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!BY JAMES W. JOAES.
Th© Southern Whig,
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY MORNING.
TERMS.
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PROSPECTIS
OF
A NEW LITERARY JOURNAL,
ENTITLED
THE BACHELOR’S BUTTON.
TITHE Second Number of this Periodical is
J- now before the Public. The very kind fa
vor with which it has been accepted prompts
the Editor to make, renewed exertions to place
the work on a firm foundation, and to make it
worthy of the patronage it is likely to receive.
No effort was made to obtain subscribers, no
publicity was given to the design, until the first
number was ready for distribution, —because
the Editor was unwilling to make promises
which he might 5e unable to fulfil; and he was
anxious thafthe public, before it gave encour
agement or approbation, should see the work,
and have an opportunity to judge of its merits.
A short notice of the Editor’s intentions and
wishes accompanied the first number, and the
approbation and indulgence with winch his
friends and the public generally received it, gave,
to him hopes which he had not previously in
dulged.
That Alabama would give a handsome sup
port to such a publication was a matter <sf ex
treme doubt; —owine more to her commercial
and agricultural enterprise, than to* any want
of liberality, or to the absence of a spirit for lit
erary advancement. But the avidity with which
fortune has been hunted down, has not taken
away the taste ofher Scholars;— and the increase
of wealth has produced the best of all results:
the opening of the heart, and the gushing forth
of the best of feelines: generosity, and a desire
to promote every laudable enterprise.
The Bachelor’s Button is the only period
ical in the State devoted entirely to Original Li
teratuie. It is printed in a handsome style—
(not’inferior in that respect to the best in the
country.) The very medium of publication is
calculated to inspire young ambition to vigor
ous exertion, and to make the old and experien
ced writer happy in the privilege of sending
thoughts into the world in such a garb. Alaba
ma has talent—talent of an order calculated to
command the admiration of her neighbors,
however old their experience ; however celebra
ted their Literati. It is the proudest wish of
the Editor that he may call that talent into ac
tive exercise; yet he cannot hope to be able to
do that without the hearty approbation of his
friends, and their earnest concurrence in promo
ting a cause for whose success he is willing to I
devote his entile time and attention. j
A Liter.ry Advertiser will be attached to
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relate to Schools, Colleges, Books, Banks, Insu
rance Companies, &c at the following rates:
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“ “ “ 1-2 page. 600
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mediately.
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munication left at his Book Store, will receive
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TERMS—“The Bachelor’s Button” will be
published Monthly in the City of Mobile, in a
pamphlet containing 64 large octavo pages of
entirely original matter, on fine paper, and on
■new and clear type, at Five Dollars a year,
payable in advance.
Editors friendly to the work will please publish
this circular.
WM. R. SMITH, Editor and Proprietor
W -34W1E 1 ;,
IV °Dld inform his friends
J**' 1 ’ * 'and the public, that he
has just received a New and
/'feN Splendid Assortment of
i WATCHES
JEWEtERV,
Among which are every varietv of Gold and
Silver Watches, Chains, Keys arid Seals,
Gold and Silver Pencils,
do do and steel spectacles,
Gold Sleeve and Collar Buttons,
Ear-Rings and Pins,
Ladies’ neck and fob Chains,
do Seals and Keys.
—also—
A very handsome assortment of Finger Rings,
and all other articles usually called for in his
line of business.
and Clock repairing done as usu
al, and warranted.
Athens, July 15—11— ts.
JL A is .A A S
For Sale at this Office.
Southern Whig
=^==~-== = '— ..:.r--^.rz.-.-rr-^=== S .-a.-==r- - <j
From the Charleston Mercury. i
The following Ode was presented to the Char.'cston
Whig Association, and was recited by a memberm the 1
Society, on the 4th instant. 1
O»E F«K THE 4TH JULY.
Again the Glorious Day dawns on I
The hallowed day of Freedom’s birth ! >
The day o: • hich the flame first shone,
That lights,akes, and warms the earth. t
Land of the free, lift up your voice I ’
Hearts of the free, rejoice, rejoice I
Away with all the strife that flows
From party's reckless, rude turmoil — i
It is the weed, rank weed, that grows
On freedom’s rich, luxuriant soil.
Drive each contentious thought away ; t
We are but brothers here to-day. t
<
This sacred time our Country claims;
And be it fully, freely given ; .
To summon forth her patriot names; _
To speak the praise we owe to heaven ;
To the bright hopes before us spread, (
And to the memory of the dead '.
To him who first in combat waged 11
The cause of tyranny to stay ;
Whose calm, majestic mind assuaged
The rising tempest of that day;
Who urged the fight, when freedom led,
And quelled it, when her bounds were spread.
8
To him, from whose immortal pen I
Flowed forth the Charter of the Free, — 1
The man who gave, his fellow men 1
The written law of liberty : j
Their wrongs, touched by his graphic art; 1
Braced every nerve, and strung each heart.
