The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-01-28
CHARLOTTE, N. C., JANUARY %, 1871.

"1'e "S'"iitSbcu Hic iHOfe tldU iuls dUu
sir, if tae geniIemaD win listen TO me,
can convince him that he has been mos
egfeglous!y duped in this matter.
twill be impossible sor me, Mr.. Speaker
TO defend myself, without ailudin. TO III,
political course Of Messrs. Graham anc
Nangum, particularly Of The latter gentle
mau and If should tread somewhat rough
ly upon his toes, hope be viii excuse me
aud look to bis indIscreet aud mpTuden
friend from Buncombe, whose over zeal ha
compelled me 10 compare my humble mer
lis With this shining example Of polI,ica
consistency.
Of BIZ aham's opinions or services,
know rj,h;ag, und shall therefore say
acia.ur. presume, he oaes his exa!ia
.iou TO tha, speeius d p3'i cal gratitude
which is said to be hoaitulness for fl,
tire .fapOrs. With MIR. Mangum's public
life, an somewha, more familiar. We
served together IN Congress during the
most extraordinary period Of the political
history Of this country, period which re
quircd greater Grmness and stability ol
character among the members Of Congress,
than aay previous time.
The occupant Of The Presidential chair,
at that time, Gen. Jackson) was man Of
unboundcd popularity and fierce aud un
controllabie self Will, a man who had but 10
express doub, of the honesty or capacity
OF a public servant; and however great he
might previously have been, he was struck
down as if by political palsy, and a mark
was placed upon him, which deprived him
even Of tie sympathy of his fellow men,
These were times, sir, which f they did
10, try meas souls, tried mos, awlully their
1--we Of place.
MIR. Mausum and myself went into Con.
gress as tie political friends Of Gen. Jack.
son; he entered the Senate Of lhe United
States statesman of mature age and estab b..
i,hed reputation, Wills, took nv seat 10
the House Of Representatives, the first time
| had ever been member Of any de'.bera.
i've body, a young man, obscure and IN
known. The President very soon com-
meneed his attack upon the Bank Of the
United States and | think am warranted
IN saying, tina, attack vas received with
almost universal establishment throughout
the country. The cons,itutionality and
utility Of The Bank was supposed, by al
parties, 10 be "rcs adjudicdia." 1t hat
been brought into existence by the demo
cratic party. III. MADISON, VIA had ono.
been lis opponent, had surrendered his OPP
position, FROM sincere conviction, founded
upon the best Of all evidences, official ex.
peFience, that some such machine was ne.
cessary to the safe and efficient operations
Of The Treasury department. To the sur.
prise Of every body, Gen. Jackson first pro.
claimed the bank had failed in furnishing
the nation with good currency. Now,
whatever other objections may be fairly
brought against such an institution over.
shadowing and controlling the entire busi
ness Of this vast country, the late bank was
not liable ie this objection; its currency
was the best il the world, for it was pre-.
icFred every where TO goll and silver.
In 1892, the Presidents objections Il the
Bank came before Congress for their con
sideratInn, upon an application Of the Bank
for renewal OF lis charter and a bill for
that purpose, with suudry improvements,
pnssedthc Senate by large majority. Mr.
Mangum wili be found, by his vote on that
occasion, giving an uncompronising hos;il
ity tot The bill. lie voted neaily always with
Messrs. tluyne and Benton. The bill pass
ed the Senate, and came to the House Of
Representatives,. voted for it--not that |
entertained any special tondness for the
Bank but because the country was pros
porous, and satisfied with the existing state
Of things had heard no complaint and
| thought it the part of wisdom to let well
enough alone, did not suppose, that be.
cause was friendly TO Gen. Jackson, il was
any duty 10 90 with him in all the wayward
ness of his passions and prejudlces. knew
then, as | afterwards found, sha, my vote
would expose me to much censure. | pre-.
ierred, however, what conceived 20 be the
best interests Of my constituents 10 tempora.
ry popularity.
Mr.. Maneum, il must be presumed, voted
against the bill from ono Of two reasons
either to please the President, and protect
his own popularity at home-or because he
thought the institution unconstitutional. If
he voted against the bill because he objected
to ITS details, every body must admit, IT was
the duty of a gentleman filling the Emporium,
post Of Senator, to have pointed out his sew
oral objections, and, unless they were very
weighly, he ought 10 have yielded, sooner
than give vote which, if successful, would
reyoluton;za the whole monetary system OF
the country.
II is but Justice then TO Mr.. Mangum TO
suppose, that he voted against the bill re.
the Bank because he thinks such
institutions uncousitutional-an objection
which no political Inconvenience or fiscal
necessity can justify Senator in overlook,
ing,
For, sir, / hold It TO be cardinal point
in the creed of every American politician,
that the Constitution is the supreme law of
the lind and that no publicm man can be jus,i-
fed by any circumstances, in giving vote
which he believes to BIO in violation of the