The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-06-25


their effect on the great mass with which his inter-
ests associates him, and mot merely to their ten
denotes to asgrsndize the privileged classes, The
silk paper gs4trv. lie touches the leading points
with strong hand, disbains the petty relinemenls
of legal art and sophistry.- Gtote.
LETTER TO JOHN TYLER PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
Antecedent circumstances over which you had
no control have placed YOU in position that ena-
bIes YOU 10 control circunlsances-a position winch
puts it more in your power for the next four years
to appropriate the adagc quisque sur JOrtuHG Ja-
Ler and with less trouble perhaps than has ever
fallen TO the lot Of any man. Not only may !ou
he the arlifcer Of your own everlasting renoWn,
but of YOUR counlly's good and glory VIII you
forego all this: viii YOU, for the sake OF your
own and your couniry's good and honor, use the
power now in youl hands, TO stop the downward
course Of our once pure Republic Institutions Or
will YOU, giving yourself up to this downward pro-
ciyi,y--lhis jICicS 5e census GrefF0, III c"hluhc-
ton with men and measures by winch you VIII be
surrounded, earn for yourself The eXerrallons OF all
honest men in all iuturity Can even blindness
Itself fail TO see the tendencies and consequences Of
measures n0w understood to be in contemplation
for The coming session of Congress Can any man
/ q
ruin must follow? Look ut the present state OF
morals and political and pecunary integrity, and
ask Yourself the cause Of this state olnora aud po-
lnical arrangements, making US an object ct scoTh
and dcrsion TO the nations OF the EARTH he false
system Of paper money banking-the credit system
50 called-a system founded in lalsehood and con-
| tinued in fraud, in connection with the knnvery,
and ignorance ola few selfish and unprncip'ed pol
iticiuns, principally of the Hamilton Federal school
NAV be considered the true cause OF the downward
tendency of our affairs. Look at the present con-
dition of that system, and more particularly the
central machine which has impe'.cd the whole,
and ask Yourself if the pobc good requires lis re-
,iyal What is It's past history as well as Ms pres
ent degraded state And yet you will probably be
asked To aid in It's rcsuscaton, by giving II lie
use of the public money, or the grant OF new
charter for as it will be called new Bank TO run
the same race, with one certalnan extended inlh'
The system is radically vcious--it has Inherent
vices which will corruptall i, is connected with 49,
Can m honest plain, Republican Government re-
ouire such system Of knavery and dishonesty as
an agent to manage It's moned affairs Who would
trust his money with pickpoCket' Does not eX-
perencc proves the folly of surprising that another
could be placed upon any other basis, or HAT 1t
would be any better: Why talk, as some have,
of a bank properly regululed--a bank under prop
or restrictions: WHY talk Of claiming the winds
or the waves; What force have laws and legal
restrictions had You know the whole system Is
lawless. Why, therefore, talk orre,lrcton Ii
il Cu,c and idle Is it not equally idle to say that
the Government cannot get along with It's fiscal at
fairs without such un agent? What is the truth
HIS il actually either collected or dlshuTscd the
revenues? Above all has it furnished the means
from, which was ii Is raised Nothing ct all thls
All it has done after The revenue was iurlshed and
collected by others, was TO receive AMI use II Ill o
great degree for its own benefit, and then II was
expanded by Government dsbursng agents. Then
all that can be claimed to have been done, Is that
the money was temporarily placed in its keeping
and such keeping Are there no honest people ID
the country except in hanks Would it not be as
little inyiduous TO ask, are there dishonest ones
except in banks? And is there so little talent II
Congress, as TO be unable 10 make personal instead
Of corporate agents, capablc and responsible too
in collecting, keeping and discussing the pubic
revenue: individuals and their securities can h'
reached. and their misdeeds punished. When havt
: banks been made ACCOUNTABLE There is no great,
er deluson than TO suppose this false system o
credit necessary TO the proper, honest, and useiu
operntions of the Government. 1t Is also grea
delusion 10 suppose that il has been really or sub
s,anliay useful to sound, healthy action of GU
} commercial systems from which the Governmen
has drawn, and must long draw the principal par,
its revenue. How idle TO suppose that such conn
try, with such commercial, agricultural, and othc
: resources, only left unshacheIcd aud unSm0MeIf
by this system Of lasehood, could not get on WI
its affairs So far from being advantageous; $50 Ia
e from developing out resources, Is II NOT nor pres
sing like an incubus upon the bosom oil the connlrl
renressna ils resources and its energies: Nh'
| Al, ;,,J, oil otp tn
= down BY the consequences Of this SYSTEM iIth'
! indebted States pay they must tax. II they d.
b moi. they are disgraced. Will either tend to thel
benefit. or increase their wealth? Will this state
, things encourage emigration or increase or devel
ope their resources? OF all tyranny, the tyrann!
= of excessive taxation is the greatest, The mos
G widely extended throughout the world, Inc mos
= oporessiyo and relentless. Go on carry INTO ei
feet the measures in prospect--your fifty or hun
n dred million Bank your distribution plan. your as
sum,,;on. direc, or Indirect. of the States debts
4 ,arifc. taxation. loans, funding and pubic debt
A and we shall become completely poIlilchlI.
= damned as the people OF that counlry,whose POM
icat vices we ape and adopt. Who VIII he"eV'
: that John Tyler will aid in all this Not the Nii
Ter of this address, until he sees IT.. II Is mpossl
e bic 10 manage the money affairs OF the 4oVerhG'eh
A ,y;,bout restoring either to United States Bank o
State Banks, the principal purpose for which, IN ct
Their case will be 10 give them the use oil the pub
= liz money TO trade on Have they not been boil
i tried and from their former practice and presen
n condition. would any sane man cohfde IN them e
4 Again I ask. is there not wisdom enough IN Con
rross in concurrence with the Executive, to ap
min, and restrain to strict honesty and acconnta
bii,y. fit agents TO collect receive, keep, and pa.
4 ont the public money, without trusting TO mos
r who have prove themselves unworthy OF conn