To them, who sat in Council then, i
Who waved the sword in battle field; )
The high-souled and determined men, 1
Who planned and fought, but scorned to yield: t
Who in the day of doubt and gloom, 4
Pledged all, to meet their country’s doom. 1
1
Ah'. in the tomb those patriots sleep ; ( I
That hero race of men is gone ; I t
A few lone relics, lingering keep, ( c
Fast pressing to their destined bourne; j I
Unneeded proofs that from the grave
Wisdom and valor cannot save. i t
[t
High honor to the mightly dead ! I t
This is the accepted hour to raise ( j
Those who in Freedom's conflict led , i
Up to the world’s admiring gaze : ! ,
Their fame shall live—deeds so sublime
Grow brighter by the wear of time. j
What holy, lofty thoughts belong '
To this all-consecrated day :
Thoughts of the past, that as they throng
Our warmest gratitude to pay ; j
Thoughts of the future, that inspire ;
The Son to emulate the Sire. I
Oh ! may the God of Nature grant.
That from the care the sons bestow,
The fadiers’ young and thrifty plant, 1
A proud, firm-rooted tree may grow : j ;
Its deep green foliage to expand, I (
And over-shadow every land. j (
From the Knickerbocker.
The Escape : A Tale ©f the Sea. .
ry the author of Jack Marlinspike’s yarn, j
“ List ye Landsmen all to me.”
The morning broke hazily upon the Atlantic, I
with a ftt sh breeze from the eastward, attend- }
ed by frequent squalls oflight rain. The sea '
had assumed that dead lead colour which al- I
ways attests the absence of the sun ; and a
dark curtain of clouds that were slowly heav. j
ing up to wind ward, threatened an interval of)
heavier weat'i r before the close of the day.
About an hundred miles from that part of the I
coast of South America situated between the I
' Brazil shoals and cape Frio, u large and beau
tiful ship was dashing along under a press of
canvass She had the wind abeam, and every
thing that the weather would allow was p -.ek
ed on below and aloft. On her quarter deck
a group, consisting of the passengers and offi
cers of the ship, had collected to observe a '
strange sail, which, since daylight, had been
discovered two or three points leward of he
beam.
‘Give me th« glass,’said a stout good-looking
middle-aged man, whose countenance betrayed,
or more properly indicated, a fondness so
glasses, and whose authoritative tone at once
I christened him skipper.—Taking the proffered
j instrument, he adjusted it at the proper fijeus,
and commenced studying the stranger, whose
•hull, by the aid of the telescope, was but just
visible, as she rose’upon the crest if the)
waves.
4 He’s edging away for us,’ muttered Cap
tain Bangem: just got a pull of his weather
braces; devilish suspicious craft too.’
4 A guineaman, from the coast perhaps,’ said
Sky sail.
‘The fellow thinks it’s getting too black to
windward for all his duck,’ res lined the cap
tain : ‘he’s reefing his fore topsail; and we
| must follow suit.’
‘Passing the glass to a sailor al his elbow,
he took up lhe trumpet, & looking at the mouth
piece for a moment, applied it to his lips, and
gave the order to take in the studding sails,
royals and flyingjib.—When this movement
had been executed, Bangem again thundered
forth ;
4 Man the top gallant clewlines—clear away
the sheets—clew up—man the topsail reef
tackles and bunt lines—clear away the bow
lines; round in the braces; settle away the
haliards: clew down, haul out. the reef-tackles,
and tip the bunt lines ; trice up the booms; lay
out and take in the second reef!’
The ewr-ready seamen sprang upon the 1
yards, and extending themselves along either |
extremity, caught up and secured to the spar J
the canvass contained between the first and j
second reef-bands. When all three of the top- !
sails had been reefed, the yards were again
mast-headed and trimmed lhe top gallant sails
sheeted home, and lhe Niagara once more
freshened her speed through the water.
In the meantime the stranger was fast corn
mg down and so rapidly bad he overhauled lhe
Niagara that those on board of the latter were
able to distinguish her build and rig with the
naked eye. She was a long, low clipper schoo
ner, with spars that seemed much too light ai cl
’ square lor the liitleliull out of which they rose. J
Capt. Bangem had been Watching her for
. some moments with the utmost interest, when
turning to Sky-sail, he ordered h m to hoist the
ensign. ‘Now,’ said he, •we’llsee what bunt
ing the fellow wears. Ah, there it goes 1 the
stars and stripes.’ A rolling billow of smoke
rose from the bows of the schooner, and tho
• report of a gun thundered along the breeze.
-WHERE POWERS ARE ASSUMED WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN DELEGATED, A NULLIFICATION OF THE ACT IS THE RIGHTFUL REMEDY.’’—Jejerson.
Man the weather main-braces ; clear away
the bowlines ; put the helm down ; ease oft the
jib sheet!’ shouted Bangem; and in another
moment the Niagara was lying to, with the
main topsail to the mast The skipper again
resumed the spy-glass: but scarcely had he
raised it to his eye, when relinquishing it to
another he seized the trumpet and in a voice
that betrayed unusual excitement, he sang out.
Haul aft the jib-sheet! —hard up, hard up!
* Hard up!’ answered the man at the wheel,
ai. ci the obedient ship fall rapidly off before the
wind.
* Lav aft to the braces!’ said Bangem ; ‘meet
her now, boy.’
‘She’s got the lee helm,’ was the immediate
reply. ‘Steady as you go —steady so.’
Steady 6i», Sir,’ responded the steersman.
