The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-17
The darkest sky to-day
May wear a smiling face tomorrow,


characterized with degree of abuse and vitupe-
ration never before witnessed in that body
In order that our rcaderes may form some idea OF
Of the abuse poured out on President Van Buren,
we here give them specimen in the character
of Mr. Profit of Indiana, one of the prominent
leaders of the Opposition. she began by making
some general remarks upon the merits of the bill,
entered somewhat into its history, and concluded
by direct personal attack upon the President.
Calling upon God as the witness to the truth of
his assertion he expressed the belief that Mr..
Van Buren, was an enemy to his country, that he
sought an increase of executive power to place
upon his head crown. He denounced him by
epithcts too vulgar to be placed upon paper ridi-
cued his moral character, laughed at his personal
Establishments, dended his very appearance, and
concluded the whole by saying that he "wiShcd
old Espy were here, that he might purchase of
him a hundred dollars worth of thunder and
lightning to pour down in the shape of thunder
bolts upon the head of the President"
This is a fair specimen Of the character of the
|
their schemes and manguvcrs rendered abortve,
they seek revenge in the shape Of personal abuse
aud blasphemy. After indulging in q hard c-
der and other beverages little h0rier until their
reasoning faculties are scorched and "sere1 as with
a hot iron," they wake up from their stupor and
crafty their insatatc appetitos, by heaping abuse
and calumny upon the head of the Chief Magis-
trotc OF this Republic.
The trlc character and tendency of the indie
pendent Treasury Bill, may be found in the fol-
lowing extract from the Speech of Mr.. Williams
Of Massachusetts, delivered in the House of Rep
rcseniaiyes a short time since;
ain the first place, TO dispense with the use Of
banks in the collection, safc-kcepng, and dis
bursemcnt Of the public revenue, and for these
purposes to employ responsible officers, appoint
ed by the President, with the advice and consent
of the Senate secondly, to require the revenue
TO be deposited in the Treasury, or its branches,
prohibiting any use or loan of it, except in the
| legal disbursements of Government, under severe
penalties of fine and imprisonment and thirdly,
to require, in the course of three years, all dues
10 be received, and all disbursements to be made
| IN gold aad silver These are the main provisions
OF the bill"
"What right sir have the banks and mcr-
chants to its custody and use Is our revenue
raised for the support of Government, or for pur-
poses OF private gain and speculation Sir, we
have no right to tax the people, to collect rcvc-
nuc, for such individual and selfish purposes
Such dangerous power has not been delegated to
Congrcss--has not been surrendered by the pco-
pie. Why, then, abuse the taxing power T.
| Why, then pervcrt the public revenue from its
legitimate ends, to enable bankers and spectators
to thrive upon the Governmentl Our taxes are
mainly collected from the consumers are paid
about equally by the poor as well as '.ie rich.---
! Why, then, should the bankers BIC the only gain
ers by the peoples money! Arc they more mer-
itorious--truer or more devoted friends of their
country If not, why should the revenue 20 to
make the rich richer Is it showing friendship
for the laboring community to exact the property
of the aborcr in taxes and take only the promises
Of the banks
"The SYSTEM sir is unequal, UNJUST and dan
gerous. 1t adds to the insecurity of the public
money in the Treasury, all the risks of banking,
trading, and speculation. II taxes the people not
merely for the support of Government, but to Gre
ate fund for the use of favored class. 1t is a
| al
with republican legislation, unworthy free and
enlightened people.
"Srong exceptions have been taken to the
provisions of the bill for the collection OF the rev.
cnue in gold and silver To all that has been
urged on this head, it is a sufficient answer, thai,
no other currency is recognized by the Constitu-
tion--tha no other currency will enable the Gov.
eminent to meet the demands which may be made
upon the treasury. Every citizen has the right,
by the laws Of the land, to exact specie in the
payments of his debts. Why should the govern
ment be content with less My colleague, mr..
Cushingl gives as reason, that it will furnish
one and superior currency for the Government
and another and inferior one for the people. Blu,
how so, when it only exercises 1t right secured Ia
every citizen How is il to benefit the office
holders, if our bank paper Is rcdeemable in, and
as contended equivalent TO gold and silver II
will not then affect prices; it will not then com.
mand premium; and of course it will confer nc
benefit TO the office holder. But when the revcrs,
is the case--when paper ceases to be the repre-
sentative of what it purports TO be--ccascs as
whole to be convertible into spccie--in word
becomes dcprecated--in that case, my colleague
admits, it should not be received into the Treas
ury.