The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-09-23
POLITICAL.
From the New York Evs Post.
Opinions of q Merchant.


sense and pithy style Of letter which we find
in the Cincinnati Advertiser o! September Th,
from Captain Robert Wallace. 1t is entitled
"PLAIN MATTERS OF FACT,
"oR THE REASONS OF A DEMOCRAT FOR DTTEk-
ING FROM HIS wHIG FRIENDS"
Captaia Wallace, who formerly served his
county in a military capacity, and is now a
merchant, looks upon the contest between the
two political parties, and upon the different
modes Of conducting il, in precisely the light
in which it must appear 10 any man Of a good
understanding, clear Of prejudices. We have
not space for the entire letter, but we copy a
large portion Of it, for which we have no doubt
our readers will thank us.
a. am often conpmented with an expres.
sion Of asionishmeni, that | should go against
my private interes,-my family connections--
and all the intelligence aud decency with which
I am surrounded. But so it is-anong all this
intelligence | fud the greatest confusion Of
sentiment. and 10 most of this decency an un-
fortunate peryerson Of facts. Most Of the OBJ
jections hear to the present administration are
unfonnded calumnics-and all the arguments
have met with, can be pushed to the single
proposition that we must, and will. have 4
CHASoE." Not change Of measures.-for
we hear Of no measure suggesied--buta change
Of mcn-wlihout regard TO prime pie, policy, or
responsibility which is saying to the people,
lyon must trust ns, hut wa will not trust you !:
give us power, and ask no questions" A party
that condemn one system without proposing
another-only touch one half of the subject.
They either have no plan digesttd, or they are
afraid to expose it. Can rational honest ma
H.. .hat l. l..
and rolling balls convert n man of common
sense! Surely intelligence and candor have
been discarded by the party who descend TO
such nimsy devices. If | had been wavcrinc
these degrading appeals to human folly would
have confirmed me on the opposite side for
the cause must be bad that requires such a sys.
TEN Of dclusion.
We are told that Jackson was elected by
hickory poles and brooms-and consequently
that buckeye and cider will convert us again
But there is one small difference in the two ca.
ses one the spontaneous result Of admiration
and confdence-ihe other is an attempt to pro.
duce an effect without cause. Ths effort io
reconcile such contradictory elements, I know
IS troublesome task, and places the unfortu-
nate candidate in very unpleasant po,fioG.--
Gen. Harrison has made great sacrifices to
Obligc his friends, and | fear that their graft.
tude depends on his election. The host that
expect to ride into Office on his shoulders could
devour Mr. Ponsett's army at meal; if they
fail in their prospects, the General may sink or
swim as he cap-no fear. But have wander
cd little from my object, which is to inform
my whig friends, that without their superior
intelligence, ] am AT no loss 10 define my prin-
ciples; and have heard no argument as yet.
sufficient 10 change them.
know that the whig party do not openly
knowledge that National Bank is their lead
ing object, hat individually they will admit the
fact. II is the strongest tie that binds them to-
ecther; but having been thrice defeated under
its dag, they are now contending for il in dis
cnse. Ii is the sheet anchor Of an arstocracy
and without it, they never can hold the ascen-
drncy in our government. ! am opposed to
National Bank, because | believed il entirely
Unconstitutional. inlrnical to a republican gov
ernmeB;: vicious and corruptiug monopoly.
ana in favor Of an Independent Treasury, be-
cause it is directly opposed 10 such an insttu-
ton, and holds the public funds in the hands
of our Representatives the idea Of creating an
unconstitutional power to check and control
any branch of our government, appears 10 me-
the most preposterous absurdity that ever was
suggested. lf a free and intelligent people
Gannot trust the Representatives. of their own
choice, whom shall they trust We cannot
have a government without the agency Of men.
II some deceive us. let us punish and displace
ihem-but let us never surrender the control.
ing power into the hands Of an incorporated
monster, whose soul rs money-whose smiles
are chains-and whose enmify is destruction,
Some OF my whis friends know this by expe.
nence. They wonder at my hostility, aud
am equally asonished at their forgctfulness-
AS for the currency, my opinion is that the
balance OF trade is the only regulator IL can
have; money, like water, will find IFS level ex-
cessive importations create a vacuum abroad,
Which nothing but bullion will supply, and no
institution can keep up the deficiency pro g..
tecting duties will not remedy the evil without
solid currency, because the cost Of mauulac-
iure w'i always keep pace with the circulating
medium. II we have redundant paper cur.
rency, we must pay tribute TO specie countries.
England pays Ia France, Germany, &c. |;
We pay tribute TO all of them.
am not for an exclusive specie currency,
nor the destruction Of our solvent state banks ;
hut | would regulate them into fair banking
privileges, or bansh them from the land; their
in'erlence with the trade OF the country, raising
IT'S produce above the prices Of any foreign
marker, and drawing even our bread stuTs from
abroad certainly cannot produce our prosperity
ana now, that we are feelin. the effects Of their
sS'ravasanee, they cry aloud against the gov.
e'"me"'' and close their vaults against the
people.
wnen merchant stops payment he is said
TO have failed, bu, these privileged bankrup,,
nave 'aiied three times in three wears; and are
now waving the event Of our elec,iens. "a il
they were candidates for Office. II the, we're
merely spectators, it might not be very mater.
iai; but their influence is more po..,fnl han
reason itself The cry Of "hard times. !" i ,h.
strongest plea that can be urged asains, ma.
trio'isn', for u touches tender point, and car.
ries away the feelings in spite Of the under.
standing.
was Yesterday in conversation with several
prominent wings, who openly avowed the prip.
riple Of prescription: declaring that they " ould
banish men from their employ y ,neni. who should
refuse 10 vote according TO their wishes. II