The sullen report of a gun told how' the stran.
g er had receive'd this manoeuvre; and when
the smi.K 43 rolled off to lee.vard, an American
ensign v>'v longer at his peak. Before the
Niagara had been kept away, she was running
alo g with th j wiv'd .nbeatn ; the stranger was
oa her weather bow, aCU heading so as to near
her ai cacb moment, and e,vt'dually cut her
off- but ? ow the former had assn trie same
position with regard to lhe wind as 11-“
and both vessels v' 4 -re running the breeZa. • ‘
on the quartei. Th<J ” were but lew ’ -
asked on board the Niaga.’ :< ' tbe un.<>o.--.*d mr
deviation from her proper course, antl tile suo ’
sequent manoeuvres of the schooner, 0! Ce
told the real or suspected character of the ves
sel in chase ; and the passengers gathered about [
the traffrail, regarding with fearful silence the
little object oftheir fears, that come down clam
bering and cutting lhe waves, like some hun
. gry monster of the deep after its retreating
prey.
“Gentlemen.” said Bangem, it would be su
perfluous for me to tell you the character of’the
vessel: you all know' it, and you also know
what mercy to expect if we fail into their hands,
A stern chase is a long chase, and as the Ni
agara sails better with the wind w'ell aft, I have
given her. her fastest point: we are now bear
ing for the coast of South America, and must
keep out of his clutches as long as we can.
If Providence does not send us deliverance in
the meantime, why, it is even better to perish
on the reefs, than die by the knives of you
butchers.’
Another gun from the pirate boomed over
i the water, but the shot fell harmless astern of
the Niagara. 4 Ay, blaze away, you vagabon !
muttered an old veteran, who was assisting in
running out of a stern port the only' gun on
board ; 4 every shot you have is four fathoms off
your log.’
‘lf we w'ere eight hours later, we might be
able to give her the slip during the night,’ said
Bangem ; but if we coutiniue to move as long
at this rate, we shall be high and dry on the
coast of Brazil before the sun goes down.’
Still the scoorier kept overhauling tue ship,
but his advantage was not as perceptible as be
fore; every thing held out the prospect of a
long chase; but so intently was the stranger
bent on gainiug her, that he sei t aloft and bent
his slight top-gallant sail, although the wind
' was blowing a perfect gale, and shortly aftcr
. wards men were seen on his topsail-yard, turn-
I ing out the reels. As soon as Bangem per
! ceived this, he gave the order to turn both reefs
I out of the topsails, and get starboard fore-top
i mast studding-sail ready for setting. In a
i few moments, an additional quantity of can.
j vass was spread along the beems of the Niaga
j ra and the gallant vessel rushed like some wild
j leviathan through the rolling sna, dashingaside
■ its angry waters and leaving broad streaks of
i boiling foam behind.
i ‘Give him a round shot. Skysail,’ said Ban
i gem ; ‘we must try and cripple him, or it’s all !
| day with us.’
4 Ay, ay, sir, muttered the tar, as ho squinted
| along the sight, and elevated the gun for a long
I shot; the match was applied, and away sped
| the iron,’
I “ Well done old ’un ?” shouted Skysail, as
l the splinters flew from the bulwarks of the
piraU>.
* Try it again, tny hearty !’ continued Bang,
etn, ‘give him a stand of grape along with it
this time,’
The schooner yawed and fired, but again its
shut fell harmless along side of the chase.
‘There goes his stu’u’sail sa'd the mate, as
two delicate epars glided out, as if by magic,
from either extremity of his topsail-yard, while
iu another moment a sheet of light canvass
arose and was extended on either side of bis
bellying lopsail. The pursuer had gained con.
siderably on the pursued daring the last half
hour; and Bangem who stood watching her
progress with lhe eye of an eagle, now got
down from the horse-block, and gave the order
to set lhe starboard lower and all the top.gal
lant-stu’nsail -. The seamen exchanged glan-
I ces in amazement, but it was only tor a mo
; meat; and the next beheld them spread in dif
fereut parts ofthe ringing, making preparation
to heap an additional pile of canvass upon the
spars of the trembling ship. ‘Haul taunt, rig
out, and hoist away !’ But scarcely had lhe
halliards been belayed, when snap went the
booms ofthe topgallant and yard of the lower
studdi g sail. 4 Lower away—haul down!'
shouted B ngem ; 4 make those sails it] afresh,
point the spare booms, and get them ready for
, setting again.’
The two vessels continued to fly rapidly to
ward the coast of Brazil, and the pirate still
, continued to gain on the chase, ‘although’ he
: yawed and fired at an interval of every half
I hour. Had the Niagara hauled her wmd on
either tack, she would have soon become the
prey of’the schooner, as she sailed faster with
the wind abeam. Bangem accordingly' ’bought
■ it much better to keep nearly before the breeze
■ as the pursuer would then have to deviate from
. his course to bring his guns to bear, and con
sequently deaden at intervals his advance, as
mi escape was now almost hopeless. Thecm-
i I lasses and fire-armis were got up on the quur
•j deck, and every preparation made by the pas
' | sengers and crew of the vessel for a desperate
I I defence. There were in all about twenty
• I fighting men on board ofthe ship, and judging
i bv the masses that blackened the schooner’s
i deck, she must have had five times that number.
