The Georgia mirror. (Florence, Ga.) 1838-1839, August 11, 1838, Image 2
For my sake be upon thy guard. These spa
cious corridors will echo thy words w ith double
three, and we'll be overheard if thou dost speak
so loud.—But why is this? thou tremblest like a
leaf! why be alarmed without a cause ? the deed s
not done. We have only talk'd ol it as yet and
-can easily tetract.
Queen. Retract! no; I’ve undertaken it, and
will accomplish it—to-night—this very hour! —
Away all other thoughts but this determination !
JLike birds of prey at uight upon dismantled tow
ers, where walls arc bare and chambers desolate, —
so let it sit amidst the honors here, —
{laying Iter hand upon her heart!
and goad me onward to the deed ! That damp;
that dagger too; give me both. I'll go. Remain
thou till I return. And if throughout this gallery
thou hearest a groan be thou assured it is the
echoed .gasp, the dying cry, of him that /Jia-se ■
killed.
•(lie gives her the lamp and dagger—she exits cau
tiously into the King’s chamber.)
Lot. She goes to kill the king—to 'shed her
husband's blood! The crown, the revenues and
kingly power will all be mine, secured by oaths
and bonds to me and my posterity forever! En
joy the thought, exult oiy towering soul, lie glad
amidst the tlow of blood, be glad ol death and
triumph iu calamity! Hark! (listening at the
door) his groans; his dying groans; I hear them,
now, and they reveal the bloody truth. ’Tisdone ;
nor is the guilt and stain of it on me! Tim
cruv/n-thecrown! ’tis miue! 'tis! mine!
re-enter the Queen lioleutlv agitated, with the
dagger.]
Queen. Who’s there ? oh!!! ;
Lot. Is it done ?
Queen. Didst thou not hear ? Heard'st tliou
no? the rattling in his throat—his agonies, his
lamentations, erics,—his cry of murder, murder
ess, and blood, as o'er him came the last cold
sweat of death*. Oh, what a wretch I’ve made of
myself.' I've damn'd and doomed myself to
guilt, remorse and hell. I've mix'd the remnant
of my life with gall, and poisoned every hope 1
, n,< ituvbut 1 I’ve wreck’d my earuoy Hopes
virhiu a sea of blood, and dare not look for hap
piness beyond the grave,—but must hereafter
drag along my life in misery, and hell, dark hell,
and its remorse expect when death demands me!
Lot. Nay, never mind the future, but bless
thy influential stars if w e escape,—if we are not
detected. The King has left no lawful heir alive
to reign, and now hie diadem belongs to tjiee.
Queen. To me ! belongs to me 1
Lot. It does; the crown is thine; but by the
t'ahqne law ebon'll be deprived of it. u ill ess—
Queen. Y\ hat, wilt tliou wed a murderess, *
Lotha'tre ? whit wed the guilty widow of a man
who dealt the blow that took her husband’s life !
Behold—see here—this dagger stained with the
King’s blood!
Lot. But where’s the lamp ?
Queen. The lamp! (she. appears confused and
a'-i' md.) I have forgotten it. ’Tis w ith the King, )
I r ‘collect—l {daced it on the table by his side.
Lot. It must not remain there. Ik, in, at
ottce—go—quick and bring it forth,
Queen. No,—not I. Wliat enter yonder
chamber where lielies? Expect it not-—of me.
I could not gaze again upon those snow-white
sheets, bedaub'd with gore ad midst the fearful
agou.es of death—on which indelibly is crime.
I could not brook again the sight of him, to see
his sightle ;s eyes that gazed on me so dreadfully
their last! No, I'd rather die ; die on tire spot,
than cuter yonder door !
Lot. Though not go ?
Queen. I cannot.
Lot. Then I must. If it were left, and bur
ning as it is. the inquest that will be held upon
his death would require no stronger proof of who
-it was that murdered him.
•(he treads softly towards the door, and pushing it
slowly open, enters the chamber.)
