The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-28
THE WEST.

having spent most OI OuI yC"iS III viz A"'AN VI
Boone and Clarke, and Harrison, we can speak
of 1t Knowingly.
When the first hardy pioneers crossed the
Ohio, they entered paradise that was perhaps
scarcely surpassed by the one prepared for our
first parent. Like the garden of Eden heavenly
spirits lowered there. Save the dark forms of
savages ever and anon fitting through the val
leys, all was brightness, harmony and bliss The
interminable green plains ran beyond the reach
of the wanderers eye In gentle wavy undua-
tons towards the far west. Flowery valleys,
sparkling lakes, and gliding rivers, greeted the
view in other directions. The bright and genial
sun, the balmy air, and the incessant carols OF
every variety of feathered songsters, combined
to inspire the heart with emotions of delight and
thankfulness that could never be experienced in
a less contaminated scene.
But the scene has changed somewhat. The
seeds of mighty empires then sown in the illim-
liable wilderness have taken deep root in the
rich soil, and the primal aspect of Nature is rap
dy Welding to the Westward advance of civil
zation. American enterprise knows no limit
Vague untenanted territories have, within a few
brief years, become the home of happy millions
Much of the enterprise, wealth and chivalry Of
the old states has been transplanted to the new.
Their march is onward-their destiny more go-
rious than man can conceive at the present
day.
But our purpose in these articles is to show
the relations existing between the different
tons of the Union and the Federal Government,
and 10 demonstrate that a resusctation Of the old
Republican doctrines and measures of Jefferson
and Madison, as has been resolved upon by the
present Chief Magistrate, will conduce to the
speedy and permanent prosperity of all.
We need not depict the evils of a National
Bank to the People Of the West. The banks
on which they prefer to depend for the prosperi-
ty Of trade and the accumulation of wealth, are
those of the Ohio, Mississippi, Wabash, Mis-
souri,, illinois and Usage rivers. They are far
more familiar with rifle stocks than Bank
stocks. They prefer hemp breakers to money
brokers' Their surplus funds are deposited in
the earth, instead Of vaults under the care of
slippery financiers" The only expansion they
desire is broad shoulders and ample chests to
enable them to fell The forest oak and turn the
prairie soil. The only depression they dread is
the prevalence of Incidence and prohigacy.
In times past the hardy and honest People Of
the West received gold and silver for their pro-
duce. Of late years, since the U. States Bank
brought into existence universal spirit of
banking, they have been most shamefuly i'm
posed on. After floating their heavy freighted
boats to New Orleans, and disposing of their
produce at enormously high prices, they have
too frequently found, on reaching home, that
their vast sums of money were only SO much
trash The officers of the Bank had 6 absquat-
ulated," and the "consarn had busteI'' while
they were ploughing the Mississippi river home
ward Others partook of the wild spirit of spe-
culatiom, and selling their farms at high prices,
for paper, embarked in mercantile or other pur-
suits, of which they knew nothing, and finally
awoke from their dream to find themselves bank
rupt Others bewailing the partial Punishment
of specie, in consequence OF the circulation OF
the irredeemable issues of corrupt institutions
and knavish imposters, invested their means in
United States Bank notes. These too have
turned to ashes in their hands, and now the.
demand something tangible, indestruclible, in
return for their labor and products. They now
prefer fair and moderate price for their articles
of sale in coin, to an extravagant sum in aoorth-
less rags.
The Western merchants have suffered most.
When the last United States Bank failed,
thousands had just converted their silver and gold
into Biddle notes, paying a premium for them,
and when they reached Philadelphia they as
certained to their dsmay that their dear-bought
funds were worthless, and themselves beggars
And when it was known in the West that the
Biddle institution had exploded, there was no
alternative for the remainder to save their pa
per from protest, but to remit the notes of the
Western State Banks, received at par. but dis
counted at from twenty to forty per cent in the
East!
The People of the West will sanction no
currency but gold and silver, their equivalent.
They have been humbugged beyond endurance.
The Western merchants desire no paper but
for the purpose Of exchange. They will all in
sist on the adoption of the Exshequer plan.
The Exchequer notes being receivable at the
land Offices would abound in all the Western
States The Government being pledged for
their redemption, and the in titution being pro-
hibited from discountting IN any shape OF
form, no one could entertain, for moment, the
least apprehension that 1t would ever become
insolvent. For this reason, the farmer would
convert his bulky specie into Government funds
which he would keep by him, and when he de-
sired to enlarge his farm, would carry with him
to the land office. For this reason the merchant
would cheerfully pay slight advance in "lhe