' For two hours longer the chase was kept up,
and at iho expiration ot that time lhe pirate
■ was within about three quarters of a mile.—
■ Bangem hud drawn his men up, and exhorted
• them to stand by him like Americans in the
’ i pproaching conflict, when lie was interrupted
-by an approaching crash, and the mizcu top
-1 mast, top gallaiit-mart, ai d all, went by lhe
. J board. ■
r • Axes and knives here!’ shouted he, at the
i top of his voice : ‘cut, men cut ! s’lr yourselves
: my livelier! the villain is coming down like a
- race-horse.’
■ Instantly the lanyards arid stays were sev
-3 ered, or carried away, the braces and bowlms
j I unrove and the wreck floating far astern ; Lui
the speed of the Niagara was by’ this ticciuv.it
AT£lfclX*», GEORGIA, SATURDAY, JUIiY 1 537.
considerably lessened, and the schooner, per
ceiving this accident put down her helm, and
threw a raking broad side among the rigging
and soars of the unfortunate vessel. At this
moment the cry of “ Breakers ?” was heard
fioin the forecastle, and an exclamation ofhor
ror burst from every lip—but one. Tnere was
death on every hand, and the forms that peo
pled the decks of the Niagara stood as mute
as statues enveloped in lhe silent stupor of des
pair.
4 Where away?’ asked Bangem; and the
i 00l self-possession of that voice seemed to
mock the dangers by which they were sur
rounded.
‘ Righ' ahead,’ replied the look-out,’ and on
both bows.’
‘True,’ mused the commander, bending his
eye in the given directiiu, 4 you may hear them
roar above lhe howling of the wind and waves
even at this distance.’
4 Shall 1 bring her by the wind, Sir !’ asked
th " steersman.
‘No!’ was the stern and determined reply,
and another volley of iron crashed among the
spars ofthe Niagara. So eagerly had the pi
rate pursued the chase, that the danger ahead
remai ed to him undiscovered. The day was
u. usually dark and cloudy, and lhe smoke roll
ing to leeward, perhaps screened the reef from
'-is view. However, be saw it not, and now
eamU ’’usking down upon the crippled ship,
confident j" »i 3 «Dpen»rity.
‘Ease the r»? ni down ! said Bang m, keep
-1,.., his eye’steam.';’ u P OI, n the Pursuer; ‘and
% n ...do your duty .' Ihe Niagara yawed,
"j th fit- jib-buo-m of .‘? e schooner hurst
U i h about the
through her bit . - j a( j s i a h o uted ba ffem,
‘ Lash hun there, ri.. , T ■
in a voice that was hearu every th.ug
beside; ‘lash him there! and n p. tio
blood-hounds shall keep us company. ‘Hard
up again 1’
The obedient craft or.ee more fell off before
the wind, and rushed onward toward the break
ers. that roared and foamed not more than a
holt mile in advance, dragging in her wake the
light-built schooner, like some giant spirit of
death urging an iguobl n being to the shades of
darkness. A howl of frenzy, that broke from
lhe deck of the corsair, told they had for the
first time bexome acquainted with the peril that
awaited them ; and twenty dark firms sprang
out upon her bowsprit, armed with axes and
knives, to free themselves from the hold of the
ship.
4 Now, my lads, give it to the bloodhounds !
shouted Bangetr.
A volley was the reply, and every soul with
out the schooner’s cutwater perished ; as many
more sprang to take their places, but again the
fire from the Niagara’s quarter deck swept
them away, like chaff before the wind of hea
ven. In the meantime, both vessels wore rush
ing madly toward the reef; (hey were not a
hundred yards from the breakers, and both par
ties ceased hostilities, to gaze upon lhe foam
ing waters and iron rocks that in another mo
ment threatened to dash them to eternity. Hope
had left every bosom. The pirates uo longer
endeavored to separate themselves from the
Niagara, but stood pale and trembling, waiting
with horror to pay the last dark Tor Ten of then
lives. Both vessels were now within the in
fluence of the reef, the long heavy rollers, in
conjunction th) wild, wire Iri ing them
rapidly upon the rocks, whan the schooner’s
bowsprit, shrouds, bobst; ys and all gave wav ;
the liberated vessel swung round and struck,
uhiiethe Niagara forced by the ledge, un
scathed. The next bill w dashed the pirate
high: r upon the reef, where she was hid from
view by the roaring and foaming seas that
j broke over her devoted hull. The crash ot
i her falling spars was then heard, and the shrieks
and wails ofthe drownirg wretches rose, for
one moment, above the thunder of ttic sun ;
but it was only for a moment, and they were
lost forever. ” Whim the Niagara passed the
cluster of rocks upon which the schooner went
to pieces, she was hurled along in the very
centre of the principal reef, where the eddies
and currents rendered her totally unmanagea
ble. She no longer obeyed her helm, but drifted
along a disabled thing, at he sport of the winds
and waves, the sea roaring the while like thun
der around her mid the spray breaking in dense
musses over her.
