Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-05-12
SMALL CHANGE.

SMALL CHANGE.
Il rather occurs to us that as difficult as
IT is now, TO procure small change for or
binary business transactions, it will be
much more so about the 4th Of July next,
when, the circulation Of shinplasters of all
kinds is prohibited; which would not be
the case had our locofoco Legislature not
made bad scOrSe! by re-suspending those
banks in the State which had commenced
specie payments--by the passage Of what
they arc pleased TO term the "B1nk Re.
form Bill" Until that law was made,
several Of the banks, and among them the
Commercial Bk.uf Columbus d the Branch
of the Planters Bank of Mississippi at this
place, were paying specie on all their is
sues--when Immediately they fell back on
the law, which provides for the payment
of fives in April, tens in July twenties in
October, and other denominations January
next, So much for locofocoism!
If there were no other evidence or the
abandonment of principle and total dis
regard oftruth on the part of the locofoco
party, at the head of which is Martin Van
Buren,, with his 'dusky satellites, such as
the Globe and Columbus Democrat-there
need be no better proof that such is the
fact than the vile epithets these and other
shameless prints heap upon that noble pa
triot and honest man, William Henry Har-
risOn-such as contemplate puppet,"
"old granny" 'petticoat hero!" "stuPid
imbecility," &C., as though the country
did not know that the whole was an at
tempt at base detraction, and for no other
purpose than because Gen1. Harrison
preSumeS to run as a candidate against
Mr.. Van Buren, for the Presidency. Gen.
Harrison in doing this does nothing more
than exercise the right Of every American
citizen. The Office to which he aspires is
not to be held in fee simple, or be possessed
bv entail. The humblest individual in the
country may aspire to 1.-THE carpenter,
the blacksmith, the ploughman, or the
day laborer-it is free for all. But is it
thus considered by those who oppose, af.
Ter the locofoco fashion, the pretension Of
Gent. Harrison : Certainly not. He is
looked upon BY. all such as aspiring to that
which does not belong to hlm--and so
they would look upon any other individu-
al who could not ride in his splendid car
riage with costly equipage and servants
clad in livery, surprising the Pageantry of
q British Nobleman. "No," say they,
"Gen. Harrison, is too humble an individ-
ual-he's too poor, to be made President
Of the United States. He has not the
imPerious AR, and the courtly bearing Of
KING sufficiently to be made PreSi-
deHt,-and to acknowledge the truth, that
is the ground upon which we object to him
and no other" An! this rs more like
the fact; and It will be seen how we'll
this will be appreciated by the poor and
laboring classes, wh0 now see, and with.
out difficulty, that their poverty or humble
sphere will forever preclude them from
any participation in the government of
their country or any of its affairs-except
to be sent into the swamps of Florida to
fight Indians, and starve! or 10 leave their
sides, and dearest friends, to protect
our shores from the incursions of for.
eign and invading foe.
Yes,- If there are battles 10 be taught.
or a great man-after a locofocos way of
thinking-to be made still greater, why
then, the poor are always in demand, and
no sooner is the end accomplished than
they are cast aside as unworthy of further
notice--considered troublesome and i'm.
pertinent if they set up a claim upon their
tcoantry,-ihat country which they have
| defended with their best blood;-so il has
been with Gen. Harrison, and so it will be
with every other poor but honest man.
But Gen. Harrison does not ask the Office
to which he now aspires as the boon FOL
his past scrvices-such thing would HI
scorn,-and if he did il would constitute
J no part Of compensation,--but he aspire'
to it that he may be enabled to render still
further service to the State, and secure
once more to the country those blessing
! which were enjoyed during the palnies
; days of the RePublic-achieved in par
, by histoial disregard of danger and scale,
\ with his patriotic blood
} When-O when! shall we again Sc
. our country prosperous and happy J Or
: she forever doomed Who--who couT
S have believed that few short years, dur
: ing period of profoI nd peace, could hav
; produced such an alteration as now strike
. the Wow Of MI observers in tho affairs r