HAZARD'S REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. VOL. XIII.-NO. 20. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD. PHILADELPHIA, MAY 17, 1934. From the Republican and Chester county Democrat. At a meeting of the Bar of Chester county, held at the Court House in West Chester on the 18th of February last, to consider the proper manner of paying a tribute of respect to the memory of the late General Isaac D. Barnard—in addition to the resolutions heretofore published, it was on motion of Jos. Hemphill, Esq. seconded by J. J. Lewis, Esq. Resolved, That Wm. H. Dillngham, Esq. be requested to prepare a biographical memoir, illustrative of the merits and public services of the deceased. ZIBA PYLE, Ch'm. Attest-John Hickman, jr. Sect'y. In pursuance of the foregoing resolution and request of the Bar, the following sketch was prepared. The grave closes over a friend and hides him from our view. Shall the memory of his virtues die with him, and the good he has done be "interred with his bones?" It is peculiarly proper that we should ask ourselves this question, who have suffered so long a time to elapse without any biographical notice of our distinguished townsman, the late Gen. Isaac D. Barnard. NO. 332 of the Register, Recorder, Clerk of the Orphans' Court, Clerk of the Oyer and Terminer, and Clerk of the Quarstyle, which for order, accuracy, neatness and beauty, ter Sessions, were arranged, and the records kept in a the writer has never seen equalled in any other office. He cannot forbear the reflection, that it must have been in this school and under the auspices of such a patron, that General B. laid the foundation of his future usefulness. In the political revolution which brought Gov. Snyder into office, we find our young friend transferred to the office of Frederick Wolbert, Esq. then recently appointed Prothonotary of Philadelphia. Here, as in Delaware county, his conduct was a pattern for all young men. His diligence, regularity and faithful attention to the duties of the office, was a subject of genhim friends on all sides, and he made himself useful to eral remark. His modest, unassuming manners won all. But his stirring soul was not to be confined to the that he was destined for a more active sphere; and in duties of a Prothonotary's office. He doubtless felt the early part of the year 1812, he commenced reading law with the late William Graham, Esq. of Chester. Having known him long and well, enjoyed his friend-lated to elevate his views, and establish his character. Here again he was surrounded by influences well calcu. ship and felt its sunny influence, the writer would do All who knew the excellence and sterling worth of his away this reproach. The character of Gen. B. as a preceptor, will understand how to appreciate this resoldier and a legislator, is worthy of the muse of histo- mark. ry. It belongs to the country, and his biography should be a work of no hurried moment, snatched from business and worldly cares. The present effort must necessarily be limited and imperfect. Without aiming at for a profession-it was the instinctive prompting of a The star of his destiny led him to think of the army the graphic detail of a complete memoir, it is hoped fearless, patriotic and energetic spirit, and he followed that this essay will not prove a mere eulogium. Gen. Barnard, was born at Chester, our ancient Up-age, to ask for more than a Lieutenancy. But his friend its lead. His native mod sty did not allow him at that land, on the 22d of March, 1791. His father held at different times the offices of Sheriff and Prothonotary of Delaware county. war with Great Britain. the Hon. Wm. Anderson, then a member of Congress from that district, had marked those excellent traits of with a sagacity which foresaw their future developcharacter which manifested themselves so early, and no-ment, asked and procured for him the commission of a 14th, 1812, and he was soon afterwards arranged to the Captain of Infantry. This commission bears date March 14th Regiment, under the command of Col. Winder. The writer is indebted to an early and intimate friend and fellow student of the law of the subject of this tice, for the following brief sketch of his early life. "My earliest recollection of him finds him in his father's office, where the entire duties of the Prothonotary devolved on him. At this time he was about 15 years of age. ..When my father was appointed to the same office, he continued with him as a clerk, 'nearly all the time he was Prothonotary-to wit-from February, 1806, till March, 1809. During this period he was remarkable for his active and constant attention to business. He was civil and obliging to all who had business to do in the office, and it seemed then as you have doubtless remarked since, that he won the good opinion and friendship of almost every one with whom he had intercourse, without an effort. He was a general favorite in the county at that early day. My father had a father's affection for him. example to be followed. His education was limited, but He used to hold him up to me as an he was a great reader, particularly of biography and his tory, and what he read, he remembered.' It is due to his memory, no less than that of