Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1842-12-28
TO THEPEOPLE


TO THE PEOPLE
Of the Seventeenth Congregational District Of Vfrsioa
FrLLow -oIrizENs-As the term for which was elected
represent you the Congress of the United s,a,es
pdly drawing to close beg leave 70 announce IN yo,
my intention to decline being candidate for reelection
This purpose has long since been formed and to
my near friends, and it is made public that annie
time may be afforded for such interchange Of oni,;o
yourselves, may be desired regard to thu M
lection of my
In taking my leave OF you is design To .n,e,
into review OF my course your representative tu
1t has on all occasions been marked by candour frank
ness and sincere desire TO promote, what believed 10
be- the best interests of the country may have fallen
into many errors of Judgment but far have heard
has imputed to any selfish sinister motive
On several of the most important subjects which have oc
cupied the attention of the present Congress have
pressed my opinions freely in speeches. which have BEEN
published and extensively circulated amongst YOU In re-
gard other questions, the journals of the House will su
GENTLY explnin my official conduct.
When presented myself before you az your res,cc,,v.
courthouses n candidate for your sufages made full
exposition, in the discussions which occurred between NV
competitor and myself of the principles which would row
in the event OF my election Congress ende,
vourod, upon these occasions speak so pany thu, mn
could misunderstood meaning; scorned to gain
in the councils Of the nation by equvocaop or Inv
suppression or sacrifice OF my political principles told
you was in favour of Bank of the United Statsoft IN.
distribution OF the proceeds OF the Public Lands-and of
Tariff high enough TO raise supply wants of
the Government economically administered and with such
Determinations would afford just protection to Amo
labour against foreign competon-On all these sub
ecis votes have been in accordance with my declared
opinions; and they concerned NAV rest their
justification upon the sanction which you gave TO them in
advance, by my election.
My determination 10 withdraw from the pubc service
has been formed suddenly nconsderaey Ii is the
result OF deliberate conviction that service which
could render TO the public in my representative character
would compensate for the sacrifice of private and
the neglect of professional and domestic duties which would
be necessarily consequent upon longer in
Congress. assure you however, that in my debe-
Tations on the subject, have been unmndul of the
many obligations under you for confidng 10 me
the honorable and responsible which hold And
II thought that withdrawal from your service would
be followed by injury interests Justly expose
me To the charge OF ngratude those who elected me
would submit to sacrifice, rather than incur the odum
oil having deserted YOU In the hour OF need But ortu
natey for the and myself such the case and
you viii have no difficulty in finding in any district
winch may be attached, many possessing higher qua
lhcatons for the office representative in Congress than
any which my partial friends might be disposed TO
award to
trust have not more cause TO congratulate you on the
happy condition of the country amongst my most
cherished hopes that the present Congress would have the
power TO do much to relieve the desses Of the people, by
Incorporating National Bank, which would furnish sound
currency regulate exchanges between distant points, and
also perform the functions OF fiscal agent. AT early
period Of the extra session Of lSi the attention OF Con-
earnestly turned this subject and two several
bills successfully passed by both Houses TO accom-
psh these objects The incumbent of the executive chair
however, thought proper to withhold his constitutional
sent from these acts OF Congress- and they thereby failed
To become the law Of the land The consequences Of this
refusal now felt throughout the country which groan
ing under the pressure of pecunary distress unparalleled
in our history 1t would he foreign from the purposes Of
this brief address TO offer any the conduct
motives of the chief executive magistrate the subject Of
Bank of the United States Those are matters which be.
long chapter in the history of republic which will
i ID Ou
j will make but single remark the consequences
/ of the refusal Of the Executive Il cooperate with
the Legislative department of the Government on that
subject In my opinion, much of the pecuniory embarass
ment which Expresses and parae the country has
origin in the Presidential vetoes. believe over, that
the country will find repose relief from the spusms
by which II has been convued until the currency question
10 settled by the incorporation Of Bank of the u. g. The
experience of the nation has proved that during the forty
in which had such Bank the country bless.
| cd with a sound and uniform cuTcncy-exchanges were
well regulated and dollar Of the public money
lost through its default fiscal ugenton the other hand
during all the time have had Bank Of the U. ST. tho
currency has been Auctustng and unsound-oxchsnges
have been deangcd and millions Of the public
nave been lost by the profigacy OF Government agents.
These arc facts which appeal strong the
OF the people; end verify believe that when party spirit
(Which has unhnppily blended itself with this question:
shall have subsidized and few bungng and Temporal
y cXpcdents shall have failed, the appeal will be in
vain; and public opinion will force the Government back
upon that wise policy which has been sanctioned by the
experience OF forty years and approved by Washington and
Madison and other iustrious fathers Of tho Republic
In regard TO the currency that there
but two alternatives left We either adopt an
exclusively metallic Of value, and rcpudiae the
banking eystem altogether, regulate and check
the operations Of the State Banks by the agency Of Ns
tonal Institution II adopt the former course We no.
cessarily diminish the circulating medium onehaf and
thereby IN effect, double every mans dobts, whilst we d.
minsh, inverse ratio. hs of payment This il
state 81 things which the people prepared to sub
init to, aud the only remaining il 70 establish
common national Institution, which sha check the eS.
eesses Of the State Banks and give uniformity to the
| currency and stability 10 the value Of properly. This
! hrs been done in times past by Of National
Bank, and why shall not resort TO the RENE
dy agnin The constitutional question is longer open
todcbaio. II has been repeatedly adudcaed by oil tho
departments Of the Government and their decision acqui
esccd in by the people. The principle appears TO me
to be this Let make Banking System uniform a.
nearly practicable TO political System. Let us have
local Banks for local purposes and National Bank 10 fur.
nsh currency for transactions between the different Sates
In his way the accumulation Of local paper Of the debtor
States In the hands Of the Merchants and Brokers of tho
creditor States, will be preveniednl inducements to make
runs upon the local Banks will be withdrawn-excessivo
Issues will be checked, and stability and uniformity will be
given 20 inc currency.
In conclusion, Fellow Citizens, tender to you my CRATE
ul acknowledgements for your kindness in elocung me q,
The high office which now hold, and for the forbearance
which you have manifested towards me during the lime
have been your Representative has rarely nspponsd
that any public man should hold place Of 20 much mpor,