Queen. No, I could not look again upon the
havoc 1 have made ; the thoughts of it alone are
terrible ! When l approached the chamber where'
Jut lies, remembrance softly told her southing tale,
and mercy for a moment check'd my step*;. I hal
ted at the door, but waver'd not. I raised the
latch as if a thief to steal, and crept beside my
husband's bed. The glare of the light L cauied
(.wakened him—he spoke, and kindly asked me
what unusual rare had kept me up? when r.i
staiifly—-j»s quick as gleams the lightning’s flash—
I drove this dagger to his heart, and felt his blood
gush into my thee ! lie groaned—struggled—fix'd
his ghastly eyes ou mine—fell back—and died !
(re-enter Lothairc, with the lamp—he appears
disordered and wild, looking behind him as if
afraid of being followed.)
Queen. llow now, Losthaire ? thou’rt pale as
Led. Pale, ara I ? T have seen enough to turn
me pale-—enough to turn the white rose red.
Queen. What, what hast thou seen?
Lot. Seen!. I’ve seen what thou hast done'.
The murder’d king, as there Jie lies stretch'd
out upon his gory bed—such a sight!
Queen. Oh!i
Lot. But come—go wash fliv'hands. There’s
here and there a spot of blood on them. TUv
tface is sprinkled too. Away—there’s not a mo
ment's time to be lost. Here’s the lamp—fc keat
w ith thee. (giving tht lump into her hand.)
Queen. This -dagger tho’—what shall be alone
•with in v ere it unluckily found upon us, it would
at once betray our guilt.
Lot. (live it to me. I’ll bury it. (exeunt sep
<2 T ntehj.)
{Scene 2.—A grfliery in the Convent-as before,
4he morning alter the storm. Euter the two
monks meeting.]
Ist SI. Well met. Tlow goes the time ?
2d M. The sun is up, and,nil his way two
hours goee. An awful uight and an uncommon
tempest.
Ist M. It was. But see, the Abbot comes
- this way.
(enter St.T’ierre Duval, the Abbot.)
2d M. Good uarrow, holy father.
Abbot, Peace be with you. Good morrow,
"both. A fearful night pass’d. Ilow slept ye?
Ist Mr I could notslecp—
-2d M. Nor I.
Abbot. It men like ye cannot, liow fares the
-v retch who has within ills breast a secret crime ?
liow tares the murderer on such a night, ’midst
. his conflicting thoughts and guilty fears ? But
■ hark—f noise heard within) there's someone
knocking at the gate. Perhaps a weary traveler
who lacks a little food anil rest. Go; see who it
.Jij dO'l wha? he wants, (exit the Ist Monk.
2d M. At times last night, the rage of the i
storm was such, I almost feared these battlements
would fall around us. They say that trees were
wrenched up by the roots and houses were blow a
down—that desolation mark’d the lightning’s vi
vid stroke, that nature fought a civil, war, and
ruin followed it. Stranger still, they say, at in
tervals the moon shone out between the dense dark
night, as red as blood, men and women talk ol it ;
speak of other times when storms like this pass’d
over the world, and mention murders that were
doi^.
(re-enter the Ist Monk.)
Abbot. Who’s at the gate ?
Ist M. A man that desires to speak w ith tliee.
His hasty looks foretell of fearful news . IU said
he had no time to spare, and bade mo haste.
Abbot. Admit him. (exit Ist Mon!:.)
2d M. His looks bespeak fearful tidings, our
brother savs. I Jiopc the beldame’s prophecies
are not fulfilled. 1 hope of murder we’re not
dooraed-to hear. But see be come?.—-
(enter Montalt followed by the Monk.)
Abbot What, my old and honor’d friend, Mon
talt. Peace be with thee. How wears thine
age ? B't why is this? Thy features indicate a
dreadful talc that thou would’st tell to me, hut
feeling se ms to stifle utterance. Thou wouldst,
but enu’st not speak. What’s in thy boswn tjiat
tluuii graspest ?
