NATIONAL BANKS. 479 



suddenly changed into one of gloom and despondency, 

 ought to be indelibly impressed on the memory of the 

 people of the United States. If such was its power in a 

 time of peace, what would it not have been in a season of 

 war with an enemy at your doors? No nation but the 

 freemen of the United States could have come out victori- 

 ous in such a contest; yet, if you had not conquered, the 

 government would have passed from the hands of the 

 many to the hands of the few; and this organized money 

 power, from its secret conclave, would have dictated the 

 choice of your highest officers, and compelled you to make 

 peace or war, as best suited their own wishes. The forms 

 of your government might for a time have remained; but 

 its living spirit would have departed from it. ' ' 



At another time he said: 



u The question is distinctly presented, whether the 

 people of the United States are to govern through repre- 

 sentatives chosen by their unbiased suffrages, or whether 

 the power and money of a great corporation are to be 

 secretly exerted to influence their judgment and control 

 their decisions. It must now be determined whether the 

 bank is to have its candidates for all the offices in the 

 country, from the highest to the lowest, or whether candi- 

 dates on both sides of political questions shall be brought 

 forward, as heretofore, and supported by the usual means. ' ' 

 Message of December j, 1833. 



"The bank is in the field, enlisted for the war, a bat- 

 tering ram not to beat down the walls of hostile cities, 

 but to beat down the citadel of American liberty; to com- 

 mand the elections and elect a bank president by dint of 

 bank power. The bank is in the field, a combatant, and 

 a fearful and tremendous one in the presidential election. 

 If she succeeds, there is an end of American liberty, an 

 end of the Republic. The president of the bank and the 



