Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1843-02-09

/ OF yoHr party, hold himself bound in 1911. b.
the act of Gen. Washington, whose big list ha
| signed the ifst bank chatter, (and here PERM
me 10 say, that The SANDER uttered hy yon, ina
ing great Democratic panydefide the policy ant
4 patriotism OF Gen. Washington. deserves Id Dc
consigned only, TO The lowest depths Of the low.
est and oasest of an political calumnies. Did
MI Clay hold himself bound by this No, be
relied then. on ihetestimony IoflMr. Madison,
who had taken notes. Of what passed in the Con
venlionI ard who testified that the power TO ere
ale corporations Of any sort, had been denied
70 congress, lest IN ITS exercise il might lead 70
The establishment Of bank B6t have beea
loldi that MIR. Madison himself afterwards ra.i-
fed the Charter Of The late Bank Of the United
States. What that, Was Mr, Madison 10
1916, better qualified 10 Judge OF the meaning
oil The Constitution, than ID 1892 or in 1885. II
SO, what becomes ofIhe superior virtue Of con-
tTrAPeIf ASrs expositiohf What can they say.
who pfeeS Mr.. Madlsons example upon Us, and
call uPon.us 10 respect it, when il is remembeted
that hesvetoed one Bank, because The CHATTER
required The payment of its noles in specie
and when also ii is Remembered that he testified
on the floor Of Congress, Of which he has left the
solemn record 10 posterily, that the trainers of
this sacred instrument denied the power TO Con-
gfess, can they claim his opinions as authority
10 their favor. Mr.. Madison's arguments az ainst
me eonslitulionalltF of bank, and against the
political authority ofjudicial decisions, are mat
lefS Of record now before the world. And now
ior The opinions Of Mr.. jefferson, who was III
umphantly elected in 1900, and almost uuani.
mously!in 1904, had most solemnly ana Official
ly recorded his judgment agaipst:a bsnk YTrue,
as we have been told by Mechanic, lhayhe sign
ed a bill for the New Orleans brapeh bur was
there. any bill in which me question: III constllh-
IlonalIly was ever made, presented 10 hims 1
answer not. When he signed ne bill referred
TO, the bank was already established, and the
opinions Of his whole life had16een expressly op-
posed to bank.
The name Of Washington has been used BY
Mecha3ic, with great force, but lei il not be for-
gotten by him under What circumstances and
with how much hesitation that great man had
signed the first Bank charter. Is il true thar
Gen. jackson wasIn favor Of National Bank,
as Mechanic hay<tod nSs j have not his. mes
sage to refer o<on this point. Happily for Us,
his Whole iie/giveslhls charge the most positive
and tecide9 denial. His war with the monster
IN lS32fand 1884 shewS his decided opposition 10
Bank, and then hisletler to Thomas h. Benton,
IN 1887 from the Hermitage Hear his words
Tie charge made of my SEEING friendly to the
BaDk OF the United States until found il could
nN be used TO subsetve my political purposes,
when liturned aga1nstt, is one Of the baseSfca
dummies ever uttered Such mus all pronounce
II, who Know any thing about me I have ever
epposea the establishment Of this Bank on The
gronndSol both tonStituiionaiiy aid eSpelisn.
cy,." In another part Of me same letter, he saws
My position now is, and has ever been, since /
have been able 70 form an opinion on this sub
lect, shat Congress has no power ID charter .
Bank''f These are Ike opinions Of Gen Jackson
expressed in 1897, and the charge against the
old hero, like all Interest Of he charges Of Me-
charic, are without foundation.
| would like 10 know, since Mechanic has re-
ferfed 70 The decisions Of The Supreme Court, as
Of binding authority on this subject, how that
GeRFbb spf88Httldl t u hS hf ~ fis is
identhed with those who appoint Them 10 office,
then was that Court, during thirty years, to be
identified with a party driven with scorn and
disgrace from The SERVICE of the people. The
men themselves who occupied the bench were
entitled to all respect, snd especially he who
was chief among Them, and chief among all the
men Of his day; for professional ability, unambi,
tous worth, and incoruptble integrity. His
authority is indeed of great weight-God forbid
that should speak lightly Of il. But the ques-
ton fsnot now of'the respect due 10 his opinions,
but Of their authority as indicating the senti-
ments of the people. He never affected ID con-
ceal his political identity with that prescribed
party whose sentence of condemnation has ne
yer been RENTED, and who to this day can only
steal into The service Of The people under some
new and specious name, assumed for The eceR-
sion. Can The decision of the Supreme Court,
on this great question, chain do n the opinions
Of our REPRESENTATIVES who are swoinsto sup
port The Constitution. and who are bound 10 de-
eide the Bank 10 be uhconstrutionai, iGthey be-
lieve il to be so The reverse Of this Edoctfine
would at once strike at the root Of aiisoteregnty
in The people, and have their rights 10 be su B.
ieced To The loose and arbitrary decisions az !
setof Judges, whether hese decisions be rish
or wrong deny hocerer that the Supreme cour
has ever decided Ina; Congress had power L
charter Bank, 70 restore order ID the currency
and 10 regulate the exchanges OF The county :
All that il has decided, is, that Congress unde
resulting power, might establish Bank as ;
fiscalag Of the Treasury, if necessary, 5u
that necessity was 10 be judged of by the twt
Houses of Congress. TIE Constitutionaliiy o
the Bank, Therefore. depended on The Question
whether such an institution was necessary 10 th,
discharge Of The functions Of Government in col
Ieciing! and disbursing the public revenue
established al all il must be Bank of deposis
/ and not Of circulation and discount:
x ONE OF THE COM MITTEE. n
: Having given the response or some Of IL,
Committee" in reply TO tMechaDic,'' so faf al
the question Of U. s. Bank is discussed, we ar,
under The necessity ofdeferrirg lhe remainder .
bis communication until our nextEumber,-ED
IToRs F. P
1 ~