the late Thomas D. Dick, Esquire, to state, that during the peiod referred to, the papers of this office, including those VOL. XIII. 39 His first duties as a soldier were in the recruiting ser Chester, when war was declared on the 18th of June, in vice in Chester county; his rendezvous was at West the same year, and afterwards transferred to Baltimore. the military services of his friend. The following artiBut the writer has anticipated himself in a sketch of cle appeared in the American Republican, published at Downingtown, in 1818. With the exception of some slight inadvertencies, to be noticed hereafter, he does not see how in so few words to place this part of the subject in a stronger light. Mr. Mowry: the age of twenty-one. which we had to pass, when they plugged him through the head." Anoiher slight discrepancy makes it proper to introduce here the precise words of Gen. Bissel, in his report of the fight at Lyon's Creek and also those of Gen. Izard in the general orders. General Bissel uses this "Major Barnard with the 14th was ordered to form in front, advance to support the light troops and charge the Artillery. دو The well directed fire of the 'elite corps,' of riflemen, and gollant charge of the 14th soon compelled the enemy to give ground' "All did their duty; but the handsome manner in which "Major Barnard brought his Regiment into action, deserves particular notice. The British force in this engagement, commanded by the Marquis of Tweedale, Col. of the 100th Regiment, consisted of more than 1200 men, that of the Americans was about 900. to censure in his conduct. In the army he was a good disciplinarian-was always at his post-thought more of doing his duty than of cutting a dash, and soon became one of the most efficient officers in his Regiment. Although the youngest man of his rank, in the same corps, he was the first promoted to a Majority. In this delicate and trying situation, he lost none of his charac-language. ter. He was neither puffed up by his elevation, nor humbled by any ignorance of his duties. While others were taking their ease or seeking promotion by a campaign at Washington, he never missed a campaign in the field. He was at the taking of Fort George, and in the subsequent expedition to Forty-mile Creek by exposure and hardship in discharging the duties of invalid brother officers, took sick and suffered much during a long confinement at New Ark at that time continually exposed to skirmishing parties of Indians. In the fol lowing campaign he descended the St. Lawrence with Wilkinson, but owing to the extreme hardship of the service on the stormy lake, and at Grenadier Island, in a wintry season, was again attacked by disease. His The authority for this is the general orders, from Lieut. Col. (Dix) died on the passage down; and he had which are also extracted the following passages. himself just life enough to hear the roaring of the artil- "The Light Infantry under Captain Dorman, and lery as he lay stretched upon his back, in a boat, during Irvines' Riflemen, sustained the whole fire of the enethe battle of Chrystler's farm. In the confusion of land- my for fifteen minutes, during which time the 5th and ing at French Mills, he suffered from want of proper 14th were formed-the 5th was ordered to turn the attention, and was finally quartered at a hut quite in ad- enemies right flank, while the 14th charged them in front. vance of our post, in an Indian country, exposed to the This was executed in the most gallant manner by Col. maraudering parties of the enemy. Upon the opening Pinkney of the 5th and Maj. Barnard of the 14th who of the third campaign, in the recontre with the enemy greatly distinguished himself by the officer like style in previous to the affair of La Cole mill, his horse was shot which he conducted his battalion. The enemy were comunder him. In that affair he was stationed with his compelled to a precipitate retreat, and hid themselves once mand, which consisted of the fragments of several regiments consolidated, to cover the Artillery; fought side by side with the gallant McPherson, Larrabee and Sheldon, resisted two charges of the enemy, and brought a piece off after every man belonging to it had been shot down. During this last brilliant campaign he was with the army under Gen. Izard, at Plattsburg, where in consequence of the death and captivity of superior officers, he continued in the command of this consolidated corps, and received the marked approbation of his commander-in-chief for its fine appearance and excellent discipline. He arrived upon the Niagara frontier how ever in time for the affair of Lyon's Creek, in which he particularly distinguished himself by his good conduct before the enemy. In the general orders subsequent to that affair it was said "Major B led his regi ment to the charge in the most gallant and soldier like style." It is a matter of historical fact that the Marquis of Tweedale was routed on that occasion by an inferior force. Why he received no brevet, has been attributed to a rule of the War Department not to confer that honor on any who had not distinguished themselves in a general engagement. His merit fairly entitled him to at least the compliment of a Lieut. Colonelcy, as