Mob. This—‘belnrld it—a dagger—
(producing the one that Lothnire received from
the queen subsequent to the regicide.)
Abbot. ’Tis stain'd with blood.
Mon. It is—with the royal blood of France—
the blood of him who yesterday was king!
Abbot. Is.the King dead !
Mon. He is—-murdered ! murdered !
Abbot. Ob, Heavens!
(The Abbot and Monks pause with their hands
clasped.)
But when, Montalt 1 when, when was this
butchery done ? and who's the regicide ?
Mon. ’Twas done last night. But question
me no more about it. My bursting heart's too'
full to answer thee.
Abbot. But the murderer ?
Mon. Nay, ask me not. As yet I dare not say
whom 1 suspect. Wait awhile aud time will dis
close it all.
Abbot. But when did it occur? Relate the
facts as they are known to thee.
Mon. No, St. Pierre—l've not the time <o
spare that it would occupy, for I must back to
cover? 9gain. But ere lgo remark—there’s blood ■
upoi> the blade. As thou cfuist see and testify;
and these m»i too; his stain'd with blood and
with dirt.
Abbot. Tt is, Montalt.
Mnn. Remark the .hour I brought it Ik ic, and,
if thy country's law should. call on thee for
evidence, in court, remember it. Produce it
there in its polluted state, and testify what thou
hast seen and heard.
Abbot I.w ill.
M«n. Then here— (giving the dagger into the.
Abbot's rare) take it. And ye, ye’ll swear to this;
wilt thou ? (to Ist JMordc.)
Ist M. 1 will
Mon. And tliou? (to 2 d Monk.)
2d M. 1 will.
Mon. Fare ye well then, till ye are called
upon—called by the laws to bring (he murderes
of your king to light, to shame, the scaffold, and
to death Farewell.
Abbot. Peace he with thee. Farewell. (JZx
r.Mtt sipurately..)
To be Concluded.
The dead dancers.-—A paragraph copied from
a French Journal describing the death us a geu
tleman while waltzing. is going the rounds of the
newspapers. Tbe-inck!en t *reruitids usuf another
which is said to have occurred in this city many
years since, and which might furnish the ground
work of a fashionable tale of horror. Miss—, a
young lady of beauty and accomplishments, but
of a disposition perverse and exacting, was betroth
ed to a French officer who had been placed upon
the half pay list from being incapacitated for ser
vice by a musket ball which he received in his
breast, and which ltud not beei! extracted. Gap
tain—*v»s .ana elegant waltzcr but owing to the
state e.f his health he could never take more than
one ar two turns upon tlieikior without being o
vercome by exhaustion, and indeed lus physician
had expressly forbidden him to share iu that ex
citing .Unuoc. Waltzing though subsequently
written out of fashion by the authors of Srflmagun
di, was at that time nearly as much in vogue as at
present, and Miss , who affected te be a lead
er of ton, was one of the first always to join in the
graceful whirl. .'Partners, however, were not ea
sy to be obtained unions when foreigners were
present, and it chanced one-evening that Miss-. .
entered a ball-room just w hen Cnpt had w alt
zed a few turns and overcome with the exercise,
was about retiring from the room. The lady was
provoked at having arrived too' late to secure ‘her
lover for the first dance, and with a want of con
sideration truly unfemkiine, laid her hand upon
his arm to detain him passing. Poor Monsieur
,though pile and sinking, liafl too much-of
sthe Frenchman about him to resist the appeal.
He begged . short respite, however, which was
granted, while the careless girt rattled away with
the beaux wlnrhad clustered around her as she
leaned upon the arm of her silent lover. After a
very brief time, asiugle quadrille oulv having inter
vened, the waltzing couples were called to the floor,
aud the thoughtless .Miss——hurried her partner
into the gay ewele. The'band struck up. The
dancers moved, and the time enabled the invalid
Captain to get through the first round w ith appa
rent ease. He seemed, too. to gather life as the
time of the music quickened, and the waltzing
moved faster and faster; nay, lus strength was so
renewed, that lie soon tired out the other couples.
