, 1844-02-10
TFor the Radical

For the Radical.
th. Editor: Were it not that some Of
your contributors might become too in
%solent, | should not think oftrcspassing
on your patience, at this time, with a
communication; which from the quaint
ty and quality that have appeared il
your columns lately, you must be hcarti-
y tired.
| noticed in your columns some time
back, seveTa! articles calling upon the
Democrats for an exposition Of their
faith. Among others, cutie a learned
definition Of thinclcss things, Sc; al
tempting to show that the principles Of
Democracy were so obscure or conceal
ed that they could not be understood
even by such JcsHits as they themselves
claim to he. That men should have
tie impudcncc to come out in this way
who could net hold up their heads three
years ago, when charged with the same
sins they now impute to others, is mat
ter Of establishment. Bot Why be aston
isLed at any thing, in this day and age,
when man can transform himself almost
10 any thing-;o-day blushing with
shame before his accuscrs, and to-mor-
row assume a new face, and throws the
same accusation on lis accnser With sa-
tanic i~mpudcnee.
| consider it a condescension to make
any reply to such gabbers; but les; they
should become vain and go TO far in
Misrepresentation, | thought fit TO make
this reply. And must here remark,
that | am rot an adept in politics; but |
consider tie principles Of Democracy
so clear and explicit, that the wayfaring
man, though a fvol, need not err therein.
We are accused Of being in favor Of a Ia
riff and against it, and in favor of bank
ing and against it. Circumstanced as
we are, the first position is true; if 9TH
erwisc, the latter would be true. While
other nations are supported by a tariff,
we are left with nc other alternative but
to re~ciprocate; and in doing SO, we are
disposed 10 favor the poor, by laying a
duty on such articles as are Injuries,
and not OF the ncccssaries Of life, to pro-
,oct the few at the expense Of the many.
Since our country, with many others, has
gone into great excess in banking, and
The transition from a paper TO 4 metallic
currency is very great, and attended
with consequences very disastrous, UNI
less the transition be very gradual. We
are therefore in favor of moderate bank
ing, or banking On such principles as vii,
not leave the quantity or quality of mo-
nev in circulation, with the national re-
venue, subject to the caprice Of a few
Interested individual stockholders, who
will expand and contract as their inter-
est may dictate, but that will throw into
circulation a greater quantity of the pre-
cious metals; such for instance, as the
independent Treasury system, or a bank
of the United States, where the states
shall become stockholders in proportion
TO their population; and strike no bills Of
4 less denomination than 80 or 100 dol
lars; such an institution as will be sub
iect TO the will ofthe people; and should
a profit arise after defraying expenses
let it be returned to the States, and be
appropriated TO dcfraying the expenses
thereof; which will Tighten taxation
Such are some Of the obscure and hete-
rogeneous principles Of Democracy. But
he il remembered, that the ultimate end
and object is, "free trade and sailors
righ;s"-hard money, and no cider.
AsPAsIo.