at the close of the war his commission was one of the oldest, while he was still one of the youngest men of his rank in the army-and it is well known that no man stood higher in the Adjutant General's office at Washington as a drill officer. Upon the reduction of the army but one Major (Gardner) who had not been breveted, was retained with his rank in the line, and my friend did not choose under such circumstances, to continue in the service, in an inferior station, in these "piping times of peace.". He has since settled in this country as a professional man. Is it not right that the good people here should know these facts?" By one of his letters written at the time, and now before the writer, he is enabled to correct an inaccuracy in the statement of a fact connected with the skirmish previous to the affair at La Cole, which was adopted from the newspaper report. This letter says in reply to an inquiry, my horse was shot, but not under me-I had dismounted to get over a fence, and snow bank more behind their fortifications." One letter selected from a correspondence with the writer which was kept up during the war, contains his own modest account of this affair, and submitted entire, will give a sort of reality to the facts stated. My Dear Sir, Camp Erie, (U. C.) Oct. 24, 1814. You no doubt will before this reaches you have heard of our having once more crossed into his Majesty's dominions of Upper Canada. We passed down to within view of the enemies works behind Chippeway creek. On the 18th at day-light, part of Gen. Bissell's brigade proceeded over the worst road I almost ever saw, 10 or 12 miles to Lyon's creek-drove the enemy's piquet and took possession of the bridge over the creek that night. Next morning about 8 o'clock the enemy with a select and superior force attacked us. We crossed the creek to the opposite side and drove them, after a sharp fight of an hour. They suffered considerably; we buried a number of their dead left on the field, and took a few prisoners. The 14th under my command had its full share of this fight. I was ordered to charge the enemy in front--they were driven at all points. You will shortly see the official account of the affairlong before I shall, as it must go to Washington and return before I can see it, I wish when you get it, that you would send it to me. I am anxious to know what is said of my Battalion, which I think deserves some credit, as both officers and men behaved with great gallantry. I speak in this manner to you, who know me so well that I am sure you will not suspect me of egotism. We shall go into winter quarters shortly. Where, I do not yet know, whether in Canada, or on our side. Ever your friend, To 1. D. BARNARD. An interesting correspondence took place between the officers of the fourteenth Regiment and General Bissell, upon the occasion of his leaving that division of the army, which was many years ago confided to the writer, by his friend; with an injunction now regarded as sacred, to see that justice should be done to his brother officers. CAMP NEAR BUFFALO, Dec. 17, 1814. Brigadier General D. Bissell, U. S. Army:— Sir—The undersigned the officers of the 14th Regi. ment, U. S. Infantry, having just learnt that you will receive a command in the Southwest, and that they will probably never again have the honor of serving with you, request permission on your leaving them, to express the lively sensations of gratitude they are impress. ed with for the interest and solicitude you have at all times discovered for the welfare of the Regiment, and for the uniform zeal you have constantly evinced to benefit them, as well as promote the service of your country, by enforcing a just and salutary discipline, without which a Military body is a mere mob, but under the restraints of which every Regiment and Corps becomes not only respectable but efficient in the field. For the beneficial lessons you have given them, in your example of patience, obedience, and a prompt discharge of every Military duty; for the instruction they have gained, while under your command, from your skill and long professional experience, they beg leave to tender you their unfeigned and fervent thanks. That you may perfectly recover your health and continue long to serve your country with honor, and that your country may duly appreciate and reward your long and meritorious services, is the sincere wish of I. D. Barnard, Major 14, U. S. Infantry. R. Gilder, Captain, Jos. Marechall, Captain, do. do. Richard Arell, Captain, do. I. Beckett, 1st Lieut. do. Edw'd Wilson, 1st Lieut. do. Wm. G. Mills, 1st Lieut. do. fantry. Wm. Thompson Lieut. them with such assiduity, that he was admitted to prac tice in January, 1817. He established himself at West Chester, Chester county, and soon acquired the confidence of the community. Upon the appointment of Mr. Ellmaker as Attorney General, he sent him the Deputation for this county, and this was the more flattering as it was understood to have been resolved on before the recommendations reached Harrisburg. In the year 1820, he was married to Harriet, the eldest daughter of the Hon. Isaac Darlington, President Judge of our Judicial District, a lady eminently calcu tated to confer happiness upon such