The floor was left to this single pair ; and now
SO swiftly did they whirl around, that the musi
cians in turn had to follow them with the most
rapid execution. The gaze of tlic whole coni
pauy was fixed upon this eccentric pair, velien sud
denly tlie face of the isdy was seen to turn almost
of a purple color, while tlie features of her part
ner worked as if affected by some liidious -spasm.
Her eyes rolled with an anxious, appealing look,
while his became fixed w ith the stare of a man
iac. Her arms fell listlessly by her side—bis
seemed to contract like hinges ofbon about her
person ; which, folded in his embrace, was flung
—with the last move of the delirious and dying
man—a corpse upon the floor. The horror-struck
spectators sprang to the assistance of the unfortu
nate lady, butshe was already g ne, aud her lover
expired before she could be released from his
arms. An examination of the officer’s body prov-
THE €>; E 031 Cal A MIRROR.
ed that his death ensued from the dropping in-!
wvr.lly, upon a mortal part, the bullet he had
so long carried about him; and, iu the sudden
delirium of his death-agony, he had wrought some
injury to tlie lady by the horrible compressions in
which he held her. — New York Mirror.
Apprentices When serving your apprenticeship,
vou will have tine and opportunity to stock your
mind with much useful informatiou. The only
way for a voting man to prepare for future use
fulness is to derote himself to study during his
leisure hours, —first be industrious in your busi
ness: never complain you are obliged to work;
go to it with alacrity and cheerfulness : and it will
heroine a habit which will make you respected
and beloved lv your master or employer: make it
your business to see and promote his interest; by
taking care of ills, you w ill learn to take care of
your own.
Young race, at the present day, are too fond of
getting rid of work ; they seek for easy and lazy
employments ; and frequently turn out to be poor
and miserable vagabonds. You must avoid all
wishes to live without labor, labor is a blessing in
stead of rt-curse,it makes men healthy, it procures
them food, clothing, and every other necessary,
and frees them from-every temptation to be dis
honest.
Next to your hard labor, you should be constant
in improving your mind. You can never hope to
rise to a respec table standing in the world, w ith
out long tiers, vering and constant application to
duty. When you read you must not throw away
your time reading novels and romances, you must
study natural and moral philosophy, geography,
history and the arts. Let not-a lar T e hook dis
courage you or a long history or other works pre
vent vou from reading it through. AY hen you
have read, reflect upon the principles you have
perused, revolve them in your mind, and endeavor
to understand-their meaning and utility, so that
you mav read aud apply to ail ordinary purposes
oflife, ii you do not mi-let stand and comprehend
what you read you may as well let reading alone.
You have to deny yourself the amusements enjoy
ed by most young men if you would prepare your
self for being a respectable old man.
Moderate Drinking. —Do not say that T exag
gerate yonr exposure to intemperanee Let no
man snv when he thinks ofa drunkard broken in
health and spoiled in intellect, “I can never so
fall.” He thought as little of falling in his early
years. The promise of his youth was as bright
as yours; and even after he had began his down
ward course, he was as unsuspicious as the firm
est around him, and would have repelled as in
dignanlly the admonition to beware of Lateuipo
ranee. The danger of this vice lies in its almost
imperceptible approach. Few who fall by it,
know rrf its success. Youtli does not see or sus
pect drunkenness in the spar kling beverage which
quickens its susceptibilities of joy. The invalid
does r.ot see it in the cordial which his physician
prescribes, and which gives new tone to his debil
itated organs. The man of thought and genius
detects no paralysing poison in tlie draught which
seems a spring of inspiration to iuteliedt and ima
gination. The lover ol social pleasure .little
dreams that the glass which animates conversation
will ever he drunk in solitude, and will sink him
too low for the intercourse in which he now de
lights. Intemperance comes with noiseless step
and binds its cords with a touch too light to be
felt. This truth of mournful experience should
be treasured up by us all, an<l should influence
the habits and arrangements of domestic and social
life in every class of the community.
