and the palpable injustice and cruel oppression of which led the Nullifier with whom he is now joined in a pretended fraternal embrace to those traitorous measures which, but for the inflexible patriotism and energy of our Chief Magistrate, would have eventuated in the dissolution of our inestimable union. He also is a fit one now to wage war against the administration on the ground of its violation of the "Constitution and Laws."

A third one in this unholy league has ever been distinguished by his opposition to the equal rights of the people, and to the fundamental principles of the democratic party. In him we behold a man in whom hostility to democracy is the only principle which he has never forsaken a man who opposed with all his energy the measures of the Government when at war with Great Britain; who rejoiced in the victories of the enemy; who at one time was the opponent, and then the advocate, of the United States Bank; at one time a declaimer against the American System, and then its fast friend. This is the third member of the triumvirate of political rivals who join in proclaiming as their watchword and battle-cry, the Constitution and Laws!

Among the vague and ambiguous sentiments by which they profess to be governed, is the stale and unmeaning phrase, of "Principles not Men." This is one of those juggling maxims with which sordid and selfish politicians have ever attempted to cheat mankind. It has an honest and taking sound, but is utterly without substance, a mere jingle of words, vox et præterea nihil. Not much discernment is requisite to detect the fallacy and emptiness of this dishonest invention of unprincipled demagogues; for surely any man must perceive that principles without men, are little better than men without principles. Do they mean to elect their principles to office? Do they mean to have us governed by abstractions? by

a body of ethics? by a set of precepts? or will they, like every other party, be sooner or later obliged to hold forward some man, as the person who is governed by their principles, and who, if chosen, will carry them into exercise? This wretched sophistry of "principles not men," has been used, all the world over, as a cloak for political knavery as a convenient shelter for those to fight behind, who had no principles at all, and who were endeavouring to elevate men so notoriously unworthy, that prudence forbade their being named. "It is an advantage to all narrow wisdom and narrow morals," says Burke, "that their maxims have a plausible air, and, on a cursory view, appear equal to first principles. They are light and portable. They are as current as copper coin; and about as valuable. They serve equally the first capacities and the lowest; and they are at least as useful to the worst men as the best. Of this stamp is the cant of Not men but measures; a sort of charm by which many people get loose from every honourable engagement." If the opposition party, or the " Whig party," as they prefer to call themselves, are one-one in their political doctrines and political objects-let them avow what their doctrines and objects are; let them name the person whom they desire to elevate that he may carry them into effect; let us see what are their principles and who are their men. "Unqualified and uncompromising hostility to Martin Van Buren," is but half a motive. Pulling down is but a moiety of the work they have to achieve ; they must build up, also; and the People are curious to see what sort of a mixed and composite administration they propose to create out of the various materials of which their heterogeneous party is composed.

SMALL NOTES AND THE STATE BANKING

SYSTEM.

[From the Evening Post, August 26, 1834.]

Every day adds to the number of the indications, which any man not blind must perceive, that the great body of the democracy of this state are radically opposed to the Banking System, as it exists in this country, and are determined to insist that their representatives in the legislature shall take the first great step towards a reformation, by prohibiting the issue of small notes. The Albany Argus has at last taken a decided stand on this subject, and we notice with great pleasure that several sound and influential country journals have likewise expressed themselves in favour of the prohibition, in manly and explicit terms. The Poughkeepsie Telegraph has the following sensible paragraph on the subject. [Here follows extract.]

The Albany Argus of last Saturday quotes the foregoing paragraph, with a remark, that it is "happy to perceive that the question of restricting the issue of bank notes of the smaller denominations is beginning to receive the notice of the republican press, as well as of the people in their primary meetings," and it avows its "full concurrence, both in the general expression, and in the extent of the restriction."

So far, so well. One step further, however, is demanded, both by the sentiments of a very large portion of the democracy, and by a due regard to the political principles on which the democratic party is founded. The Bank system is an insidious enemy of democracy. It is an essentially aristocratic institution. It has stolen upon us like a thief in the night. It has sprung up among us, before the people were aware of its true nature and its rapid growth. Either the Bank system, which, in other words, is an odious system of exclusive privileges, must

be put down, or the days of democracy are numbered. We wish not this to be done by any sudden or violent means; but we look upon it as the bounden duty of all who really entertain republican sentiments; who would really grieve to see this country lapsing into aristocracy; who really desire to preserve the great and fundamental principle to the democratic party-the glorious principle of Equal Rights;—we look upon it as the bounden duty of all such to oppose, by all proper means, our most pernicious system of banking a system which has grown up in this country so rapidly, and has acquired such formidable power, that we already present the degrading spectacle of a people professing to be self-governed, and yet completely held, in many respects, in the vile fetters of a host of exclusively privileged money monopolies.

We say, therefore, that one step further than the mere restriction of small bank-notes is necessary. The sentiment ought to be distinctly avowed that no new bank charters shall be granted, and no existing charters extended, either in duration or amount. Let the legislators be chosen with a full understanding that this is the wish of the people. Let them be told that they are to truck or bargain away no more exclusive money privileges, for any political or pecuniary consideration whatever, or for any other purpose, real or pretended. Let them understand, moreover, that these steps are but the beginning of a system of measures which will be steadily persevered in by the democracy, until every vestige of monopoly has disappeared from the land, and until banking- as most other occupations are now, and as all ought to be-is left open to the free competition of all who choose to enter into that pursuit.

We have already too many banks, viewing the subject without reference to the question of exclusive privileges. We have too many banks, merely considering them as

instruments to supply a circulating medium. The banks which already exist cannot possibly do a profitable business, except by fostering a harmful, demoralizing spirit of overtrading and speculation. There is no good reason why a single additional charter should be granted, or why the capital of any bank should be enlarged. We therefore hope that the democracy, throughout the state, will be careful to let their sentiments on this interesting and important subject be fully and clearly expressed. In this city, we would in a particular manner call upon the people to give free and emphatic utterance to their wishes.

For our own part, this journal long ago voluntarily declared it would support no candidate for the legislature who is not understood to be unequivocally opposed to the granting of any new bank charter, or to the extending of any new one. This, and the determination to prohibit the issue of notes of a less denomination than five dollars, constitute a qualification, without which no candidate shall receive our support. The people have groaned and sweated under Bank tyranny long enough. It is time that they should rise in their strength, and assert their right to be freed from the petty yet galling despotism of money incorporations.

THE ELECTION.

[From the Evening Post, Sept. 24, 1834.]

The more we reflect on the recommendation of the Bank party at the meeting at Masonic Hall to the merchants of this city, to close their stores during the election, the more we are struck with the probable, nay almost certain consequences of such a rash and malignant procedure. Not that we apprehend any results injurious to