a connection, and all whose interests, wishes, and pleasures were concentrated in his, during the brief space she was spared to him. She died, under circumstances, which caused as it were to her husband a double loss, on the 14th day of February, 1823, at the early age of twenty-one, and left him childless. He never afterwards married He retained his fondness for military life, and took deep interest in the formation of the Volunteer Company of Republican Artillerists, of which he was for many years Captain, as also in the organization of a Volunteer Battallion in which he held the command as Colonel. In the year 1821, he was chosen Major General in the militia of this State, and commissioned by Gov. Heister. Upon the expiration of this commission, he was re-elected and commissioned by Gov. Shulze, and retained the command of this Division until his death. He was also appointed by Governor Shulze as one of his aids with the commission of Lieutenant Colonel. For unwearied diligence faithful, persevering devo Abraham Clark, Lieut. & Qr. Master, 14 U. S. In- tion to the interests of his clients, and a modest unas do. UTICA, State of New York, suming carriage in the discharge of all his professional duties, he has seldom been surpassed, and has not left his equal behind him. He combined with these traits a decision of character and an energy which never faultered in the way of duty because of difficulties, but strove always to surmount them. In consultation he was more anxious to discover the truth than to maintain his own opinion. In the trial of Sir-I this day received your letter of the 18th ulti-a cause-the cause was always a higher object with him mo, enclosing the address of the officers of the 14th Infantry, most flatteringly approving my services during the time that distinguished Corps was attached to my Brigade, and their acknowledgements for the interest I took in preparing them for the duties of their profes sion; for which I feel truly grateful. To merit the confidence and esteem of my companions in arms, is amongst the greatest of my desires. If I have done my duty towards that Regiment, I have been most liberally rewarded by their uniform exemplary conduct: Subordinate and patient in all situations, and rigorously attending to their discipline and duty; and particularly for their conduct in the field, where the enemy have been taught to dread their skill, valour and intrepidity, and their country to appreciate their worth. I veg, sir, you will have the goodness to express to those officers, the high sense I entertain of the honor done to me by their address; with assurances, that it will be long remembered, and that they accept my earnest wishes for the continuance of the merited applause, and that high and honorable place they so justly hold in the line of their profession, which I most fer vently hope may only end with a long life of glory and happiness to them, collectively and individually. than self-addressing the Jury, he never indulged in a sarcasm, and never noticed one-while there was any thing for him to do, he gave his whole soul to it; and he possessed a skill, and tact, and sagacity, and quickness, and fertility of resources, which commanded success. With such traits, added to his distinguished reputation as a youthful soldier, and a thorough knowledge of hu, man nature, he almost immediately acquired a towering popularity. By this means he was elected to the Senate of our state legislature from the district composed of the two counties of Chester and Delaware, in the year 1820, when a large majority of the voters of the district were opposed to him in politics. Of his political course it does not become the writer, and this is not the p'ace to speak. He may be permitted, to state, however, what he believes to be the fact, that to Gen.Barnard's instrumentality, more than to that of any one individual, Gen. Jackson was indebted for the vote of Pennsylvania, in his first canvass for the Presidency. It is known to all who had his confidence, that he held the opinion, that at one time it would have been as easy to have carried this State for Crawford as for Jackson He threw his influence in the scale of the latter, and that at the time, with a majority of the mem And believe me with the highest esteem and consid-bers of our Legislature, was preponderating eration, sir, Your most obt. servt. D. BISSELL, Brig. General. Major I. D. Barnard, At the close of the War, Maj. B. resumed his studies in the office of Mr. Graham at Chester, and prosecuted The result is well known. It was almost immediately seconded by a nomination in Chester County-this was soon followed by the other counties in the state,and then by a withdrawal of the pretensions of Mr. Calhoun, in favour of this nomination. The success which attended his early movements in this respect, was brilliant and dazzling. He was mainly instrumental in the nomination and election of Governor Shulze, and was soon afterwards appointed President Judge of the District Court of Lancaster and Dauphin, which office he declined accepting. He succeeded the Hon. Molton C. Rogers as Secretary of the Commonwealth, when that gentlemen was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court, and