Richmond Enquirer

EXTRACT OF A LETTER.

"The commercial distress of the nation is very great. The banking bubbles are breaking, and will leave us all poorer than they found us. Industry, Economy ought to be the order of the day until the crisis is passed. If this distress could open the eyes of the community to the real sources of wealth, and induce them to put down as soon as they can, the parasite institutions which accumulate it in the hands of a few, whilst they destroy all morality and sound feeling, it would be a great happiness. But the curse seems to be entailed on us. For some time many of us in the towns have been and we shall continue slaves to bank directors. Some Merchants of high standing are obliged to crouch to these arbiters of credit, upon which their all depends. Would to heaven that these parasite institutions were sunk in the lowest depths of the ocean and their very memory blotted out for ever. It would be a benefit to mankind, even if it threw us a century back in internal improvements." and reduced us to wooden platters and pewter spoons. It would restore us our honest and glowing sense of independence, if it diminished our wealth. We should assume the port and dignity of men, if we lost some of the trappings of fools. Our possessions would not be so great, but they would be our own. The country is yet only in part tainted. If it were enlightened, we might hope a redeeming spirit would arise out of it, which might save our towns."