' There were ten minutes of appalling anxie
-1 ty, during which every ene expected to feel
her strike against the rocks: yet for ten min
utes more she continued to drift through them
’ in safety. The centre and principal ledge was
passed, nnd she began to fall oft before the
: wind. A beam of hope lighted up tl;e com te-,
nance of Bungem. He sprang up<> > the bu).
warks, and cast one quick, searching glance at
the sea around hint.
‘.Starboard a little!
’ ! 4 Starboard a little,’ answered the man at the.
’ wheel.
4 Steady so. meet h r.’
1 4 Meet her it is, sir,’ was the reply.
‘ For five minutes more she flew through the
I intricacies of the reef without deviation.
‘Port, port I give her the port helm, quick!’
shouted Bangem.
i 4 She’s got it all, sir,’ was the response ; and
the gulla. t ship glided by the last rock that
’ threatened her destruction, and passed safely
into the still water between the reef and lhe
main. 11- B.
‘ A real gentleman.— He never dresses in the
extreme of fashion, but avoids singularity iu
‘ his person or habits.
Is affiible with his equals and pleasant and
attentive to his inferiors.
t i In conversation, he avoids hasty, ill-temper
ed or insulting remarks.
j Pays punctually for his newspapers.
Never pries into another person’s affiurs.
s Does never, under any circumstam s, speak
ill of a woman.
Never cuts an acipiaintance who has met
. with a reverse of fortune; and.
He alway pays his postage on his letter of
,■ business.
r -
s The human eye.—At the S ssioeson Satur-
•. I day, a prisoner was acquitted on the ground
of insanity. The District Attorney satisfied
hitnseif of the L et by the v.-xaut eye of the
- acct e d. The keepers of Lu atic Asylums
i invariably judge of the return of reason, by
e the eve. The human glance has been the
d study of the visest philosophers, audits in
. explicable phenomenon mortified their pride,
c It is saici that the reason murd rers choose
darkness forth.? commission of '.heir deeds, is,
e because they cannot withstand th. look >f their
s victims. It is a beauty and a mystery.
a A. i . Times.
Someone prerented an Indian Chief with a basket of
s | Champaigne, and demanded his opinion of the strange
_ | uhishey : ‘ Good 1’ said the Chief, 4 it iu the juice of wo-
II | men’s tongues and lion’s hearts—for when I drink a
d I bottle, 1 c«:; and fight the binjtelf I”
Speech ©B." the Elon. H. Everett,
Delivered before the -i hig Convention of
Windsor county, Vermont. May 31, 1837.
(CONCLUDED.)
In relation to the Treasury Bank recom
mended by the President, the Comrnit’ee after
demonstrati g its inefficiency in iffording a
uniform curre. cy presents a view of its polit
ical effects. “The Bank ofthe United States
now employs five hundred agents, in various
parts of the Union, where its offices are estab
lished. From this fact some idea may b
formed of the very great addition which would
be made to the patronage of the Executive
Government, by the establishment of such a
bank as the one under consideration.” “But
the patronage resulting from the appointment
of these agents, great, as it would doubtless be,
would be insignificant and harmless, when
compared to that which would Result from the
dispensation of bank accommodations to the
standing amount of at least fifty millions of
dollars! The mind almost instinctively shrinks
from the contemplation of an idea so ominous
to the purity ofthe Government, and the liber
ties of the People. No government of which
the committee have any knowledge, exci pt,
perhaps the despotism of Russia, was ever in
vested with a patronage at once so prodigious
in its influence, and so dangerous in its char
acter. . In the most desperate financial ex
tremities, no other European government has
even ventured upon an experiment so perilous.
If the whole patronage of the English Mon
archy were concentrated in the hands of the
American Executive, it may ba well doubted
■ wib.'her the public liberty would be so endan
gered bv it, t xs **• would be by this vast pe< u
mary machine, yvit.'oh -vould place in the hands
of every administratm, !?!() millions of dollars,
as a fu id for reward! ig pjiticai partisans.”
i’ the Senate the report was presented by
t h e v “teran and venerable republics.' 1 , —
General*SanK’A 1 S " l,th ' lhe of :be Pre vS
ident. Ofthe 'i Bank project the
Committee say, that S IVI,, K , to . ,t a! ‘ the
consideration they could bi s. tne, ‘ 'C’flec
tioiis have resulted in a belief ths! -‘A such
measure must resolve itself at last into nT re
system of paper money issued by the Govern
ment,” —“the inevitable co sequence would
be lhe creation of a moneyed engine, of direct
dependence on. the officers of the Government
—at variance with the whole scheme of our
institutions:” they add—“they are satisfied
that the country is in the enjoyment of an uni
form national currency not only sound and uni
form iu itself and perfectly adapted to ail the
purposes of the Government and of the com
munity, but more sound and uniform than that
possessed by any other country”—and close
with this pointed remark, which may almost
be construed into a sarcasm “under these cir
cumstances they deem it prudent, to abide by
the practical good the country enjoys, and to
put nothing to hazard by doubtful experiments."