in the year 1827, was elected to the Senate of the United States. Thus far his course was onward and upward, and even in that distinguished body he still maintained a high reputation. In the convention which met at Harrisburg for the nomination of Governor in 1829, he had a large plurality on the first ballots, was within five votes of receiving the nomination, and only defeated, by a combina tion of the friends of other candidates. His star was no longer in the ascendant-his high hopes waned-he lost his health-retired from the Senate-and has found an early grave. To thousands he had proved himself a friend in need, and a friend indeed-to his aged and pious mother, a dutiful son-to orphan relatives, a father—and his benefactions do not cease with his life. He died at his residence in West Chester, on the nineteenth day of February last, and his body was laid by the side of the remains of his departed wife, in the burial ground of the Society of Friends, the religious denomination to which his ancestors belonged. "No trophy, sword, nor hatchment o'er his bones. "Nor noble rite, nor formal ostentation." From the National Gazette. MR. ROBINSON'S SPEECH-NATIONAL BANK. Speech of Mr. Robinson of Allegheny county, in the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania-in sup port of his resolutions in favour of a National Bank. The resolutions which have been read are offered with the view of ascertaining, whether, in the opinion of this House, any action on the subject of the curren. oy is deemed proper at the present session; certainly with no view, as their tenor sufficiently indicates, of creating excitement or irritation. It is no time or occasion this, to trifle with the condition of the country, or in a factious spirit to introduce measures which in their discussion would be likely to rouse those partisan and angry feelings which are more or less incident to the imperfection of our nature. No individual whatever was consulted before they were drawn up in the shape in which they now stand. They were submitted as propositions to be modified and altered in such man ner as to meet the sense of the House, in the hope of their adoption, or some substitute, or to end all further efforts on the subject during the remainder of the session. I propose no inquiry into the expediency, the justice, or the legality of the removal of the deposits, but in the spirit of the Philadelphia memorial for a 10 million Bank, will confine myself to the remedy for a state of things about which there can now be no doubt, the fact of existing and increasing difficulties in the general business of the country. I do not therefore deem it necessary to inquire into the causes of the prevailing difficulties in the business of the country, or, whether they are to be attributed to the administration of the Government, or the administration of the Bank. To this state, to the country at large, and to the people in their various and multifarious pursuits and avocations, the results are the same, proceed they from the one or the other. Who has been in the wrong, who has brought the evils which are complained of on the country, will be settled as it should be at the elections. But the remedy now rests with the legislature of the State or of the Union, and one or the other, must Interfere and provide some alleviation for the evils which now exist and are threatening further and more extensive desolation. Let us then, before we separate, express our honest opinions and convictions on a subject which we all unite in regarding as one of deep importance, and in which the welfare and interest of our constituents are largely involved. We have no reason to believe that there is less ground for some action on the condition of the people of this State, than in the State of New York, as expressed in the opinion of the Governor and Legislature of that State. We have witnessed within a few days the measures which have been thus proposed, and is it not our duty to attempt something, to urge or indicate, some course of action for our Representatives in Congress, where alone, in my poor judgment, the true and only remedy is to be obtained? The proposition of the Phils. delphia memorialists, for the establishment of a great State Bank, having been referred to its appropriate committee, and their report on your journals having been concurred in by a unanimous vote of the House, it is reasonable to infer that the sense of this body is in favor of the action of Congress. To that source then, must we indeed look for relief; for, turn which way we will, no other quarter it seems, presents one ray of hope, or safety amid the ocean of difficulties, with which we are surrounded. By the recent action of the House of Representatives in Congress, the question of the restoration of the deposits has been decided; and on the resolution in the same body, against re chartering the Bank of the U. States, the vote stood 135 to 88, majority fifty-two-a final disposition therefore has been made of these two all-engrossing questions. From the tenor of the debates on other questions, the majority of this House, I am well aware, have been disinclined to any recommendation, to our Representatives in Congress, for a restoration