Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-09-22

erl n.ats 3D. declare li
if Distortion % eeu
III F.l7arfs baal
au IQIgae
teiOus 80 "a. ,--t .".~.a- HI fhe 'fF,
threatening the accumulation of still greater
evils, utterly hostile to the true spirit of the
constitution and 10 the principles of civil lib
eriy and calling upon all men OF honest pur-
pose, disinterested patriotism, and unbiased
intelligence, TO put forth their utmost consti-
tutional efforts in order to effect change.
Gen. Andrew Jackson was elected Pres-
dent of the United States and took the oaths
and his seat, on the 4th of March, 1899; and
we readily admit, that under his adminstra-
ton, certain portions Of TIE public affairs were
conducted with ability. But we have to la
ment that he was not proof against the insinu
atoms and influences of evil cCunsellors, or
perhaps against his own passions, when NOV
ed and excited. Hence,in one Of the most i'm
portant branches of the public interest, in the
essensial part Of commercial regulation which
| respects the money, the currency, the circula-
| ton, and the internal exchanges of the coun-
try, accidental occurrences, acting on his
characteristic love of rule and uneasiness un-
der opposition, led him to depart from all that
was expected from him, and 10 enter upon
country into greater and greater difficulties at
every step, so that, in this respect, his whole
course of administration was hut series of
ill fated experiments, and of projects, framed
In disregard of prudence and precedent, and
| bursting In rapid succession; the final explo-
sion taking place few months after his re-
tire ment from office.
Gen. Jackson was not elected with any de-
sire or expectation, on the part of his support
ers that he would interfere with the currency
Of the country. We affirm his tsSthe truth of
history. 1t is incapable of refutatiSn or denial.
Ii is as certain as that the American revolution
was not undertaken to destroy the rights OF
property or overthrow the obligation ofmorals.
But,unhappily, he became involved in a contro-
versy with the then existing Bank of the Uni
ted States. He manifested a desire, how orr
gnating or by whom inspired is immaterial, to
exercise political influence over that institu-
ton, and to cause that institution to exercise,
in turn, political influence over the commu-
nifty. Public documents prove this as plainly
} as they prove any other act of his admilistra-
ton. In this desire he was resisted, thwarted,
and finally defeated. But what he could not
govern he supposed he could destroy; and the
event showed that he did not overrate his pop
} ularity and his power. He pursued the Bank 10
the death, aud achieved his triumph by the We
|
, tanning sound and uniform currency, for the
use of the whole country, having been thus
tramped down and destroyed, recourse was
/ had to those new modes of experimental adj
ministration, to which we have already ad-
} verted, and which terminated so disasterously
! both for the reputation of his administration
and the welfare of the country.
But Gen. Jackson did not deny his consli-
tuiional obligations, nor seek to escape from
) their force. lie never professedly abandon
ed all care over the general currency. dis
whole conduct shows that he admitted, through.
I out, the duty of the general government to
I maintain supervision over the currency oil
g the country, both metallic and paper, for the
+. general good and use of the people; and he
e congratulated both himself and the nation
= that by the measures adopted by him, the cur
}, rency and exchanges Of the country were pla-
: ced on better footing than they ever had
/. been under the operation of a Bank of the
United States. This confidence in bis own
experiments, proved most illusory. Fht the
frequency with which he repeated this and
similar declarations, establishes, incontestibly
= his own sense of the duty of government.
a In all the measures of Gen. Jackson upor
i the currency, the present Chief Magistrate is
d known 10 have concurred. Like him he was
e opposed to the Bank of the United States like
q him he was IN favor OF the state depOste banks
and like him he insisted that, by the aid o
e such banks, the administration had accom-
: plshed all that could be desired, on the prea
4 subjects Of the currency and the exchange.
g Bot the catastrophe of May, 1887, produced
I a new crisis, by oyerthrowing the last in a sc
: ries of experiments, and creating an absolute
e necessity, either of returning to that policy o
the government which Gen. Jackson had re
e pudiated, or Of renouncing altogether the con
e stitutional duty which il had been the obiec
= of that policy to perform. The latter brancl
l. Of the alternative was adopted. Refuge wa
= sought in escape. A duty up TO that momen
I admitted by all, was suddenly denied, and III,
9 fearful resolution announced that government
II should hereafter provide for its own revenues
and that for the rest, the people must TAX
d care Of themselves.
l. Assembled here to-day, and feeling in com
Is mon with the whole country the evil oonse
s. quences OF these principles and these meas
10 ures, we utter against them, from first 10 las
al our deep and solemn disspprobaiion and r,
n monsHance. We condemn the early depsl
al ture OF Gen. Jackson from that line OF polio
ne which he was expected 10 pursue. We d,
20 plore the temper which led him 10 his origin
p quarrel with the Bank. We deplore the hea,
Ile strong spirit which ins,iga ied him To purs,
10 that institution 20 its destruction We A
plore the timidisy Of some, the acquiescenoe