North Carolina is opening for herself new sour
ces of point and enterprise by working up her
own products. We extract as follows from the
Fayetteville Observer:
Comma flfgfd* —Three -years ago, tlie mer
chants of North Carolina were in the habit of
bringing from the North an immense quantity of
cotton yarns, generally of a wretched quality.,
upon which the consumer paid not only all the
charges of a double transjiart.ition to and from the
North, but a heavv profit to the Northern Manu
facturer. Since that time the numerous Facto
ries put in operation, in this State, have not only
stepped the importation of yarns, but produced a
surplus for exportation. We have heretofore
noticed the shipment ol" n Factory in this place ;
and on Saturday last there nfrived here 10,000 lbs.
from <rm establishment, in the interior, on.its way
t > flint great mart, where all things find their val
ue and a ready sale, New York. The period can
uot be distant .when -the entire demand for cotton
cloths as well as yarns, in North Carolina will
be supplied bv North Carolina industry.—Nothing
could contribute more to -the independence and
prosperity ol the State. 'There is no business,
which, w.ll conducted, yields-a better return than
the cotton manufacture, and no place better .adop
ted for its success than Fayetteville.”
New York ou tlie 4th nit. was visited with all
sorts of a row. It commenced on the part of
some Irishmen who fell in with two sailors, and
beat them almost to death. The noise brought a
number of the native Americans to the assistance
of the sailors, and the shouts of the Irish soon
brouht an increased number of their countrymen.
The fuss commenced about 2 o’clock, arid by 4,
-it is supposed 50Q.P persons were engaged in the
scuffle. With the assistance of about 2dQ watch
men the row ended about 8 o'clock. It was re
ported that three men were lulled, -acd a great
number or: both sides were seriously injured. Sev
eral of the police officers also received much injury.
On Monday night, the 6th inst. the town of St.
Marks, E. F. was put in commotion by a most
shocking occurrence. Some time during the af
ternoon, a report was circulated, that a man' nam
ed Brown, occupying a small house in that place,
had sworn vengeance against some of the citizens.
Whereupon, about 6 o’clock at uight, two or three
citizens, accompanied bv some steam boat hands,
repaired to the house of Brown, and found his
doors closed. Some angry words ensued, when
the door was forced, and two or three persons rush
ed into the house. Blown was armed with a
bowie knife, measuring 14 inches blade. The
result was, he succeeded in clearing his house, in
doing which, two of the assailants were killed,
and a third desperately wounded. Brown has
siuco had a hearing and fully acquitted.
A beautiful Thought. —One of onr brother Edi
tors very wisely says, that if beauty be woman’s
weapon, it must bo feathered by the Graces, point
ed by die eye of Discretion, and shot by the hand
of Virtue.— St. Louis Bulletin.
Mr. J. Maclzel, the celebrated automaton chess
player, died on the 21st ultimo, onboard the brig
Otis, on her passage from Havana to Philadelphia.
From the Georgia Messenger.
Asa con, .July '24th, 19.‘18.
Gentlemen: In the Messenger of the 19th
inst. you invite the Congressional Ticket, nomina
ted by the State Rights Party, to make “an avowal
of their views upon the engrossing topics which
are now agitating the public mind.” Your right
to make this call is unquestioned, and the obliga
tion to respond imperative. Indeed, for myself,
such a call was not only desirable, but necessary.
I am happy to he able to invite the people of Geor
gia to the consideration of my opinion-, upon the
topics referred *o, without subjecting rav myself
to the imputation of being indelicately obtrusive.