of the deposits, or a re-charter strictions whatever. Nor, was it my intention to urge of the National Bank, under any modifications or reeither the one or the other, on this occasion, as the resolutions on your table plainly indicate. But the one now submitted has not been under consideration. I have witnessed the rise and progress of the place which I represent, from an inconsiderable frontier vil lage to a city, containing an industrious, patriotic and enlightened popultion of more than 25,000 souls. I have witnessed, with the deepest interest, its grow th in commerce and manufactures from their earliest beginnings, when the product of their industry was exchanged for the skins and peltries of the red man. I have known it in all times of its prosperity and adversi ty; and have rejoiced with my friends and neighbours in the one, and participated largely with them in the other. Shall I then stand here in this place of honor and of trust, the tame spectator of their approaching ruin, and raise no voice to avert the storm-can I see her the victim of a deranged, a doubtful and diminishing currency; her commerce prostrated, her manufactories desolate, and the fire of her 1000 workshops quenched to burn no more-shall I sit mutely here whilst the groans of her ingenious artizans and mechanics, and her industrious laborers resound throughout her streets, and whose prayers for relief, in this their time of need, have long since reached this hall? You, Mr. S. and this house, will pardon me, I know, whilst I thus speak of the situation of my friends, my neighbours, and my home. The city of Pittsburg, commanding as she does, an inland navigation of 28,000 miles, holds a conspicuous and interesting station in this great commonwealth. She is the key to the fertile and extensive plains and valleys of the mighty Mississippi.-She is your western emporium, the approaches to which by all the facilities of roads and canals have been almost brought to completion, and for the accomplishment of which so much of the toil and treasure of this people have been ex pended. The physical advantages which nature has kindly provided, connect her with the vast and almost illimitable regions of the west, and the artificial improvements which the judicious public spirit of the commonwealth has brought so nigh to completion, uniting her with the east, are benefits which are justly and highly appreciated by her inhabitants; but in order to render them most available to the happiness and prosperity of her people, you must add to these natural and artificial advantages, a Bound, a uniform and substantial currency, without which auxiliary, her commerce must become crippled, and her manufactures languish and die. Thus situated, thus circumstanced, our manufacturers and mechanics heretofore found a ready and profitable market for the product of their labour. The facility of converting the fruits of their industry into ready money, afforded by the present Bank of the United States, presented an additional incentive to their proverbial industry, enterprise, and ingenuity. Through the medium of that Bank, this was an every day occurrence, which, perhaps, it may be necessary a little further to illustrate. In the spring and autumn throughout the year, or as long as the navigation is open, our manufacturer ships his productions to all the commercial cities and towns of the west; he draws his bill on his consignee for such amount of his consignment as his wants or other demands on him for payment of labour and raw material may require:-his bills and notes drawn and received for consignment abroad, or on his business transactions at home, are freely discounted by the Bank at the lawful rates of interest, and for a truly moderate rate of exchange, restoring to him at his own door his capital in cash, enabling him thereby to replenish his stock, to renew and perhaps extend his operations. He no longer awaits a tardy remittance produced by the difficulty of obtaining favorable exchange, arising out of the condition inseparable from a purely local and always fluctuating, and often times dangerous curren cy. must be replaced, or scenes of infinite distress and ruin must follow. Scenes compared with which those now pictured as before us are but as the shadow of a mist. The debts of a country are at all times, and in all cases, equal to its whole paper currency. Every Bank note, represents a debt equal to its own amount, and is due by the Bank which issues it to the holder of the note. The same is the case with the promissory notes or Bills of Exchange; they, all alike, represent debts to their nominal value. These three kinds of paper, bank notes, bills of exchange, and promissory notes, form the paper currency or medium of the country; passing as they usually do, from hand to hand, they are received in payment of debts, or in exchange for articles of merchandise, and in fact performing, but with far greater convenience, all the offices which gold and silver could accomplish. Answering then all the purposes of coin, they are money, so long as there are banks, which by discounting them, make them an efficient currency. The moment, however, they cease to pass as money, or when a bank cannot or will not receive