Such was the message of the President in
1829 and such the opinions of his best friends
in both Houses—and I may add, ofthe intelli
gent part tlvtx c<AnaxTiL! i>*ty »» vury w.ll£trr»_
It would seem that the project of a Treasu
ry Bank would have been put at rest. But you
will find in the messages of 1830 a d 1831 re
newed recommendations of the project, and a
conti ued and increased hostility to the Bank
of the United States. In 1831-2 a list ot
charges, originating t’n>m a Governme. t Di
rector, was brought before the House. It was
committed to a select committee, consisting of
a majority ofthe friends of the administration.
Their report has been published. The result,
however, was that at the same sessio , an ael
passed renewing the charter of the Bunk, by
<i majority of 22 in the House, and of 5 in the
Senate. Such was lhe declared will of Con
gress. It was vetoed by the President.
The Bank which in the opinion of Mr. Gal
latin was a common bond of interest and uni<> ,
and so beneficial to the community was de
clared to be a Monster, endangering the vei v
existence of the Governme t. The adminis
tration press in every quarter opened upon it.
and the office holders and office seekers joined
in full chase. This ease presents one ofthe
most extraordinary instances of the power of
the executive patronage. The tenure of office
is the will of the Executive—and that will re
quires every other will to be subservient to it.
That an institution—w hich hud redeemed the
currency from Bankruptcy in ISl7—which
had established and pre lerved a currency more
uniform than specie—“perfectly adapted to all
the purposes ot the Government and ot the
community”—more sound and uniform than
that possessed by any other nation —an institu
tion u iversally popular; that such an insti
tution should be blasted and destroyed by the
denunciations of one man through the influence
of official patronage, may well alattn the coun
try at the extent of that powerful engine.
Should we add to it the patronage ofthe money
power, we may then surrender the ballot-box.
The Republic will be at an end.
The charter of 1816 had yet four years to
run. The Executive seemed unwilling to
wait its appointed time. The bank still re
tained the public deposites, and was entitled
to retain them during its charter term, unless
removed bv lhe Secretary of the i reasury un
der a power invested in him alone by lhe char
ter.
The removal of the Deposites was in con
templation before the.meeting of Congress in
Dec. 1832. The President in his message of
that year suggested doubts as to the solvency
ofthe Ba, k.and recommended an investigation
of its situation to ascertain whether the public
deposites were safe.
The object was obvious, —that Congress
should take the responsibility. The annunci
ation of a doubt ofthe solvency of the Ba. k
was calculated to shake the public confidence
—to alarm the bill holders and depositors, and
to produce a sudden ru. . that might, have em
barrassed its >p< ratio is, if it had done no more.
I hope we shall ever have a President whose
simil .r dci.u ciatiou would not have that. Yet.
such was the practical confidence i.> its cred
it hat tin i jtirv was produced, that was not
j repaired by the proce< dings ofthe House,
i The M ssage was referred to the Committee
i of Wavs amt Means, consisting of a majority
!of the friends of the admi listratien. Mr.
- Verpla ck. then also a supportei ofthe admin
istration, reported a resolution from the com
mittee, '■that the government deposites might in
the opinion of lhe House be safely continued in
the bank of the United States.'’ and which, on
the i 1 March 1833, was adopted bv a vote of
108 to 46, (beside, 20 admioistrat ion men bolt.
i"g the questio Thus Congress, by t his de.
cided vote, had refused to take lhe responsibil.
ity.
Still the President p rsisted in his purpose.
'Congress rose uu the 8d cf March 1833- A
new cabinet \vas appointed. In the selection
of a Secretary of the Treasury, an eye must
have been had to this work. On the announce
ment ofthe appointment, the enquiry was al
most universal, who is Mr. Duane? and all
the information obtained was. that he was a
Pennsylvanian, —a respectable and worthy cit
izen of Philadelphia. He was appointed as
the agent to take the responsibility which
Congress had declined —A, roit policy! The
bank had yet many advocates among the
friends of the administration—it was yet the
favorite of Pennsylvania, particularly of the
city of Philadelphia. With whm sagacity
was this appointment made/—Was it that the
death would be less regretted if the execution
er tvere a Pennsylvanian?—that the city would
lay it less to heart if he were a Philadelphian!
or was it in scorn to that state that one of her
own citizens was selected for that service?
No sooner was he inducted into office than the
removal of the deoosites was put in train. A
person was sent, not by the Secretary, but by
the President, to select new depositories. As
early as lhe Ist of August we find Mr. Kendall
on his journey Eastward for that purpose.
1.. September Mr. Duane was called upon by
(he President to perform the act for which he
was appointed. To the utter astonishment of
the President he also refused to take the res
ponsibility ! —He was instantly dismissed.
The President took the responsibility. Mr.
Taney was appointed—he. by order of the
President, removed the deposites—and ts now
Chief Justice of the supreme Court of the Uni
ted States. I would not say any th ng which
should detract Irom the respect due to the tri
bunal over which he presides Though he
may be equal to the station, and, I believe,
will execute its duties to the satisfaction of thR
country, yet I cannot but deprecate the manner
in which the appointment was obtained.
The removal was the act of the President,
do ie on his “I t. ke the responsibility,” in de
fiance ofthe vote of the House of Represen
tativeo and in le*s than three mouths before its
a- sSioii. And, what were the reasons for the
act which, ill rough the same Secretary of the
Treasury,, he communicated to Congress?