Necessary and desirable, because I am not willing
that my opinions should be subjected to miscr.n
struction; and I am solicitious, that the voters of
our State should go to the po'ls with accurate
knowledge of the sentiments of those who seek
their suffrage. The exposition which 1 propose
to make, shall be brief and candid. I shall make
no attempt to establish by argument, my ow n po
sitions. For lam not come to convince others of
the rectitude of mv sentim nits, but simply to de
clare them. 1 shall attack no opinions wantonly,
variant from m v own. I have no cause to plead—
no party to build up, and I trust, no hostility to
appease. Asking charity as to opinions upon
subjects about which the greatest and best have
differed, it is peculiarly proper that 1 concede it to
others. The convictions of my own mind, are
such as are satisfactory to myself; whether they
so far harmonize with the opinions and interests 9f
my fellow citizens, as to justify them, in commit
ting to mv keeping Foe honorable and weighty
trusts which devolve upon a representative in Con
gress, is a question to be determined by them.—
And that it will be wisely and justly settled, I have
the strongest guarantees in the wisdom and cn
ligkteued magnanimity of the people of my native
Stale. If the -views lam about to express are at
variance with the best policy £>f Georgia, 1 will
only say, that it is by no means to.o late lor me to
witlidraw from the canvass, giving place to some
.one of the many able sons of the State who may
be more fortunate than myself, iu estimating Jh.ev
interests.
The engrossing topics about which you have
spoken, arc those which arc connected with the
currency. And the most vital of all these topics,
is the question, whether the Government shall be
separated from the Banks. This is a great ques
tion—the greatest no\v ripe (hr.adjustment. .1 Ipon
the correct adjustment of it. l am satisfied depends
the future permanency of /au system of Govern
ment- It lias grown in interest since the country
found itself out of debt; and possessing a vast
surplus revenue, with the prospect .of rapid in
crease. The surplus revenue has created the
magnitude of this question. Until the custody of
it became matter ts moment, wc heard but little
said about the obligations of the Government to
furnish a currency to the country on the one hand,
or the right of this Banks to ask Government pat
ronage on the other. Yt the South, I have been
in the hahit of believing, that nil parties have uni
formly -eouceded, that an union of fed.eral power
with the monied institutions of the country, would
be disastrous to liberty, and fatal to us particular
ly. A wedding of the sword and the purse is one
of those abominations which Republicans learn to
hate in the nursery. Hence, when Gen. Jackson,
by his pt t Bank policy, assumed control over the
public funds—when an intimate an I irre.q > Tide
connexion was first formed between tiie Govern
ment and the local Banks, the usurpation, (for
such it in truth was,) met with the stern denunci
ations of the party to which we, gentlemen,, be
long.
We did well to denounce it. Fora more resist
less instrument of power has not, nor in my opin
ion, will not be devised. An instrumentality com
bining the authority of .the Government—its swel
ling revenue and official patronage, with the capi
tal, directors, debtors, dependents and stockhol
ders of a train of associated Banks, reaching from
the St. Lawrence to the Gulf, and wielded by an
Executive of overwhelming popularity.. This
combination was of searching and sweeping pow
er; and tlie greatest danger resulted from the fact,
that it penetrated so easily and efficiently, tlie
States, contioling their currency, their improve
ments and their politics. The very excess-of the
sy stem dissolved it. Too eager and bold a use of
this rod of power, shivered it in the hands of Mr.
Van E-urea. The Whigs of this State et once de
clared the doctrines .of the divorce—denied the
necessity ox right of mo-med and political unions,
and unfurled anew, the banner of State Rights.
The head men and chiefs of the party assumed
the position,that Government should be separate
from the'Banks. So Thought o-ui segntors—sac
hems, whose wisdom was wont to guide The action
of the council house. I thought with tlre-ia. 1
.think with them still; and -shaH scarcely eharage
my mind until the .constitution of my country is.
altered,
1 do not'belicve,however, that it is possible to
devise a plan, by virtue of w hich, the Government!
will be w holly divested of influence over the cur
rency. So long as it has money to receive and dis
burse, (and particularly if it should control a large
surplus,) it will exert more or less of influence
upon the monetary affairs of the country. This
influence, too, results from a combination of mo
ney and political power. The Government brings
into the money niarketthe influence of an always
responsible dealer, and competes with all others,
upon greatly the most advantageous terms. She
is clothed with the attribute of perpetual solvency;
and with a supposed (at least,) moral rectitude,
which w ill not permit her to do wrong to any body.
