Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1838-12-15
CHEeCU LAR.
To the People of ya.oo Coanfy

10 Me Ieopte OF 1u~00 C0Unty.
FELLOW Having resigned
my seat in The leg stature, and being
candidate for election 20 fill the vacancy
occasloned by my resignation, II becomes
my duty, alike TO you and myself, to ex-
plain the reason which influenced me IN
taking the course have. 1t is well
known TO you that at the time became
candidate tor a seat n the legislature, we
were overwhelmed with debt, and were
experiencing the curse Of a deranged and
unsound Bank currency. 1t was Il tine
OF great distress and even Of dispair. ],
rs did thousands, who have ever doubted
the right of congress 10 incorporate
Bank, felt that in the distressed situation
OF the people, necessity existed for the
immediate incorporation Of United States
Bank, as The only means Of obtaining for
them relief from the peculiarly dsresses
under which they were groa,ing, Ac-
cordngly, pledged myself TO vote in the
Legislature, for the election Of an indi-
vidual 10 tho United States Senate who
should be in favor of bank. How faith
fully redeemed my pledge as your repre-
sentative shall not stop to sly. Since
then, the subject ola United Safes Bank,
has almost necessarily engaged my atten-
ton; and after having given il as thorough
an investigation as | was able TO do, |
feel perfectly satisfied that congress has
not the right 10 incorporate a bank. And
am also clearly of the impression, that a
u. 5. Bank is incxpedient as fiscal agent
of the government; and that it would, in
It's operations, endanger the Liberties The
people These being my options, you at
once perceive that unless YOU accord with
me in them, am not a suitable person to
represent you in the Legislature. And be-
ing doubtful whether a majority of you
entertained similar opinions, a high sense
of justice 10 you, as well as proper re-
gard TO my own feelings, dictated that
should resign into your hands the power
with which YOU have invested me- But,
in becoming a candidate for re election, !
am encouraged by the hope that the events
OF the passing year, have afforded you
reason TO entertain opinions similar to my
own. Indeed the prospect before Us IS
cheering. The most, if not all The bar rs
in our state, and the banks generally
throughout the United States, il is conf
IDENTIFY expected will resume specie pay
ment on the first day Of January ensuing,
or at an early period thereafter. This
event olght, and will unquestlonably re-
store public confidence. Domestic ex-
changes will become easy, and be con-
Quoted without the inconvenience ard
loss which always result from an unsound
circulating medium. And | doubt not,
you will soon have cause 10 congratulate
yourselves that United States Bank does
not exist. But let US briefly examine first
the question of the constitutional right oil
congress to incorporate bank, and Sec
ondly its expedcucy. The advocates OF
bank DO not pretend that the right or
power of congress to incorporate such an
institution, is any where clearly defined
in the constitution; but, say they, 1t is
deducibe from others specifically granted,
And they enumerato several distinct pro-
visions Of The constitution, having no ne
cessary connection aud pointing to differ
ent objects from which, by duplication
they derive the power in question. Now,
it is obvious that il the trainers OF the con-
stitulion had designed to invest congress
with the power Of granting charters OF
Incorporation, either they would have done
so specifically, or have given such phra-
seoIogy to some one provision OF the con-
stitution, as that the power TO incorporate
a bank, or any other institution, might
therefrom be clearly inferred. This they
have not done. And indeed the advocates
of bank admit as much, when they take
ncongruous grounds under distinct pro-
visions Of the constitution. However, LET
us suppose that the advocates of bank
are right, and that congress has the power
claimed for it by implication. The ques,
j ton will then occur,--(rom which OF the
several provisions, alternately relied upon
is the power derived? Is it derived from
the power "to lay and collect taxes, and
pay the debts, &c. 2" or is it derived iron
the power f" TO borrow money on the credit
of the United Siatesg' or is it derived
from the power to SPECULATE commerce!
! Each of these provisions is, in its turn re-
lied upon by the advocates Of the power
in question. Now, il il be fairly deduct
: bic from each ofihem by itself, manifest,
, the trainers of the constitution have beer
guilty of an extraordinary act of superero
CATION and folly in conveying the powe