Richmond Indiana Palladium

MR. BIDDLE AND THE LOCO FOCOS.

Mr. Biddle is a most obliging man--He seldom refuses a proper request when asked of him. We have only in our mind now one that he did refuse, and that was made by a whig of Virginia, who, foreseeing what a fatal thing it would be to the loco focos, if he were dead, politely requested him to do him the favor to die! Mr. Biddle replied--thanked him for his consideration, and did full justice to his motives, but politely declined granting the favor. It was said by his opponents that it was the first favor he had ever refused his friends. We know nothing of that, but we have lately seen a case, in which opposite favors were asked by his friends and opponents, and he granted the latter! It is a suspicious story, but though true, is not conclusive evidence that he is going to turn loco foco. The facts were these.

The good citizens of the borough of Reading, Pennsylvania, were anxious that the shin plasters issued by their corporation should be redeemed and their circulation altogether stopped. For this purpose they applied for a loan from the bank of the United States, and were about to get it, when in comes a petition from the loco foco committee of safety praying that it might not be granted, as the loan could be for no other purpose than to sell the borough to the bank! The petition was respectfully received and as carefully considered. A few days after Mr. Biddle returned the following answer to the committee of the town council. Since then the loco focos boast of their influence with the monster.

Bank of the United States, June 23, 1833.

Gentlemen:--I have had the honor of receiving your letter of the 31st ultimo, requesting from this bank a loan for three years of $20,000, in silver, for the purpose of redeeming the notes issued by the borough of Reading, for sums less than one dollar. The Board of Directors approve entirely of the object of the loan and were disposed to grant it with great pleasure, when they received a published remonstrance against it by the 'committee of safety of the borough of Reading,' who declare that it has been ascertained that the loan could have been intended for no other purpose than to sell the town to the said bank, and to put our citizens and their posterity into the power of the Philadelphia money king.'

I am sure that the worthy members of the committee of safety will on reflection perceive that they have been misled by their zeal in ascribing to the town council a desire to sell their constituents, or to the bank the least desire to make such an acquisition; and I am quite sure that the respectable inhabitants of Reading are wholly incapable of being influenced by the sordid motives ascribed to them. Nevertheless, as there seems to be so much opposition to the measure, and as its adoption may give alarm to a portion of your community, it is deemed most proper to decline the proposed loan.

Very respectfully yours,

N. BIDDLE, Pres't.