The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-08-24
From The Old School Republican.
TO THE HON. JOSEPH RIDGWAY.

BY what does it appear that the people in The cleo
ton Of Harrison and Tyler, decreed in favor of
United States Bank How is il proren that the ques
ton at all in issue before them 2 Consider these
nterrogaoTies, if you please and them salts
actory TO your own mind, if you can. If you can
find the proof of such decision by the people or the
existence of such issue at the polls is submitted
that you ought for the painest reasons to give them
publicity. You would make yourself the voluntary
benefactor Of many, by successful yndicaiion Of
course deemed to be, at least, Of questionable fidelity.
But let us sir together representative and constitu
ent in frank and friendly spirit, ceoy and calmly
search for these evidences Ii they exist at all we
know where TO look for them.
IL il be true, that by the election of Harrison and
Tyler the people determined TO establish Bank, the
purpose must have been revealed in of two ways
Either the popular intention declared in distinct
and palpabe FORM il disclosed with sufficient
certainty in the known opinions Of the persons elect
ed IL is incredible TO suppose the people to have
tertaned the settled design Of creating Bank with
out having at any time set it forth unless appear that
declaration of their purpose rendered superero-
gaory by clear and unquivocal expressions in faror
Of bank by those whom they elected Ii is idle,
nay It is worse than idle, to mpute to the intelligent
ireemen OF the United States degree Of stupidity
remarkable, as they would have evinced by electng
anti-bank men to the highest offices in the govern
ment, by way of showing their determination to
tabhsh bank. If they Indifferent TO the sub
ject OF revealing bank or unsettled in their minds
IN respect TO lis propriey il is easy to for
senImanrs % the wn6m tney eecteo IN feierence
it, there little difficulty in perceving the rea-
sons which influenced their II you concur
in what has been said, sir am prepared TO recur to
few prominent and pregnant circumstances which are
believed to be decisive and to defy all speculation in
this matter.
You cannot have forgotten the Harrisburg Conven-
ton II a memorable assembly both for its COM
position and its objects. All that connects itself with
that body is yet familiar to your memory. Can you
conceive of more fitting occasion for the publication
Of the popular intention matter Of so vital import
ance as that of creating United States Bank But
that august and considerate assembly--the emphatic
embodiment of the popular mind-gave uttelance to
no expression of the sort If consult the record of
their proceedings from the beginning to the end, any
page of which is full of proofs OF their patriotism,
wisdom and forethought-we light not upon one syl-
liable concerning the purpose Of making Bank, nor
the slightest inimation that their constituents enter
tanned the design. How do you account for this preg-
nant truth Did these venerable misrepresent
the feelings and wishes of the people, Were the
members of the Harrisburg Convention faithless to
their solemn trusts No man in his senses, who re-
members the signs" and the ears the hopes and the
doubts of that extraordinary uncure, will hazard his
good name by such an affirmation.
But this not all, nor the half which was developed
by that imposing representation Of the pupular sent
ment For surely, if the members of the Convention
omitted for any cause, declaration of the public will
in reference Bank, they could not be 50 TEACHER
Gus to duty as to tender the popular surages for
the bighcst Offices of the Government the names OF
citizens he most notorious for their opposition 10 a
Bank Can you believe II, sir Does such action
comport either with the character OF the men who
composed the Convention with the requirement OF
reason Is il not irretuteby contfadicted by the ex.
allied worth of those no formed the Harrisburg Con-
vention and condemned by the operations of common
sense : Look at it, sir These men, representing a
people of whom il asserted that their first and high
/ est ann was the creation of a Bank, not only neglect
to make the purpose known-to unturl the popular
banner crbed on it, in letters of light the great OBJ
iect they pursued" A United States Bank"-but
they are so recreant to all the obligations of represen
tatve character actually reject the petensions of
a citizen above all others the distinguished able and
devoted ddrocute of Bank, and TO urge upon the pop
ular choice alone but tno beloved and honoed
men, the uniform, consistent, and stern 0pposerS OF
| Bank
Mr. CLAY, with regard to a bank asserted higher
claims than any her the coniederacy II Will
be admitted that he had labored arduously and as
| ably in behalf of bank, as any other. Hewas then
as he is now, the great and acknowledged chefo the
| bank party. So intimately had he succeeded in
ciating himself with the advocacy of the system Of
which a bank was the centre and the soul, that his
own great and bank had become, in some sense,
almost convertible terms. bank man was Clay
mana Clay man bank man--hDd hm where
YOU might or all men living the bank party owed
him the weghtiest debt of gratitude; for OF all men,
he had offered the costest sacrifices the altar OF
their worship Gen. HARRISON the other hand, as
serted the slightest possible clam TO tue confidence
| and favor OF party whose chief end was bank
He known a the earnest and decided adversary
of bank In the Legislature of Ohio and IN the
Congress, under the solemn sanctions of official re-
sponsbiIity, he has shown himselfs open frank and
uneuuvocai opponent In the former he had resisted
the imposition of branch udhout The consent Of The
Staie" and voted to enforce the payment OF State
tax and in the latter he had sustained effort to
peal s charter" and voted for resolution TO arraign
il for its misconduct To this, il may be added that
| Mi Tyler during an active public life Of five and
twenty years, has never in any single instance, wa
vertd aitered in active of hostility TO
| United States Bank. Yet, by this Convention, speak
ing the sentiments Gas it is preended) OF a party or
people striving mainly for the attainment OF bank,
Mr. Clay Is overlooked, and Harrison and Tyler EN-.
braced with cordality, zeal, perseverance, and
dnfang constancy, unequaled in the annals OF PoPu-
l lar movements,