Canton Herald

VOTERS OF MADISON COUNTY.

FELLOW CITIZENS:

I offer to you my services as a candidate for the ensuing Legislature. You have a right to demand, and I feel it a duty to give, a full, fair and candid exposition of my political sentiments. I fail not, fellow citizens, to appreciate the confidence reposed in me by my fellow citizens, one of that portion of the community nominated Whigs. I am the advocate of the present administration, believing that the policy heretofore pursued by those in power has not been in accordance with the best interests of the country, and if carried out, will eventuate in the ruin of this country from Maine to the Gulf.

I am upon the ground of stern and undeviating opposition to a United States or National Bank, as the people may see fit, and I would recommend to read the history of this country from its foundation to the present day, with a mind free from prejudice, to an open conviction, at a moment of great necessity of a National Bank.

It is necessary for us to review the situation of this country in 1791, and ask ourselves what was the nature of the disease then preying upon her, that threatened a perpetual revolution to all, if an effectual remedy were not speedily discovered? This remedy was found and applied. It was a National Bank, and the country, as if by the magician's wand, rose from the incubus of debt that depressed and weighed her down. In a short time the cheerful 'all's well' re-echoed from every extremity of the union to the other, and contentment beamed from every countenance, and joy sparkled from every eye.

Thus by the creation of a National Bank, the country was supplied with a sound currency. The tiller of the soil commenced to smile, and the planter was enabled to meet the demands of his creditors cheerfully and promptly. All prospered and were happy.

This state of things continued until the expiration of the charter in 1811, when they were suffered to suffer all the ills before experienced from a rotten and depreciated currency. Enduring their condition as long as patience ceased to be a virtue, they demanded aid and assistance from the federal government. The prayer was granted, and in 1816 Mr. Dallas and others, who opposed the bank in 1811, sustained it by vote in 1816. As I said before, fellow citizens, I am in favor of a National Bank upon the ground of experience. I say more; I am in favor of a National Bank upon the ground of experience. The old adage, and a good one, that two out of three is a fair test.

We would ask you, what would a man who had been dangerously ill, and twice does medicine resuscitate him from death and the grave, a third time he is attacked with the same disease, and a third time he has it in his power to avail himself of the same panacea; he is urged to take it and take it quickly; he is reminded by his friends who had witnessed his former illness of the speedy and happy effect which it then produced upon his system, and with despair depicted on every countenance they entreat him to resort to the same again. To all their entreaties he answers, I have taken this medicine twice. It has cured me twice; for this very reason I am convinced it has lost its virtues, lost its efficacy. I will try an experiment which a certain new and very celebrated physician has lately recommended: he tries it, and he dies.

Now what would you in the plenitude of your wisdom think of this man? The most plausible excuse which I could possibly render for him, would be, that he was extremely fond of experiments.

But it is useless to speak of the many benefits or utility of that which we are told we shall never enjoy: and as we are informed in the President's Message that the government can take care of itself and the people must take care of themselves, the sooner we make provision for our protection the better. To do this, you, Legislature, should lose no time in re-enacting the charter for a Union Bank, passed last session. The second approval is rendered necessary by a restriction in our Constitution, requiring the concurrence of two consecutive legislatures to pledge the faith of the State. It is unnecessary for me, to enter into minute concerning this institution, as I believe the mode and manner of its operation are generally understood. Its basis is the soil of our country, and at the same time that it enables us to discharge our debts by a pledge of real estate, our lands will enhance instead of depreciate in value, from the fact that it enables the owner to obtain upon the faith of his land a liberal loan, not for four, six, or twelve months; but for three, four, or five years.

To arrive at a proper estimate of an institution of this kind, it is only necessary to contrast the situation of the planters of Mississippi with the majority of the planters of Louisiana. There they have had a similar institution in operation for some time, and according to the opinion of many of the most intelligent citizens of that State, it has been of more essential service to the planter than all the other institutions combined. I am persuaded, by proper management, the Bank can commence operations in less than twelve months, as I am informed that Governor Lynch has received assurances from Holland that a loan can be negotiated.

Fellow citizens, I have never yet been so chimerical as to believe that the Legislature of any State could legislate her people out of debt; but I do contend that legislative action can aid and assist the people, provided they will act, and aid and assist themselves. This I believe of Madison county. I think I know her people sufficiently well to authorize me in saying, that if they can only obtain time until once again their locks can grow forth, they will, Samson like, burst asunder the chains of debt which are entwined around them. That you might obtain this time, a law was proposed and passed during the called session, authorizing the debtor to appeal from the decision of the Circuit to the High Court of Errors and Appeals, without showing cause of error: but unfortunately for the people, this intended antidote for the disease of the country, contains within itself a poison, which, if taken, must sooner or later inevitably produce death.

I mean the ten per cent. damage to be paid if the decision of the Circuit Court is confirmed; which would be the case nine times out of ten. No planter can pay eight per cent. interest, the cost of appeal, with the additional sum of ten per cent. damage. If he doubts the correctness of my assertion, let him make the calculation. I am in favor of pruning the law of that obnoxious feature-the ten per cent. damage. Whether it would be policy for the Legislature to pass a law, saying that all bank paper, receivable by the State for taxes, should be received by creditors in the payment of their dues, is questioned by some and approved by others. It would have the good effect to increase the value of our money, to deter those who had sued from suing, and induce those who had not sued to be more indulgent. The Legislature of Virginia, a State ever tenacious of her reputation, has passed a similar law.

I have ever been the advocate of internal improvements, and flatter myself that the time is not far distant when we will have the convenience of railroads in many parts of the State; but I am induced to believe that for the present, it would be better to use the surplus revenue in facilitating the operations of the intended Union Bank.

It should ever be the duty and pleasure of the Legislature of your State, to foster and cherish education. The aphorism of 'the more ignorance, the more peace,' originated with kings and tyrants, whose interest it was to deceive the people; and accords not with the genius and spirit of a republican government.

In conclusion, fellow citizens, I would observe, that I have been a citizen of your State, from my childhood to the present period. I am bound by the strongest ligaments that can bind man to his country. All that I possess is within the limits of the State, and the greater portion in Madison county. I am a planter, and from planting are my principal expectations. I cannot benefit myself by legislation without assisting you. If I am elected, it will be my pride to serve you, and to serve you at least faithfully, if not ably; but if, in making your selection, others should be preferred, I will endeavor, though hard be the task, to bow with due deference to your sovereign will.

B. G. MARSHALL.