Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 4Jefferson, Thomas
History
Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 4
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
2. They authorize this bank to throw into circulation ninety millions
of dollars, (three times the capital), which increases our circulating
medium fifty per cent., depreciates proportionably the present value
of the dollar, and raises the price of all future purchases in the same
proportion.
3. This loan of ten millions at five per cent., is to be once for all,
only. Neither the terms of the scheme, nor their own prudence could ever
permit them to add to the circulation in the same, or any other way, for
the supplies of the succeeding years of the war. These succeeding years
then are to be left unprovided for, and the means of doing it in a great
measure precluded.
4. The individual subscribers, on paying their own five millions of cash
to Congress, become the depositories of ten millions of stock belonging
to Congress, five millions belonging to the States, and five millions to
themselves, say twenty millions, with which, as no one has a right ever
to see their books, or to ask a question, they may choose their time
for running away, after adding to their booty the proceeds of as much of
their own notes as they shall be able to throw into circulation.
5. The subscribers may be one, two, or three, or more individuals, (many
single individuals being able to pay in the five millions,) whereupon
this bank oligarchy or monarchy enters the field with ninety millions
of dollars, to direct and control the politics of the nation; and of the
influence of these institutions on our politics, and into what scale it
will be thrown, we have had abundant experience. Indeed, England herself
may be the real, while her friend and trustee here shall be the nominal
and sole subscriber.
6. This state of things is to be fastened on us, without the power of
relief, for forty or fifty years. That is to say, the eight millions
of people now existing, for the sake of receiving one dollar and
twenty-five cents apiece at five per cent, interest, are to subject the
fifty millions of people who are to succeed them within that term, to
the payment of forty-five millions of dollars, principal and interest,
which will be payable in the course of the fifty years.
7. But the great and national advantage is to be the relief of the
present scarcity of money, which is produced and proved by,
1. The additional industry created to supply a variety of articles for
the troops, ammunition, he.
2. By the cash sent to the frontiers, and the vacuum occasioned in the
trading towns by that.
3. By the late loans.
4. By the necessity of recurring to shavers with good paper, which the
existing banks are not able to take up; and
5. By the numerous applications for bank charters, showing that an
increase of circulating medium is wanting.
Let us examine these causes and proofs of the want of an increase of
medium, one by one.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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