Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-01-29

IN The bank thereby, for four years yet unexpIredi
II proposes thus to violate tho bank charter; TO
break the faIfh OF the State, solemuiv pledged; to
be guilty of a revolving moral outrage. ltpro-
poses TO force the bank TO suspend issuing small
notes unless she will accept the provision of the
act OF February L, limiting tho issue 10 three
years, and requiring her 10 pay a bonus of ten
thousand dollars, which, as has been seen, she
positively refused to accept. Is this honesty?
Is this law? | sthis q measure demanded by
the people?
The people Of the country, Mr.. Speaker, rca-
soning IN a common sense wag, which deserves
emulation here, viii ask themselves and each
other, whom this propos-'spn shall reach their
ears. why is II that their Representatives, after
having entered into Il solemn engagement with
the bank TO perform certain duties for five wears
upon certain terms, should now, when that con-
tract is barely sealed, seek > set 1t all at dtfiance
and force the bank either to lose the labor and
money she has invested ia dIscharging her por-
ton Of the obligation, or to pay ten thousand dol
lars to the State and linl.t the ISSUES 10 three
years, which sho so!emn'y refused TO DO. when
the proposition was made 10 her by the legi5ia-
lure? They will ask themselves aud each other
If. in their private dealings, Il bargain should be
proposed to them which they d aciIned, but, UPON
additional inducements which trough, tho bargain
within what they thought correct, they had u
greed TO tho bargain So modified, whether 1t
would be Law or honesty in the person with whom
;hev had contracted, after he contract had been
ratlied and they had discharyed their shrre Of It,
II pronounce 1t no contract at all, unless they
would agrco 10 accept the terms which they had
utterly refused 10 accept? - their plain wavo of
thinking this would look neither honest nor lst-
and hence when the majorii} on tn floor seeIs II
d. tho very Same thing, they will naturally ask
for the "why and the WHEREFORE"
And what VIII you tell Them Mr.. Speokero-
VIII YOU say that they have petit'ucd for such
an net? This would be un;rae. Wll you urge
that the LuI Of last winter IS nj uiDGs to tham?
They will answer yoI tha' il a3s proved 4 hles-
sing. Nul YOU say 10 tEom hat the state baui i
!as0'vent? They vilI beg al YOU, II the name
Of nil tina. is dearest . their interests, to spare
and foster that currency, the iittie. HE all, which
the havoc Of the tiinna has left them. Thev viii
pray You to avert the curse Of my legislative
action, which shall tend to impair the credit or TO
shatIer the fortunes oc that institution. II4w,
then, sir, will you answer the inquiry Of an hon
est constituoncy, 10 this paytie"taI?
Suppose, sir, that You aduot the chain of arcu-
ment, for the solution Of a wondering peoples
doubts, resoried to in part, by the gentleman from
Fountain, (N1r. Hannegan Snppnsc, that IN a
Justification Of tbs breach Of all law ana Of all
Conscience you saw to them, dividing your argu~
fncni into appropriate divisions.
First, That there was once in the city o. Phi
a~oclphia n bank called tho bank of the United
States. That the pillars of that bank were Of Pa
ran marble, Of the luxurious order Of Corin1hiac
architecture. That golden inscriptions adorned
its walls and dazzied the eyes Of behoders. That
gorgeous fret-work embelli>hed its Interior, and
scu' pture We'd with painting in ador'ing Its OK.
terror, and that the pavements belonging to That
fairy creation were Of the most yarcrated and
imposing workmanship, refleciing il their brill
ancy, as a sheet CT gold. the beauty Of the over
hanging heavens. Suppose tia, TIN were your
first position.
Suppose, secondly. sir, you assume, that in
that same CITY Of fratrrnaI love tapro lived =
wealthy and benevolent man, named Stephen Gil
rard, who has long since been gathered to his IA
theirs. a man whose richly laden ships imported
the wealth Of foreign shores. \ man whose rent
roll listed the f4irest portion G. that goodly city.
A man who. owned his bank. and whose tellers
and cashiers were daily ~cIinking MS ingots and
his gold. That united with his grea, wealth was
a richness of philanthropy, which rendered the
vault OF his heart his chief treasury-and that he
lett as q legacy a vast amount, with which Il 10 found
a college and asylum for the education and main
tai7ance OF the orphan chlid:-and let this con-
stltute your second position.
suppose. then. thirdly, Mr.. Speaker, YOU pre-.
mise that the college founded by tho benevolent
GIrard Is in part erected. That lis foundation
has been laid and the supersIueture commenced.
That this college bade fair TO outvie in soIjdItv
and grandeur even the bank itself; bat that now
1t Is incomplete. and that the imposing erection
unToofed-the melancholy d5ee Of winter signing
through its unfinished halls, salufes tho eye Of the
stranger. a sad monument Of defrauded phlan-
thropy!-and that this should be your third pc
sition.
Suppose, f~ourthlv, By way of argument, in this
respect. you were 10 urge. sir, that in that bean
iIiui and romantic bank there presided the "deini-
god of whiggery.' one Nicholas B5d3le. That
that man had stood first in the hearts Of the friends
Of that Superb bank, as a fnancier and patriot.
That his Influence had bade Jar 10 overshadow
the entire r~epab!ic; to corrap'. sway and control
the elective franchise OF the American people.
That he was 4 william as polished, yet as alse, a
the Arch~angel who betrayed paradise, and that
this should re yoar fanrth position.
Suppose, filthy, Mr.. Speaker. that this bank
and tbs B'dd,e, exercising I most unho}v mon
eyed power. By means Of bribery the fou'asi, had
purchased, for their political u.s.. the members af
the Pennsylvania legislature: and that this were