Excerpt from Speech of Mr. J. J. Hardin, of Illinois, Reviewing the Public Life and Political Principles of Mr. Van Buren: Delivered in the House of Representatives March 21, 1844

But, sir, let us turn back and look ovérflnmwcw I have given from-mr Van Buren' s writings on the subjeotof banks and currency, and see whether such a bundle of inconsistencies was ever heaped togeth'er. By any one man in the world upon a single subject. He was for extending the branches of the United States because it _was a useful institution. He avows himself opposed to this same bank 011 grounds 'of 6011 stitutionalit'y as well as of expediency. He recommends the recharter of thirty State bankhulogises the deposit banks for their keeping safely the public moneys, and for regulating the exchanges and currency - then proclaims them unsafe depositories of pub lic moneys, and not worthy to be trusted. He is the advocate and proposer of individual banking, yet places this system by the side ot' State'and national banks, and denounces the whole system as the pampered menial of speculation, idleness, arid fraud. _with the next breath he' proclaims that we are never to be without seme system of banking and paper money; and after writirig_ letters and messages without number, ieaves' us al together in the dark on the important question, whether he is in favor of any kind of banking, or whether he goes for the exclusive hard money. 0351 any gentleman cen ceive of any system of tergiver'sations, inconsistencies, and contradictions to exceed this. 7 On this Subject Mr. -v. B. Has turned more somersets than any proficient in the divine art of ground and lefty tumbling. If you, Mr. Speaker. Had stood _still. Whilst he was performing his gyrations around you, you would have seen him, in turns, on your right hand and your left - before you-and behind. You sometimes on his heels and sometimes on his head. And if you would now endeavor to put your finger on him, you would find him not there, but in the act of performing some surprising evolution, and. Whether he would light on your right hand or left - l - ou his head or his heels - you could not pos sibly tell. {us his political life, he has boxed. The compass.' And this, sir, is the man that, in the present emergency of the Government, it is sought 110. Place at the helm of State! When we inquire what course he will steer, we are referred to the. Tor tuous cdurse of his past life; and whether he would _steer the ship of State a: straight forward, an angular or circuitous route, no man can predict. But yet, all: will agree thathe would adopt the eficssor Propeller principle, which screws itsez'ffoa ward, or by reversing its motion, screws itself backwards, according as the _winds and tides of popular opinion might seem to require, in order to keep hiinself within the channel of. Public favor.

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