Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-04-23
III r II A l. ID o f II Ill E Il MI E ;.

SOHHd currency.
II we had not "uniorm and sound cur
rency" at the time this message wns deliver
ed, what would President Jackson call the
one we have been blessed with tor some
years past
In his I'd annual message, delivered Dec.
7, 1880, General Jackson is not only made
tn reueraie the same sentiments expressed
IN his last message, but he Is also made 4"
hold out Il bait to The Bank, IN hopes no doubt
that before applying to Congress for re-
charter the stockholders would FIRST apply to
the executive, M order to ascertain what was
required OF the bank to "obpidte constitutional
and other otjeciions." Ia this message the
President says
The importance Of the principle involved
IN the inquiry, whether II VIII be proper to
rcchartcr the Bank Of the United States, re-
qulrcs that should again call the attention
of Congress To- the subject. Nohlng has
occurred 10 lessen in any degree, The dangers
which many Of our citizens aPprehend from.
that institution, as at present organized. lh
the spirit of Improvement and compromise
which distinguishes our country aud It's IN.
sttutions, 1t becomes us to inquire, whether
il be not possible To secure the advantages
afforded hy the present Bank. through the
agency of Bank Of he Uniied Suites, so
mortified IN lis principles and structure, GS 10
obuiote constitutional and other oLjrciions."
Notwithstanding tins tempting overture,
the Bank did not bite, being no doubt aware
from the beginning of the existence OF the
barbcd hook which lay concealed under the
spcclous bait. 1t was, as has been before
stated, that the explosion of the "UnH' cabi'
net was brought about by the n,rigucs OF
4 ,,I .,,u h.,
came the confidential adviser of President
jackson, aud Francis Z. Blair wus selected
Us editor of the executive organ, tho Globe
Francls 7. Blair was deadly enemy 10 the
Bank from "A cause heretofore stated. The
directors of the Bank had tacllly confessed
that they considered 2:H dollars in notes and
certificates. signed by other men. 10 be OF
greater value than his Francis +. Blair's }
obligations for more than 10000 dollars, and
they had proved their sincerity by having
cancelled hls obligations 10 that amount on
the payment Of the trlilng sum fist mention
ed. This was an injury not To be forgiven,
aud from that day 10 tins Francis i. Blair
has never ceased to vIIIly the Bank with all
the variations cf abuse and fascheud that
tho most malignant OF men could use aud III
vent.
The writer was informed some years since
by resp, c,abc old clergyman, who resided
III w ashlngtou, iha, he boarded III the same
house viii! Amns Kendall or Francis i. Blair,
or with both, III the year 1891 /; and thet he
frequently saw them togeihcr.-llc farther
said, that BlaIr'a conversation related almost
exclusively to the L. States Bank that he
frequently sald it must he put dorm, and
dnOtktr Eank put up IN It's place. THIS 9th
'er Bank hc stated, Blair sometimes called n
"Ir19Smy Dank"-sonrtimes an "ErchCqmGr
Bank'--sumCiImcs n "GOrernmtm Bd,ik"-
and sometimes "Bonk If UoHand" Some
time since the writer observed Il long and Il
particular account in the Globe newspaper,
OF the "Bunk Of .4msirddRi, and it brought
a, once to his mind tho old clergynlans story
Of Blulr's "Bm,k Of ILtand." Mr. Bentons
malignant hatred of the Bank is well known
to every body, and 1t is probable thnt after
Mr.. Van Buren, became convinced that the
directors TT that institution could no, he IN.
duced To lend themselves to the turthciauce
OF his ambitious schemes, he etcrmlncd upon
consigning the Bank to Kendall, Benton, and
Blair, to be dealt with AS they saw tit--wth
the understanding, however, that Mr.. Benton
should not be brought forward as "A candidate
for the Presidency until his own term should
have expired. Willi this understanding Mr..
Van Bnren left the United States sometime
in the month Of July, 1881, as minister 10 the
Court of ST. James, being named to lha, mis-
sion by General Jsckson, us was his ordinary
practice during the recess of Congress. Al
the next session of Congress, in December
following, the nomination was re- Gcted ia the
Senate las before stately on the ground that
Martin Van Burcn, while Secretary of State,
had attempted to negotiate on the West In
da trude, with the government of Great Brit
ain through Mr.. M'Lane, our then minister
in England, purely on party principles.
The stockhnldcrs of the Bank were now
about pcttioning Congress for II renewal OF
their charter. In President Jackson', annual
delivered Dec. 10, 1881, he says:
Entertaining the opinions heretofore OK.
pressed in relation In the hank of the United
States as at The present organised, felt 1t NY
Iniy IN my former messages frankly to dis
lose them, in order that the attention of the
egls lature and the people should be seasonal
bly, directed TO That important subj ct, and
hat it might be considered and finally dis
posed of in a manner best calculated to pro-
mote the ends Of the constitution, and sub
serve the public interests. Having thus con-
scicn,lously discharged constitutional duty
deem 1t proper OH tins occasion, without
more particular reference 10 the views of the
subject then expressed, to leave it for the
present 10 the investigation of an enlightened
people and their representatives."
To read the above extract one would be
led to suppose that General Jackson was
Of the p,ve miM of human kind
ness, and that he was perfectly satisfied that
the "enHghtened people and Meir representa-.
'ires," should dispose of the Bank as they
thought proper-bm mark Me result. On
The ninth of January, 1872, less Than one
month after the delivery of the Presidents !
message, Mr.. Dallas presented to the Senate
Of the United States "A memorial from the
stockholders Of the United States Bank, re-
'pecliully pe,I,ioning that the charter cf that
Institution should be- renewed. After mature |
Elaboration, n bill for the charter of the |
Bank passed the Senate on the l,h Of June,
~ majority OF eight votes, and was concur.
ed III by the House of Representatives. by II
vote Of IOI 10 eJ, and that, too, after the IN
,cstigntIon of the affairs Of tho Bank by
committee, appointed by Congress for that
'xprcss purpose. This bill was sent To the
President on the 9TH of July, who on the 10Th !
# the same month returned 1t with his Veto,
his former expressions of
obedience To The will Of the people aud oi
heir representatives. The committee APP |
pointed on this occasion was composed of
majority o. administration members. among |