The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-07-23


If this destructive operator should tell the honorn
bic Senator that there were differences of opinion
between himself and the members ofihe family and
between the individuals who composed the family,
in relation to the expedency of building anew,
and more especially in relation to the size and plan
and description of the new building which they
should erect, and that he had found it necessary to
demoish the old house, and turn them out TO the
weather, without shelter from the heat or protec-
ton from the cold, to force them TO unite with him
in the erection of his proposed new edi6ce, the
reasons of the man, for his apparently rash course
would be papable; and still the Senator would be
compelled to say that his appeal was to violent ar
guments to force harmony in his family, and would
be forced to admit that his course savored more Of
resolution than of wisdom, fairness, or JUSTICE
Suppose farther, the members of the family should
tell the honorable Senator that the new house was
not in any event, to occupy the site of the old;
that the new site was not vet either secured or
ected, and that the only point determined about
il was that it should be upon different lot, DIFF
fcren street, and in an entirely different quarter of
the town from the old. This would show the alb
sence Of all necessity for the demolition Of the old
building, and would not certainly relieve the act OF
the head of the family in tearing it down, and turn
ing his family houseless into the public streets,
from the character of rashness which it first as
sumed
will apply the Senator'S metaphor, TINS illus
trated, to the case before the Senate He insists
upon speedy repeal of the Independent Treasury
law, TO give place, as he says, to National Bank,
when he does not know, and no man yet knows,
that National Bank can be passed by Congress;
when he does not know, and no man yet knows,
in case n majority of the members of each House
of Congress shall be able to agree upon charter,
that il, will be such an one as can receive the ap
probation Of the Executive. He does know, how
ever, and we all know, that there are differences of
opinion between members of the Senator's own
political party, not only rs to the description Of The
Bank 10 be Incorporated, the extent of the powers
and privileges to be conferred upon it, and the To-
cation TO be given TO it, hut upon the question
whether National Bank shall be chartered at all,
or some other fiscal agent for the public treasury
shall be constituted,
Does he not further know that the Bank or other
fiscal agent proposed to be constituted by his party,
whatever may be It's form, and by whatever name
it may be called is not TO occupy at all the site of
the old building, the Independent Treasury Ger
tainly he must know this, The Independent 1rea-
sury is erected upon solid constitutional ground,
Its foundation walls are laid strong and deep in
that sacred soil. This is Il point beyond doubt OF
question: aud do not suppose any single indvid-
ual whom | address, ever has held, or pretcnds
now to hold doubt ms TO the strict and express
constuora'i,y of the Independent Treasury sys-
tenn as fiscal agency for the Treasury. Not SO
with the honorable Senator'S proposed National
Bank II can only be reared upon the marshes oil
the constitutional land, if indeed it can occupy SO
tremuous and movable foundation within the
boundaries of that consecruted territory. lis con
| 40 lity IL thnn
stronger expression, and It's site cannot approach
that occupied by the treasury of the Constitution
itself Whence, then, the necessity for ra2lng Thu
old and plain and homcly building with such ho
haste. because new edilice is to be attempted ii
another quarter? The new cdliicc, doubt not, /
erected. will be more splendid in lis architecture
more gi,tcring and snowy in its appearance, bn
the old house is not in the way, and need not b'
demolished TO make room for the marble palace
which is TO succeed it, will not gentlemen con
sent 10 let this plain and honcly building remain
uselcs, though It may be, aud untcnanted as
surely will be- if splendid Bank is to become til,
treasury Of the people, viii they not in this in
stance follow the worthy example OF many OF tn
hardy yeomanry of our country, who when IN
dusry, rugnlity and prosperity have enabled then
10 do so, erect new dwellings, enlarged and beau
tilted, but suffer the old log cabin to remain, a mo
mento Of humber circumstances, though perhap
not of less happy days or honest deallngS' lie
the same course be pursued as TO this lndeprnden
, Treasury law this old building about TO be has'l
demolished 1t can do no harm, and will be u me
mortal of a period when the currency OF The Con
sti,u,on was the currency Of the law; when money
and no, credit was collected into the public treas
, nry, and paid out to the citizens who labored i
The hubble service; when reality and intrinsic value
l | nd pOnEIpncp
f standard of value for all our property This oil
Q building may indeed be offensive 10 the eyes q
some of the occupants of the proposed new edlict
. but surely we shall not, in that circumstance, I'm
necessity for tearing it down and oblilerating il
/ very foundations, before even the plan Of the ne'
building il formed or lis site selected. Let, Ell
, trent gentlemen, the old house remain until III
I erection of the new building shall supcrsedc It's ust
: and then let it still remain n monument OF IN
wisdom, or the folly, as experience shall decide
: its construction.
. Another reason which has been repeatedly al
y signed for the early passage of this bill is the ~
e sumption that the decision of the people, ut III
a last fall elections, was against the lndependei
y Treasury. and demands from their representative
II the repeal of the law establishing it. II is said tn
resistance against the repeal is direct resistnnc
= against nm express mandate Of the people. Is III
$ so do no, stand here to say that 1t is not 81
] but If gentlemen insist that the elections reerc
o 10 were decision of the people against the lnd'
It pcnden, Treasury, in taror Of what system
o finance did those same elections express the opil
ion Of the people Of the country In favor OF Il
I now proposed substitute, National Bank! N
e So FAR as my acquaintance extends, that resul
II from those elections, cannot be established. III
!, Presidential elections Of 1910 were, in the MANN
of conducting the canvass, new and singular to Il
n country, and il is not easy TO determine what WI
decided BY them, beyond the choice OF the success
e FIJI candidates II is insisted, however, by the DIT
g minan, party, tina, decision Of tho people again
lie the Independent Treasury is one point clearly e
ID tablished by those elections. This may be so; b
ut il does not follow that such decision was also
3 favor Of National Bank. This, however, Is no
IF assumed, and will take this occasion 10 repea
is what have once before expressed from my pla'
,e here. that il may well be urged. and upon mu'
1T stronger evidence, that the decision Of the peop
10 a, those elections required Of the distinguished il
/ diyidua elected TO GIL the Presidential chair, al
i or him who now fills il. that they should have d
A.. u.o,ry tho snlpndid ma ps;o, n, tho n, ia