Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-10-05
COMMUNICATED.

A slight view Of the history Of the Wing
party for the last few years furnishes an
important and instructive lesson to those
who wish learn wisdom from the past as a
guide for the future.
From the time that President Jackson
removed the deposits and vetoed the bank
bill up to the present, they have kept up
an incessant war with the opposite party,
on the currency question, endeavoring by
all the means within their reach, to bring
all the inauene resulting from. and all the
interests connected with this momentous
subject, to weigh against the veteran who
dared perform his duty and trust posterty
for vindication of his course. An arm
Of less strength, a virtue less Roman,
would have shrunk from encountering the
legion that was opposed to them. Every
banking institution from Maine to Louisi-
ana with all their power and influence over
the people, was Immediately reused and
put in motion against this first effort of
reform; expansions and contractions fol-
lowed in quick succession; the former in
hope Of buying, the latter with the deter
minaton Of driving the people !; and by
this, the most powerful Of all engines in
this country, an effort was made through
the ballot, box to stay the tide Of popular
feeling so strongly setting in favor Of re-
form. But happily for the American peo-
pie, and for the cause of rational and civil
liberty throughout the world, the efortwas
unavailing. The cause of the enormous
abuses which had been practiscd upon the
people, was too plainly seen and too we'll
understood to admit doubt az to which
would triumph, the money power or the
people. A discerning and vrtuous people
approved the course of the President BY
one of those decisive proofs, which was at
once, evidence of theirsagacity, anu last
ing honor 10 the man in whose favor il was
proclaimed. Notwithstanding this the par.
ty did not yield. The events Of the next
succeeding four years show, that though
defeated and rebuked by the people, they
turn again to the charge with ten fold more
vigor and perseverance than before. Ne
J yer was the truth Of the maxim, 'ihat pow
er over u mans support is power over his
WILL" more fully illustrated, than during
the period above named. Who, that re-
tains recollection Of the transactions of
that day cannot call to mind the expedients
used and the threats made to coerce the
suifragcs Of the mechanics, the manufac-
turers and the operatives in every depart
ment of life9 The refractory merchant or
employer felt the rod directly from the
banks, by the curtailment Of discounts; and
these in their turn, either by reduction
Of wages, or withdrawal of employ ment,
brought home to the bosoms of thousands
of families dependant on their daily av-
oca,ions for living, the lessons and influ-
ences designed to overthrow their previ-
ously declared judgment. By arts ma
| neuvres such as these the most intense
excitement was awakened and kept alive
until the period arrived when the second
verdict was to be proclaimed by the peo-
pie. Their utmost power had been exert
ed; an overwhelming majority had declared
in tones not to be mistaken against the bank;
and should that decision be confirmed by
second verdict, the party we'll knew that
any further attempts to flatter or drive the
people with the direct question before them
would be useless. The time arrived; the
people saw no reason for a change of opin-
ion and instead Of the golden days Of
Whiggery;
when by the grace Of God, they were to ride
rough shod,
On the heads and necks Of the people,
man, pledged to carry out the principles Of
his llustrious predecessor man whose
political course as President was marked
out before he entered upon it, was placed
in the Chair Of State, to the great joy OF
all good men and true, and to the utter dis
comfture Of the host Of mammon.
Here one might suppose the contest en-
ded; and indeed so far as the decision Of
the direct question by the people was con-
cerned, it was ended. But like supple Jack,