So far as the connection is incidental, and results
from the obligations of the Government to collect
and disbursethe revenue, I cannot see how, upon
any plan such connection is . avoidable, But so
tor as the Government seeks by legislation, to con
trol the currency; or to control the bankiag insti
tutions through its deposites, or to unite the polit
ical power with money, through the agency of a
National Bank, or its equivalent, an independent
Sub-Treasury, the assumption is unholy, wanton
and demoralizing. The whole obligations of i’ne
Government touching money matters, are to col
lect its own dues in such currency as w ill pay its
own debts. As trustee for the people, she could
do no less; being herself a depository, she can do
no moie: and such arc the obligations of everv
individual in the Luion. And both the individual
and the Government are protected against individ
ual loss, in as much as both may expect specie for
their dues. One ol the most necessary duties of
the Government in relation to the currency, is to
Ft it alone. But by all tlie means which tlie Con
stitution has placed at her disposal, to foster such
institutions and sm interests as haw a controling
influence over it. F is certainly no part of the
rights or obligations of the Government to furnish
a good currency. And when this idea is practica-
bly illustrated in our country, we shall see an over
shadowing and constantly expanding federal pow
er. sustained by the money patronage of ih e Gov
ernment. Reduce the revenues ol the Govern
ment to its wants, and this subject w ill be disem
barrassed of its chief difficulty. To this point the
South should strive to bring the revenues. And
so soon as the pledges of the compromise are ful
filled, a!! southern effort should bo directed to the
accomplishment ot this, to us, so necessary an
object.
The mere receipt and payment of the revenue,
together w ith the temporary custody of a few mill
lions on special deposit, will scarcely be nn object
great enough to stir the ambition of parties, or
tlie av.ir.ee of Banks. No, it is the million's of
the surplus and tin Government, credit which the
Banks desire. It is the annually quadrupling mjj;
lions which a few years ol peace and prosperity
will pour into the Treasury, which stimulates the
Government to seize and wield them. If is our
pciiii v to make the Government poor, and to keep
it so ; to make the States rich and to keep them
so. V* hat avails it to ils of tho minority State-;,
that the Treasury overflows with opulence ? My.
pay three-fourths of tlie revenue; and not one
dollar, scarcely, reaches us in a beneficial form
Our wealth centralizes power—money power—,;
the North; and the control of our money wall cen
tralize pci.tical power at Washington. We must
ever be in the minority; let us seek safety in the
rights of the States, and the wealth and indepen
dence of the S: lies, as antagonist principles of all
Nationalism, it is oitr interest (and who will de
ny the paramount obligation te protect it,) so to
reduce the fiscal strength of the Federal Govern
ment, as to make ils money neither the instrument
of ambition orot avarice.
It is most singular to observe that there are
lViiios in these latter days, who maintain that the
Government must not only take care of its own
money but that of every body rlsp. Mr. Web
ster, for example, whose great mind has ever la
bored with giant strength at the work of aggran
dizing the Federal Government. He is a Nation
al Republican indeed. No doctrine ot late years,
is, to my mind, more alarming, than that which
assumes the right, nay, the duty of Congress to
provide and control tin? currency. Another sin
gular tiling is, that of late, only of late, banking
capital has asserted the right to be fostered by Go
vern merit endorsement. I hope that we will yield
neither to the Federalism of Alt'. Webster, or the
cupidity of capitalists.
TLe Go# eminent and the Banks have not been
and cannot be constitutionally lioked together;—
the object, therefore, is not so much to effect !
separation, as to prevent a union. How this sev
erance shall be maintained* is a matter of no little
difficultv ; hut is surely of little real consequence,
compared with the great principle involved. It
lias been assumed by the present Administration
that tlie independent Sub-Treasury bill provide;
the means of -a total divorce. I do not think .<u.
