The pilot. [volume] (Baltimore [Md.]) 1840-1840, 1840-04-17
FrOm tie Baltimore American.
OUR NEW POSITION-THE WING CAUSE.


1t is well known to readers that since this pa
per has been in the hands of present proprietors,
its in reference to political matters has been
neutral. For many years past our aim has been to
render the American useful commercial journal to
identity its interests with those of the business COM
munty, and to devote its influence to the advance
ment OF the general prosperity of our growing city
To these ends our efforts-we say il in no boastlul
spirit have been directed not without success; Tor
feelings and hopes were blended with our pursuit
preferred to know not any distinctions OF parties
but to view all our fellow citizens members OF one
community, bound together by business relations,
constituting bond of union unaffected by the polltl-
cal divisions which in other respects might cause d.
versity of aims. So long general politics Were
confined to matters properly pertaining to government
and business were suffered to pursue their cal
lings in peace, exempted from influences which sought
to make the affairs of trade subservlen to partzan
purposes-we pursued our course without dlfhculy,
and were abundantly satisfied with it. But the time
has now come when farther continuance in neutrality
impossible without abandonment, partial or
entire of those interests with which our paper Is So
closely united. 1t is not that wish to go out OF
our sphere; but politics have intruded within it.
For time past, in treating of subjects affect
ing the general good whether relating to the Curren-
cy, to Commerce or internal improvements, we have
found ourselves restricted. We could give but par
tial views without mourning the danger of renching
upon political grounds and upon some topics of vital
Importance, absolute silence necessary. The
distribution of the public Lands was one OF these
The measure proposed by Mr. Clay, for apportioninS
the proceeds of the sales of the Public Lands amoug
the States, viewing the National domain the prop
erty of the States held in trust for their benefit was
one which thought foundedin Justice, and adap
ted with especial proprety to bring relief to the cou
try in its present exigencies, when the burden OF debt
is resting upon yearly every State in the Union But
it made party question. and could not be dis
| cussed on its own merits.
Concerning the great subject of the Currency-a
subject conioined with the very life of trade-we
plxras nNn-r ma
dwelling upon the which produced the uneX-
ampled distress and prosration under which the whole
country Is laboring, we were obliged to pass by the
chief one. For doubt that the fatal meas
of the Administration, directed against the very
interests which it is the business of government to
uphold and CHERISH have operated to bring about, to
prolong and to aggravate the commercial ills which
have reduced this vigorous and powerful nation to
state of suffering and exhaustion, such no people
before endured from rulers of their appoint
ment. The Sub-Treasury scheme has been urged
with pertinacity remarkable, Notwithstanding
the evident unwillingness of the people to receive it,
and in spite of the disastrous consequences which the
measures leading to it have already produced, that
there hardly be any doubt of the ultimate purpos
of its supporters 1t apparent that nothing less
is aimed at than the entire overthrow Of the Banking
system as the convenient machinery of business, in
order, not to substitute better currency" in the
place of that which it is capable of supplying but to
vest the control OF the moneyed circulation OF the
Union in the hands of the central Government, there
by subectng the business interests of the country in
every department of industry the direction of
in power, to be used for the building up of inhu-
cnce unknown to the Constitution. Before the COM
mencement ofthe present disastrous era, we beheld
the operations of Banking carried with order, reg
ularlty and success; the system adapted to the
wants OF the country gave facilities to enterprise;
it detached from politics, and meddled not with
things out the egtimte sphere of business The
which has been waged against Banking institutions
was designed, if we may judge from the plain ndi-
cations OF facts, not to reform abuses, If any existed
in them, but to effect entire revolution in the ys-
TEN, and this not revolution of form so much as of
spirit not to make Banks better suited to the wants
of business but to convert them into engines to
the recipients and dispensers of political influence.
But we design now to announce our new position,
rather than to discuss at length the which have
induced its adoption. Without in any degree chang
ing the prominent characteristics of our paper as
Commercial Journal, enter upon the political field
for the purpose of effectually advocating the in
ests to which have been hitherto and shall conn-
to be devoted with untiring zeal. We unite our
selves with the great constitutional party of the
Unon-the WING party, whose principles we believe
blended with the true spirit of republican in
sttutons-with the support of order-with the sta
bility of political fabric-with the sanctity of
vested rights and of plighted faith. The time we
think has come when the ground of neutrality, to
those who would take part in support any general
interest, is much narrowed to afford longer
standing ROOM Political influence is diffused through
the marts of business; it has invaded the counting
house; it prevails in the establishments of the manu-
facturer and the mechanic. As citizens, as men of
business, friends of our citys prosperity and of our
countrys honor cannot avoid participation in the
important questions to which it gives rsequestions
whose decision must affect in all the relations of
life.
As means of indicating the course and demeanor
of the American in the political sphere, which is
included within the limits of its field of action, we
must refer to the character of this paper hitherto
sustained. We hape to discuss political questions
with candor and moderation, viewing them in refer
to the tendency of principles rather than to the
motives of men, This course will afford room enough
for all purposes Of rational investigation and discus
sion, without needing to wander into the of
partizan warfarewhere petty animosities too often
take the place of liberal minded zeal. With
temporaries who entertain political views different
from our own, we would preserve that courtesy and
decorum of language which it has always been our
wish to maintain; since there appears to be reason
why questions involving principles may not be fully
treated without resortng to personal aspersions
passionate rec elimination
LOUISIANA friend who has spent
some weeks in Louisiana informs US that Lou
isiana will vote for Gen. Harrison, and names
some among his most ardent supporters who
were among the most active, personal and po-
litical friends OF Gen. Jackson.