them as such in payment, or issue of their own notes, by discounting them, they become mere evidences of debt, and cease to be any longer money or currency, and of no more practical benefit than a verbal promise. The consequences are obvious; when a bank note, the note of an individual, or a bill of exchange will not pay a debt, or be received in exchange for gold or silver, or other articles of value, the means of paying debts are of course reduced, whilst the amount of debt remains the same; and it appears to me that we now find ourselves precisely in or rapidly approaching this condition of things. The embarrassments of a country have no direct relation to the amount of debt which its citizens may owe, but on the means of payment to which they may have access. The conversion of our manufactures into ready mo- So long then as there is a sound paper currency which ney through the medium of a National Bank being thus passes by common consent (and it could not by this conrendered easy, we are no longer exposed to the cupi-sent, if not convertible into coin) it is money in effect dity and exactions of the usurer and money-lender; the for all practical purposes. One man pays his debt by manufacturer is thus enabled to give greater attention the paper which represents a debt due by another indito his affairs at home, instead of consuming his time in vidual, or by a Bank; and Banks pay their debts, by the distant, tedious, and expensive tours of collection, to notes of other Banks which possess a credit in the comafford better wages to his hands, and more punctual munity and paper money; or, they may pay by the pa and satisfactory payments to those who may supply him per of an individual; which is convertible into Bank with the raw material. notes or Bank credits on being discounted. But when the note of one Bank, will not be received in payment, or in deposit by another, or the note of an individual or his Bill of Exchange, is not convertible into money, or a credit, which will pay a debt, the debtor is compelled to purchase something which will enable him to meet his engagements by selling his Bank notes, Stocks, Bills of Exchange, or Promissory notes for whatever they will bring in the market. As it is credit, confidence, and common consent, which render paper an equivalent for coin, so the want of credit, leaves the paper the mere evidence of a debt, subject to all the fluctuations of price as any other commodities or articles of merchandize. The history of the country for the last six months is an ample illustration of this position, in the ever varying prices of Stocks, Bills, Promissory notes, and notes of Banks in places, other than those at which they were issued. A general panic has pervaded the money market; the credit of paper currency has been signally impaired; its conversion into coin has become more and more difficult and expensive, and its amount has been greatly diminished. The effect has been the withdrawal of a large amount of the circulating medium or currency, diminishing the means of paying debts to an amount equal to the diminished circulation of Bank notes and Bank discounts. So far as this has taken place, it accounts for the existing embarrassments; and so far as there is just cause of apprephension for the future, it will account for what may take place hereafter. The difficulties and distress of the community will be in the same proportion, as are the reductions of the currency, for the plain reason that it diminishes the means of paying debts which remain to be paid to their These are a few of the advantages we derive in common with the entire west, from the operations of a National Bank. To close the door against the facilities which such negotiations offer us is to lay the axe of destruction to the root of one of our greatest and most valuable resources, to paralize our industry, and place the whole body of our enterprising manufacturers and me chanics at the feet of those who possess sufficient capital to prey upon their necessities, and who, all experience teaches us, will use their power to promote their own exclusive profit and advantage. No Local Bank is competent to afford the necessary facilities to commercial and manufacturing enterprise; this can only be done by one whose connections are co extensive with the country itself, and in the possession of a capital and credit, which no charter from a state can confer. I undertake to say, sir, that the business of the country cannot be conducted--I know the business of the west cannot be conducted, without a National Bank. Will the members from other parts of the state think differently-will they object to a National Bank? If they do, I pray they may offer some other project, and should it afford one ray of hope, that it will meet the exigencies of the country, and dispel the thick clouds and darkness gathering around, I pledge myself to promote its success by all the means in my poor power. I am not tenacious about my own proposition my object is to obtain relief for the community, and I hold myself ready and willing to aid any measure which promises a speedy and effectual remedy. One thing must be done by some means. The currency which has been supplied by the present Bank |