Thirty Years' View (Vol. 2 of 2): or, A History of the Working of the American Government for Thirty Years, from 1820 to 1850Benton, Thomas Hart
History
Thirty Years' View (Vol. 2 of 2): or, A History of the Working of the American Government for Thirty Years, from 1820 to 1850
Benton, Thomas Hart
United States -- Politics and government -- 1815-1861
They alone prevent the resumption. It
is they who are now in terror lest the resumption shall begin and
to prevent it, we hear the real shout, and feel the real application
of the rallying cry, so pathetically uttered on this floor by the
senator from Massachusetts [Mr. WEBSTER]--_once more to the breach,
dear friends, once more!_
Yes, Mr. President, the cause of the non-resumption of specie
payments is now plain and undeniable. It is as plain as the sun
at high noon, in a clear sky. No two opinions can differ about
it, how much tongues may differ. The cause of not resuming is
known, and the cause of suspension will soon be known likewise.
Gentlemen of the opposition charge the suspension upon the folly,
the wickedness, the insanity, the misrule, and misgovernment of the
outlandish administration, as they classically call it; expressions
which apply to the people who created the administration which have
been so much vilified, and who have sanctioned their policy by
repeated elections. The opposition charge the suspension to them--to
their policy--to their acts--to the veto of 1832--the removal of
the deposits of 1833--the Treasury order of 1836--and the demand
for specie for the federal Treasury. This is the charge of the
politicians, and of all who follow the lead, and obey the impulsion
of the denationalized Bank of the United States. But what say others
whose voice should be potential, and even omnipotent, on this
question? What say the New York city banks, where the suspension
began, and whose example was alleged for the sole cause of
suspension by all the rest? What say these banks, whose position is
at the fountain-head of knowledge, and whose answer for themselves
is an answer for all. What say they? Listen, and you shall hear! for
I hold in my hand a report of a committee of these banks, made under
an official injunction, by their highest officers, and deliberately
approved by all the city institutions. It is signed by Messrs.
Albert Gallatin, George Newbold, C. C. Lawrence, C. Heyer, J. J.
Palmer, Preserved Fish, and G. A. Worth,--seven gentlemen of known
and established character; and not more than one out of the seven
politically friendly to the late and present administrations of the
federal government. This is their report:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account