Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-01-23
RESPONSE.

TO pc OF the deepest importance to the whole
community, the Labor Union at Summit Point,
felt it due to you, in requesting you to publish
certain resolutions of confidence with the
family of a worthy and decd member of their
association, to pay you a compliment of appro-
baton upon your impartial and manly course
That compliment the editor of the Free Press.
most gratuitously, assumes to be an attack
upon him /; and, forthwith, not only launches
out in scurrillity upon the supposed author of
the resolutions, but, most presumptuously, as.
sumes to dictate to you what you should, or
should not admit into the columns of your
oon paper; and. as if it was not enough for
him to control his own. and mind his own
business. OF the propriety of all this let
others judge.
But this is not all: The "OM Family
Journal" the senHc and venerable mot con-
tent with sweeping the dust from her own
door-not content with raising her broon,>
stick against the invaders of her antiauated.
and %spotless, and incorruptible virginity,-
runs q muck-and.r raises her venerable broom.
shck-(as though it were the ayis of j Jupiter
and Pallur)-over the two banking iustitu-
t'ons OF Charlestown; as if they-Me tvo
tnsfttutions-had been attacked by any one!
Who attacked them? L? I, Observer =
Why should 1 attack them There is no
reason why [ should attack them ; for, both
those institutions. have always, most hina?y,
responded, to all the requests and demands. /
have ever made upon them
I. then. Observer" Iave no charge to
make against either, the Nutiondi B0nk. of
Charlestown, or the Bank OF Charlestowp.
Each, and both of them, upon notes properly
endorsed. have accorded to me every thing I
ever asked Of them |. They had money TO
land tIae .. sLo:- ~
and paid them their per centum aud, | pre-
sumo, ne Their ever regarded it as ahy thing
more than a business transaction, that left the
Banks as well as myself to entertain cur own
opinions of the Banking system and financial
measures of the United States. can't be.
l'eve, for a moment, the idea ever entered
their heads that. because 1 borrowed money
from them. l was hound to believe the Bank
ing system of the United States "a perfect one.
and that by borrowing money I was pledged
to swear ny it and to support it. L don't think
they will thank the Free Press for inculcatipg
any such idea. 1t is probable that MANY of
the stock holders in the National Bank NAV
think of the system as I do but still it was
the system ; there could be no other; and.
therefore. they embarked in it, and honestly
and fairly loaned money under it, as others
would have dune. had they not done so.-
Where, then, is there any inconsistency in
my borrowing money of the Charlestown
banks, ami YET expressing my opinions freely,
as almost all the papers of the country do. of
the in'quity of exenipting bond holders from
taxation and putting it down on all the other
property and labor of the country? And.
right here. | now put it to the Free Press
IA paper | have taken for forty years-to sneak
out aud say to the public, and its subscribers.
whether itsupports this National Bank system?
and. whether it regards it as a perfect system?
L tell them, ~plumply, ana straight out. that
though compelled to use it, L regard it as an
Infamous swindie, on the people of the Uni.
ted States. The people of the United States
Issuing, as the words of the constitution re-
qulres them to do, all the money necessary
for the business Of the country and ssreeula>
ting its value" according to the net increase
OF the labor OF the country, which Wells re.
port shows to be 81 per cent. could dc all
their exchange of property for three per cent.
while. first. md last, they are now paying this
United States banking system tpentv sir per
cent. for performing that function Let the
'Old Family Journal" deny this if it dares.
aud pledge myself to make good the asser-
ton. | will outline it, now, and give the mar.
ticrlars hereafter. Three hundred and M;r3v.
three millions Of these 6vc-twenty bonds. now
CONSTITUTE. the basis of the entire national
bank system These bonds we're bought for
2o5 millions in specie: After paying-I
mean the banks-one per cent. on their circu
l'.,on and an income tax, they net fEy.four
millions of dollars, which is tuenfu-s;r ner
cent. on the EOS miUions of specie with which
they bought the 333 millions of bonds-the
basis of this Infamous and swindling banking
system and yet, this editor of the Free Press
thinks, because | MISUNDERSTANDING only
sum l ever borrowed of a national Jonk-
and. L state this to correct his error, and mis-.
reprcsentation-that I, for that pitiful sum,
am a 'Jewel of inconsistency" to use his
novel and elegant term, or the pith of it. if
dare say one word against the National Bank
system !; tor | have not said one word against
the President and directors of the National
Bank at Gharlestown nor could I.say for
they accorded to me the only request I ever
made OF them; and, if 1 wanted another,
should fearlessly approach them. without the
slightest apprehension, that [ should he ia.
hooed because | did not agree with them ia
regard t., the National Banking System. II
Is a Islander upon the gentlemen, who consti>
tute that board, to suppose. for one moment,
that they are welding the purse. while Grsnt
Yields the Gny"De',. To compel free. born white
men into the ranks and politics of the Re-
publican PARTY. Would the Editor of the
Free Press, it he had borrowed $500 of a
National Bank, feel himself bound to close
his lips Hpon the subject of nn,;onai 6uuk,ng.
Its merits and dement's? If he would,
would not trust him on guard, or to sound
the trumpet for the people. when danger IN
Penred, for a moment! l will do him the
justice TO say-in spite of all that is pat
that a larger sum would not weigh with him a
feather, So much for the defender of the
Banks at Charlestown. | don't think either
will thank him, or feel them themselves com
plimented before the public. for his opinion
OF the motives. by which. he thinks they
would be governed. 1t would represent them