Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1840-02-22
SPEECH OF Mr.. NULL,
oF MARSHALL COUNTY.


Delivered in Comittee of the whole, in ,h'
House of Representatives, on Monday
Jan. 90, 1910.
The resolution offered by Gen. SrErcHr
referring that portion of the Governor
message in relation to local Banks, tt
the committee on Banks and Currency
with instructions to report bill com
pelling the Banks to resume on the frs
of April, by paying their issues in golo
or silver, or forfeit their charters, anG
being under consideration
Mr.. NULL rose and said:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN- We we're sent here,
sir, by the people to reform the Currency.
A deep and abiding curse is on the land.
Every where we hear the voice of the
people crying for reform. They demand
it, sir, not as matter of mere form, but
as right and stern justice. When we
started from home, we give our constitu.
ents solemn promise that we would regu-
late the currency; that we would tie up
the Banks, and prevent them from further
running tie country. But now, sir, what
do we hear? are members willing to come
up to the mark, and do their duty in pull
ing down these bastard constitutions Of the
country" that are blithirg, like wither-
ing sirocco, the prospects Of our fair land?
Already we are told by few shin-plaster
tender.footed *Democrats, wolves in
sleeps clothing" that the Banks are sa'
cred, and that we can do nothing, except
through the Intervention OF the Judiciary.
Did these timid gentlemen tell their constt.
uents this; did they preach such doctrines
when they were electioneering as candid
aes for public favor? 70, sir; far from it.
Then they cried, SHOWN with the Banks"
and the people said "amen" Now, the
advocates Of judicial bank regulations say
we can do nothing by legislative action
but, thank God, the people will tell these
gentlemen a different tale-they will tell
them, sir, in language as loud as The peal.
ing thunder from clear sky, that they
have the power to put down the Banks,
and trample them under their feet.-In the
words of the patriot JACKSON, they will
repeal these "vested wrongs" which a
few money-changers, gamblers, and specu-
la,ors have fastened upon the country. Is
the honest farmer or mechanic benefited
by Banks? Not at all, sir; they are
swidled out of their hard earnings BY this
ruinous and Ubiquitous system Of bank
plumber. They labor hard by the sweat
of their brow, and are then robbed OF the
fruits of their industry. Shall such
state of things, unparalleled in civilized
age, continue longer to exist? Where is
the man so base and craven-hearted, that
will longer consent to see such an outrage.
GUS violation of republican rights and
principles stain for longer period, the
birh.rieht of freedom? Is there one? lfI
so, | tell him to beware the wrath OF God
will not more surely overtake the harden
ed sinner, than will1he voice of the people
hurl such traitors toll he Cause liberty and
justice, from their high estate to the bottom
less pit of insgnifcance and scorn.
Mr. Chairman, tell me not OF the sacred
ness of Bank charters; tell me not of de.
cisions of Kings and Crowns in feudal
times; point me not to the opinions OF
Wheaton, Blackstone, or Story, and others
skilled in legal techuicalities. l will not
90 back to the dark ages Of ignorance and
superstition; but taking my stand upon the
of the Constitution, alongside o!
and JACKSON, and on the
side Of the rights ofthe people, commence
my battery at once upon these "plague-
,pots' upon the escuiheon Of our fair state;
md throwing off the yoke Of bank vassal-