Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-03-02

might perhaps be answered, by saying,
some two or three hundred of the veal
thest men of the State: Are the poor
accommodated? Certainly not. Banks
are no places for them to resort to for
favors. In them they have no credit,
How are the funds of the bank loaned
out in regard to the different districts?
The district of Charleston has about one
million. and the district of Richland has
about fYe hundred thousand dollars,
borrowed from the bank; whilst G. een-
vile has only four or five thousand, and
several Of the other districts still less.
What interest should these districts take
or feel i'll the State carrying on bank
for the accommodation of Charleston and
Richand? What interest should the
poor feel in the establishment ola bank
by the State for the accommodation of
the rich?
But the most objection BILE feature in
the loans which the bank mikes, is that
the officers and directors of the bank
have borrowed themselves some seven or
eight hundred thousand dollars
of :lemoney in the bank. 1t is
then, in great measure, an institution
for the benefit and accommodation Of the
bank officers, their friends and favoriteS,
and the people of Charics,on and Colum-
bia' Well may the advocates of the
bank on this floor say, that it has never
oppressed its debtors. Had it done so,
considering who those debtors we've, it
would have been not only heartless
corporation, but monster, such as Mil
ton describes Death and Sin 10 be, de-
vouing their own ofSpling-yea, even
themselves!
The bank charter will expire in 1856,
and it becomes ne. essary for the LegiSla,
ture to decide whether it is to he contin-
ued or not. The members must now de-
eide whether an institution, unconstitu-
iional in its origin, dangerous in its ten
dency and Improbable, mti-republcan,
and at war with the fundamental princi-
plies of freedom, is to be continued or
to be wound up. 1t is said that thi is
great question, and should be submitted
to the people before any action is tasen
omit. Isit not a question that the people
have already thought Of and determined
for themselves 4? Has it not been tho
roughly discussed in both branches of
this Legislature? Was it not discussed
twelve months since? Have not the
newspapers in the State called public at
'ention to it for the last eighteen months?
Let every member vote on this question
in acco, dance with what he believes to he
the wishes of his constituents, and the
convictions of his own judgment.
But it is well understood, Mr.. Speak
e., why TINS appeal is made on the part of
the bank Delay is important in MANY
poin's of view Il will give the bank
time to exert its moneved influence on the
country and control public opinion. Like
n great general beSeiged ina city, he asks
for delay, under the pretence of consid-
ering the terms of captulation, but all the
time is collecting his broken forces, re-
pairing the breaks. pointing his cannon.
and then bids defiance to the assaila.ts
Does any one suppose that the bank
will n tcxcrt its influence to the utmost
in sustaining itself and maintaining its
n existence. Self preservation is said
to he the firs: law of nature? 1t is a law
well understood by corporations. The
contest between the bank and the onpo-
stion will he most unequal one. II is
like the contest between great and skill
full gcne'al, with trained and disciplined
army. well furnished with supplies. pos
sessing military chest we'll filled, and
an unarmed. undisciplined assemblage of
ci liens, wi hout leader and without Of
icers. The result of such contest can
not be doubtful
After mature reflection. Mr.. Speaker,
am satisfied that if some measures are
taken this sessionto wind up the hank, it
will not be done at all, The opposition
to this moneyed irstifution will grow
weak and weaker every year until a
new charter is granted Already the
threat has gone abroad from the friends
of the hank, that no private bank shnll
be recharterel unless the State Bank re-
ceives a renew of her charter. There
will be combina ion between the friends
of all the banks, and they will force from
the Legislatures renewal of all their char
ters This prediction l make in the ma
: ture of prophecy, and beg that it may
be remembered.
will now, Mr.. Speaker. notice an oh
lection made by the friends ,f the hank,
TO the hill on your table, and the impor-
ance (which they have SO greatly mag