The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-07-29
Saturday, July 20. 1889.
A RECOLLECTION OF THE OLD POLlI
LITICAL PAK1IES.

1t may be interesting at this time to revert
to a National Bank Renaissance OF Just 50
years ago which caused such political tommo-
ton throughout the country as has never been
witnessed by the present generation, ii we eS-
cept that of the war period.
The great Wing party had recently received
its baptism at Masonic Hall, New York, was
under the leadership of Henry Clay and full
of energy, talent and determination. MOI par
t;san bitterness ever exceeded the vehemence
with which Old Hickory was denounced tor
removing the deposits from the vaults OF the
United States Bank. There were millions OF
honest and patriotic men who conscientiously
believed that the United States Bank was one
of the grand pillars Of the temple OF Freedom,
and that in its destruction everything dear TO
an American was lost. They believed that
the United States Bank was as much the only
commercial money system as they believed
and as millions yet believe. that coin was the
only possible government money. But the
state of the country was very different then
from now. Conservatism was the settled rule
of politics until Gen. Jackson and his party
sprane on the Wing camp like gang OF
armed guerrilas at midnight. We are now
used to startling innovations and no one thinks
Of fighting about them. The spirit OF the
Hartford convention was not revived in New
England on the defeat few years since OF the
gold faction, as it would have been 50 years
ago. From the moment OF the veto OF the
United States bank bill civil war was con-
nnually threatened. The country became,
as it were, two grand hostile military camps,
in which both armies always slept upon their
arms. When the Federal deposits were re-.
moved the fury Of the Wings eliminated. A
grand meeting was called in New York, the
wild excitement of which could not have been
exceeded if the whole of Europe had been
sailing down upon us with its combined na"ies.
A Resolution was passed in the midst of the
most insane yells appointing "a committee OF
ten thousand to 60 to the capital, wait On
the president and demand the restoration OF
the public money to the vaults of the United
States bank. The members named were en-
powered to add others and organize IN each
ward its proportion Of this formidable COM
mittee. Through the seething. boiling and
fermentation of few days the 10, 200 were re-
duced down to as many tens. So that one
hundred very brave and determined men set
out for Washington to bulldoze Old Hickory.
On their arrival they notified the president OF
that important event. We think Mr.. Van
Buren, was secretary of state. He informed
the committee that they would be permitted to
communicate with the president only in writ
ing. One Moffat an eminently sensible and
usually quiet citizen silversmith by trade,
and then the recent inventor OF the silver
pencil case, at whose house Fanny
Wright, Jarvis the painter. and other
extremists in sociology were often met
was made chairman. In the name OF the
committee he wrote requesting an interview
with the president. 1t was appointed for that
night. At the hour indicated the members
were received by the secretary with the utmost
politeness and seated. On the entrance OF
President Jackson the chairman was intro
duced to him. and the presence OF the mem
bers recognized by bow. As the old gentle
man sat down he said: "Well, gentlemen,
what is your business with me"' The chair
man arose and. in an elaborate speech, pre-
scented the case Of the great meeting. The
fire had all died out, the embers were dead
and cold But the skeleton of its turbulent
and insolent audacity was preserved in the
speech. As it proceeded and its expressions
became more audacious the General be-
pan to denote me of the symptoms
of the old war horse. He grew res
tive and ct out Of his chair and,
metaphorically speaking, began to paw the
ground. A little further on he started on
walk ND and down, with his arms behind him,
in front of the committee. A new thunder
bolt every few moments developed in the ste n
face till it began to be doubtful whether the
speech would get itself delivered. But the
gentleman In the old Genera was never per-
lifted to lose itself IN the soldier " Official.