First, his doubt of the solvency of the Ba..k.— *
Prufessii g to have great respect for the reso-
Lition of the House, he thought the examina
/>on of the Committee bad not been sufficient
ly Put wbat t,eW light had he ob-
tained? I. "ohit of fact there was no reason
able ground tiff “puht. On the winding up
of the Bank, ithas ofieiC“ t 0 ,b e I nited Stutes,
on its shares, 115 for the lu(? ; which I pre
sume, under the resolution of the. las: Congress
has been accepted. Second, that the Da.’‘k
had become political—What had the bank
done? VVhen attacked it had defended itself
—« hen the President denounced it as uncen
stitutional, as not having answered the end for
w'hich it had been created, as insolvent, when
the great question of recharter was pending,
the bank made its appeal to the public—it pub
lished and circulated, at its own expense, the
Report of the Committees of the House and
Senate—the Speeches of members, newspaper
essays &x. die. And had it not a right so to
do? Was it not a duty it owed to the Stock
holders and to the people who were joint own
ers, to protaenheir interest : zx ira3 xt.-ot--.~-
niore than any corporation would do, and
ought to do. If the Governor of this State
should denounce even a petty Bridge Corpor
ation, whose charter was about to expire, for
the purpose of preventing its recharter, must
it submit tn silence, or, may it not defend itself
at the tribunal before whom it is denounced?
And if in its defence, it should place the Gov
ernor in the wrohg, if the people should be so
far influenced by their arguments as to elect
represe .talites unfavorable to his views, would
the Corporation be justly ob. oxious to the ven
geance of the people, however they might in
tact be subjected to that of bis Excellency?—
In mv judgment they did less tha their duty
i i quin d. The interest of a great institution
was i..trusted to the keeping of the Directors,
they had been solicited to become the political
age..t ofthe executive, they had refused, and
on that account, were denounced before the
people. The gravest charges were made, and
persisti d in, even after they had been declared
to be <>mu dless by Committees of both Hou
ses. They ought to have furnished every vo
t r with those reports.
I n addition to this it should bo remarked that
all the facts in relation to the political acts of
the Bank were before Congress when they
passed lhe resolution declaring that the public
deposites might be safely permitted to remain
in the Bank. The withdrawal of the depo
sites was never approved by Congress. Eve
ry attempt was made to bring the question of
approval or disapproval before the House, but
it was alwiivs evaded; and no House from that
da\ to this has, or would have, by a direct vote,
approved the act, saving and excepting the
Senate of the last session. The Senate of
1834 disapproved of the removal, as an as
sumption of power not authorized by the Con
stitution. The Senate, of the last session drew’
black lines around that resolution and—around
itself.
Having withdrawn the deposites, and Con
gress not having established a Treasury bank,
the Executive proceeded to the work of legis
lation by devising a plan as a substitute. This
was the selection of batiks in each state, by
contract placed under the direction, a,--, a~
far as practicable, under the control of the
Treasury. It was first in contemplation that
a Treasury Bureau should be established. Not
having authority for that, it was concluded to
place them under the direction of an agent,
employed and paid by the banks, but resident
i the Treasury buildings. Whether this was
intended as a permanent, or only a temporary
arrangement, un.il a more favorable opportuni
ty for lhe establishment of a Treasury bank
should occ.tr, has not been disclosed. This,
though for political purposes, not as easily man
aged er as powerful as a Treasury bank, was
an immense engine of power. A Treasury
bank cotfld directly limit its loans to political
friends: —This engine, operating under an ex
ecutive influence would, in a-measure, effect the
same purpose. I will give you au i stance
ofthe degradation to which partisans of high
standing have descended in the scramble for
the dejiosites, and anotherexamj'leofthepur
jxjscs for which they have used them. I do
not mean to say that all banks have descended,
or conducted in the same manner: but such is
the natural tendency of the Executive Experi
ment. I read Irom the application of Seventh
Ward bank fur a share of the deposites, of
Oct. 2. 1833- “ The Directors feel much con
fidence in this application, being (without ex
ccption) as well as the stockholders, (with few
exceptions) friends of the administration.”
'■The Directors, having the highest personal
consideration for General Jackson, respectful
ly request the Secretary to lay this letter be
lero thu President:” signed by order, by Wai-.
Vol. V— Ift.
ter Bowne, President-William O’Conner,
Cashier These name s should be preserved.
But, as if this was not enough, I find an addi
tional, most loyai supplication.
“New York, Dec. 16, 1833,
“We the subscribers, officers and directors
ofthe Seventh Ward bank iu the city of New
York, friends of the administration, and of the
revered chief at the head of the government, do
solicit a portion ot the fiscal patronage of the
United States Treasury, for the Seventh Ward
bank. The terms are those most favorable to
the gover ment. Signed, Walter. Bowne,
President, Wm. O’Conner, cashier, and by
twelve directors.”