Either it relies upou an exclusive metalic circu
lation— and does, in truth, propose to bring us
back to an Age of l ard money— an age of Bronze,
truly—or this is but ad eai tamtuiv, and Govern
ment checks, deposiinty drafts and treasury bills
are to constitute tjie c-orr-er. y. If the former,
then it wages war upon ah State ln .titndons, par
ticularly those of the frouth: paralyzes com
merce—impoverishes the country, and arrests all
the improvements of theses: c«d places the only
inoti -y of the cot.: try within tlicontrol of tlie
Executive, or wi tli is virtually tire same thine,
under the .eotHrel of his tongrc.-.-aonal majority.
If it and, signs ilie latter, 1 should fear, nay, 1 be
lieve, that the Sub-Treasury will prove but anoth
er name for a Treasury Bank; whose bills, sup
planting a'H other circulation, would become the
currency. Stu bit might not, perhaps would not
be, at first* Such, however, 1 believe, in the grad
ual development of the plan, n«d in the necessary
working of the scheme, it would become. Anie
talie.cti'ircnvy for I his •vast land, with its rich soil
and immense commerce, and urresiimated great
ness of destiny, is really too absurd an idea for so
ber consideration* I hare -no idea that the en
lightened friends of the Sub-Treasury ever con
templated such a thine, i urn not a Sub-Treasu
ry man, therefore. Nor can I favor*the almost
exploded conservative system : because of the fact
that-,it places the selected banks at tho mercy
of the Gov. and endorses their bills with the Go
vernment patronage. It is a system of favoritism,
by wlilc.il the .bills of some of tlie banks will be
depreciated,tinderf (Alters enhanced in value. It
would enable the Government at all times to
control powerful and obedient political tools; ami
would clothe jt with virtual custody of the public
funds. It is nothing in favor of this scheme, that
the banks to be favored may be. selected by law,
for the majority in Congress are, as a general rule,
subservient to The Executive.
I lmvefreen, from early life, opposed to a Na
tional Bank. My best reflections-aud most care
ful investigations have confirmed the opinion, that
Congress lias no power to charter a Bank. I have
long been committed upon this subject, and nay
judgement now asks no relief from such committal.
Opposition to a National Bank lay deep in the
elements of our party organization. We shall to
vain expect the respect due to consistent poli
ticians, if we become the advocates ol a Na*
tional Bank. We cannot escape from our princi
ples if we would. 1 would not, if I could. The
follies or corruptions ol the Administration —t! ie
severe reverses of the times—wretched disorder
of the exchanges, afford no excuse for abandon
ing those principles which appertain to us as a
party. The world may change around us, but our
principles remain the same. Experiences at®
good rules of conduct, when they fall in I’’* 1 ' 1
principle, never otherwise. I fotm my opini i ’t' s
without reference to present evils. I hove been
endeavoring to look to what ought *6 be the ] )rr '
manent policy of our cnunti'\ These troubles
will soon cease, and it would be indeed a pt*>»
that they should hkvc given rise to any measure,
or system of measures, at war with the Constitu
tion.
* think it is safe, at all hazards, to confine t.f
Government within the hints prescribed to it )
the Constitution; if other powers are
to the happiness of the people, yvhy, let them e
confered in the manner provided by that
tnent. A National Bank would serve necessar.)
to maintain the fckmth in its present state of po' in
eal aud commercial depreciation; to elevaj e ;
confirm and widen Northern supremacy.
combined power of Government, capital anden '
merce, would pour wealrh into the great
cities of the Union, whilst ours would wither
they have done, in t)ic shade ofahnost colonial
peudence. I atn no enemy to the just pr°sf fl •
of the North. 1 father rejoice in its accunnw* =
greatness; but 1 will not concede, for its ad'
tage, one jot or ,tlie title,qf th,e interest of •>') 0
State, beloved as it is, beyond every other a
I tis assumed that a National Bank is ■