Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-04-12
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE
COUNTRY.

In the remarks which we propose TO make,
from time to time, under this caption, it must
be understood that our main object is to prove
the incapacitY of those into whose hands the
government Of the country has been put, prop
ery to perform the duty required ofthem-and
further, that this incapacity is the cause OF the
general distress which now pervades all clas
SEES of men throughout the Union. The adj
minstration has proved itself unequal to tine
conception Of any system, and its failure has
shaken the public confidence in its intentions,
10 such degree, that the interests OF every
private citizen have been compromised. A.
bove all things in public affairs, the most es-
scniial quality for good statcmanship, is uni
formity and steadiness of action. The people
should always be made clearly TO understand
what the Government means. But there has
been an inconsistency between profession and
action in the course of our present rulers,
which battles all possibility OF calculation
Most especially has this been visible in the
treatment Of all questions relating to the cur
rency and credit, which are now OF most i'm
mediate importance to the community, and
which have a direct influence of an unfavora-
BILE kind upon all the other embarrassments in
which it is now involved.
And first of all, let it be well remembered,
that al the time when General Jackson became
President, there was no difficulty whatsoever
in the currency. Plenty OF banks existed then
as we'll as now, but their paper was generally
good as gold and silver, and the cost of remit
ting money from one part OF the country to an
other, was less than that which would have
been incurred by sending specie. Fluctua-
| tons in trade and in credit were frequent
money was at one time abundant, and at an
l>other scarce-and many individuals failed
| but tic currency was never disturbed 10y these
events, ihcrc any loss expert ""e~d ."
| the attempt to realize the wages OF labor
! Bot il had not been always so. The suffering
| experienced during the war had taught les
son respecting the necessity Of regulating the
currency and controlling the credit system
which was not thrown away uron the govern
/ ment of that day, even though Mr.. Madison
who was at It's head, was obliged IN the pro-
cess 10 recant old opinions agd adopt those he
l had once strenuOusly resisted. Amer much
discussion and long deliberaiion, scheme was
devised to check the extremes to which bank
| ing in the States had gouc, ard iAis snbse-
auenily went into operation IN TIC shape OF a
! National Bank Whether this scheme was
or was not, the most Judclous oxpedent
/ is a question about which pclricians may non
/ debate as long as they Ike. VIC shall moi
NEEDLE with the point NJ all. That which had
protested 20 be money undcr lis IHhlence, be-
came money, and continued so as long as il
/ existed.
When. therefore, General Jlcks0n came IN
to Office. and ma1c up his mind 70 pat an ena
10 the old system which had been so success
ful, it was most Snqueslio1ahiy his duty, ant
that OF his responsible advisers, 10 be prepare,
with something TO Pot in iis place which would
do better. No more solemn responsibility de
wolves upon men who preieRd 10 be statesmen
I than that which they incur when they under
take great changes that must inevitably alice
great numbers Of private citizens ia all iheil
business relations. II VAS ihe part Of lhos'
who proiessed 10 have any knowledge upOg
the subjects requiring their action. not IN sdop
/ any measure lik ,ly 10 be attended with seri