institutions of the government.  Indeed, it seems to be in the midst of all this national happiness that some are found openly to question the advantages of the Constitution itself and many more ready to embarrass the exercise of its just power, weaken its authority, and undermine its foundations.  How far these notions may be carried, it is impossible yet to say.  We have before us the practical result of one of them.  The bank has fallen, or is to fall.

It is now certain, that, without a change in our public counsels, this bank will not be continued, nor will any other be established, which, according to the general sense and language of mankind, can be entitled to the name.  Within three years and nine months from the present moment, the charter of the bank expires; within that period, therefore, it must wind up its concerns.  It must call in its debts, withdraw its bills from circulation, and cease from all its ordinary operations.  All this is to be done in three years and nine months; because, although there is a provision in the charter rendering it lawful to use the corporate name for two years after the expiration of the charter, yet this is allowed only for the purpose of suits and for the sale of the estate belonging to the bank, and for no other purpose whatever.  The whole active business of the bank, its custody of public deposits, its transfer of public moneys, its dealing in exchange, all its loans and discounts, and all its issues of bills for circulation, must cease and determine on or before the third day of March, 1836; and within the same period its debts must be collected, as no new contract can be made with it, as a corporation, for the renewal of loans, or discount of notes or bills, after that time.

The President is of opinion, that this time is long enough to close the concerns of the institution without inconvenience.  His language is, “The time allowed the bank to close its concerns is ample, and if it has been well managed, its pressure will be light, and heavy only in case its management has been bad.  If, therefore, it shall produce distress, the fault will be its own.”  Sir, this is all no more than general statement, without fact or argument to support it.  We know what the management of the bank has been, and we know the present state of its affairs.  We can judge, therefore, whether it be probable that its capital can be all called in, and the circulation of its bills withdrawn, in three years and nine months, by any discretion or prudence in management, without producing distress.  The bank has discounted liberally, in compliance with the wants of the community.  The amount due to it on loans and discounts, in certain large divisions of the country, is great; so great, that I do not perceive how any man can believe that it can be paid, within the time now limited, without distress.  Let us look at known facts.  Thirty millions of the capital of the bank are now out, on loans and discounts, in the States on the Mississippi and its