For the other example, I will come nearer
home. I read from a letter of the Cashier, of
the bank of Burlington, January 25. 1836, to
Reuben M. Whitney. “Being located in the
same place where a Branch of the United
States bank was established, and, as we are a
deposite bank, when the branch here discon
tinued operations, the public seemed to expect
that we could, at once, afford the same facilities
and accommodations that were enjoyed when
the branch was doing business. There was,
«n the part of eur directors, a desire to meet
this expectation; and the consequence has been
that a very favorable change has taken place
politically in favor o f the Government. And,
as it is our desire to strengthen that sentiment,
we feel that it isimpoitant to afford our far
mers and merchants, the coming spring, a
pretty extensive accommodation in anticipa,
tion of the wool clip.”
The immediate effects of the removal ofthe
deposites were severe at the time; they are,
however, forgotten in the sweeping destruc
tion of the present day. It was but the be.
ginnii g of the Experiment.
1 may as well here, as any where, notice
what was called, and has proved the Tluir.bug,
which, after the project of a Treasury bank
was laid aside, was used as the catch-word of
the day, until it assumed to be ostensibly the
main object of the Expeiiment! The credit
system was to be abolished—we were to huve
a hard money Government, a hard money cur.
teney. Was it expected by the projectors,
tha'. we should have specie enough to keep up
the price of commodities, as settled throughout
the cu.mmerciul world? This would require
three hu.idrt-.d millions. Our share of gold
a d silver coins, ou a division, would not ex-
Ceed thirty millions. How were we to obtain
and retain ths requisite quantity? By Gold
bills andTteusuiy Orders? It was utterly im.
practicable. What then would be the effect
of abolishing the credit system-—on debtors—
on the industry and enlerprise of the countrv—.
u.” the stability of our republican institutions?
The price of labor and its products would fall
to less than one bail’(and according to the the
ory of many to less than one tenth) oi their pre.
sent value. This, in itself, would be no injury
if the price of every thing fell, every where,
in the same proportion. But there is one im.
portant article which never falls—the notes of
hand of creditors; they must be paid in the
number of dollars expressed on the face of
them. A note for ten dollars, which under
our long established credit system might be
X ai --a y
lation of debtor nnd creditor is over seven hun
dred and fifty millions of dollars. The currcn.
ci, (specie and bills,; may exceed half that a
mount. It will be perceived that a diminution
of the quantity increases its value of all pro.
petty in the same nroportioti. Every such
change is to the gam of the creditor and to the
loss ot the debtor. It makes the rich richer
and the poor poorer. I’he industry and eu.
terpiise of lhe country depend o i the credit
system —without it, the laborer must remain a
day laborer tortile. The difference between
the price of his personal labor and subsistence
is all the capital he can hope to accumulate;
and no o. e but the capitalist, who has hoarded
th ear.ingsof years of himself and of his an.
ccstors can employ him. The result will
be. what it has been in every country where
there is no credit that the price of labor
will be lower in pioportiou than that of
commodities. Under the credit system the
i dustry and intelligence of a young man are
his capital. He is enabled to commence bu
siness twenty years in advance of the hard
mo ey laborer. This country presents au
illustration unparalleled in any age or nation.
Look al the immense amount of property that
has been created by labor within the last
twenty years ; and at the same time, consider
tl e condition ofthe laborers who have produ
ced it. laborers are in a more elevated con
dition than those of any other country. Tho
gieat principle of all this is. that the credit
system has enabled the industrious and the
i .telligent, and the actual capitalist to call out
th” whole labor ofthe country ; and the effect
has been that the price oflabor has been in
. advance ofthe price of commodities. What
would have been our situation, if no houses—
no ships—no steamboats—no sac cries—could
have been built—no lands purchased—no en.
terorise undertaken, until a sufficient amount
if gold and silver were fit st amassed and laid
aside for those purposes? And what would
the labo'ets have been doing, in the mean
time ? What are the hard money governments?
No confidence—no credit—no enterprise;—
a restricted int“rcourse—no public improve,
meats —an indiff’renco to the ineasures’ofthe
P”-»>jaal Turkey, are]
hard money governments, and sui h, tn ths end J
will all haid money governments become.
Our currency has been such as seems natu
rally to have arisen from our progress in im.
provement. and peculiarly suited to our condi
tion. Gold and Silver, —and Bills at all times
c-nvertible into specie, increasing or diminish,
i g according to the increase or diminution of
business, without the expense attendant on the
purchase of Specie.
The prostration of the United State Bank,
lhe substitution of State Banks, and the resort
to a specie currency constitute what ie called
the Experiment. Daring its progress thus far.
and to the end, the Executive had the benefit
of the lessons of experience, and the warning*
of the ablest Statesmen of the country, la
April 1834, Mr. Adams said:—“YourPresi
dent ha« usurped legislative power. He has
laid his hands upon vour treasure. He has
seized it and now wields it as a weapon es pow.
er to himselt, and an instrument of plunder to
his partisans. Yet his Experiment has but just
commenced ; its object is not merely io destroy
but break the Bank. His chosen State Banks
are to be his depositories, and engines To RE
’ STORE A METALLIC CURRENCY. With what
intuitive sagacity are the means adapted to th*
end ! Sir, his State Banks would land the na.
tion—they are already hurling it into univer
sal bankruptcy. His hand must be stayed
or the nation is undone.” From numerous
othe • warnings, I seL ct one from Mr. Binnay's
in 1884. 11 is not the vague prediction of evil,
■ but rests uu the ueccss-iry couuecUou oi causj