling and con-
trolling corporation has furnished a livery
for all lesser institutions of the same
! type and character, and forced it upon them.
Operating then in all the South, in Penn
sylvaina, and in Europe, with such i'm
mense resources, can a reasonble man doubt
but that the arrangement in the exchanges
is entirely the work Of this corporation?
Thus are the people oppressed. Thus is
the general government of our country bear
ded and set at defiance. Let me saw to
you in soberness, that such a corporation
acting beyond all effective control on your
part, thus irresponsible and of such extensive
power, is tremendous engine of aristocra-
cy, and in the hands of men, were thew
pure as angels, dangerous to popular rights
and the best interests of the people. AS
wealth and luxury thus acquired prevail. all
history and all experience show that The
moral sense Of community abates some
thing OF lis tone and the pure spirit of inde-