| 510 relative to a National Bank, in Mr. Blair's remarks, is, that the mother bank should be located at Nauvoo.
This is correct, for Nauvoo as a city, collectively or individually, cannot be reproached with dishonor, crime, corruption or bribery.-Neither has a Swartwout or Price mingled his millions with the majesty of monarchs by walking out of the unwalled and ungated Nauvoo. The blood of Commodores and Congressmen, shed by the heaven-daring, hell-begotten, earth disgracing practice of dueling, has never stained the soil or city of Nauvoo. Nor does a slave raise his rusting fetters and chains, and exclaim, O liberty where are thy charms? Wisdom, freedom, religion, and virtue, like light, love water and air, 'spread undivided, and operate unspent,' in the beloved Nauvoo; while the gay world, and great politicians may sing, and even the 'great Globe' itself may chime the melodious sounds:-
Hail Columbia, "free and equal"- Hail Colombia, "free and equal,"-
Lo, the saints, the Mormons, bless ye! "Liberty," (as patriots won it;
Felt thy glory most severely, Crown'd the "head" of freemen's money:
When Missouri gave them jesse- Now the goddess sits upon it!
Hail Columbia, "free and equal'- Hail Columbia, "free and equal"-
Negro slaves, like common cattle, "Gold and silver" is thy tender;"
Bought and sold at common auction; Treasury notes (aside from Biddle,)
Prayers and chains together rattle! Foreign loans, and fallen splendor!
As the "world is governed too much" and as there is not a nation or dynasty, now occupying the earth, which acknowledges Almighty God as their law giver, and as 'crowns won by blood, by blood must be maintained,' I go emphatically, virtuously, and humanely, for a THEODEMOCRACY, where God and the people hold the power to conduct the affairs of men in righteousness. And where liberty, free trade, and sailor's rights, and the protection of life and property shall be maintained inviolate, for the benefit of ALL. To exalt mankind is nobly acting the part of a God; to degrade them, is meanly doing the drudgery of the devil. Unitas, libertas, caritas-esto perpetua!
With the highest sentiments of regard for all men, I am an advocate of unadulterated freedom.
JOSEPH SMITH.
Nauvoo, Ill., April 15, 1844
The following is the article above alluded to, which we copy from the Globe:-
A NEW ADVOCATE FOR A NATIONAL BANK.
We have cast our eyes hastily over General Smith's (Mormon Joe) 'Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States, Nauvoo, 1844." This illustrious individual "goes the whole figure' with Messrs. Clay, Webster, Sargeant, and the Whig party in general, for a national bank. After this, who can doubt the propriety of such an institution? Here is Joe's plan for a "fiscal agent," which is quite as sensible, both in nature and object, as the famous fiscalities;
'For the accommodation of the people in every State and Territory, let Congress show their wisdom, by granting a national bank, with branches in each State and Territory, where the capital stock shall be held by the nation for the mother bank, and by the States and Territories for the branches; and whose officers and directors shall be elected yearly by the people, with wages at the rate of two dollars a day for services; which several banks shall never issue any more bills than the amount of capitol stock in her vaults and the interest. The net gain of the mother bank shall be applied to the national revenue, and that of the branches to the States' and Territories' revenue. And the bills shall be par throughout the nation, which will mercifully cure that fatal disorder known in cities as brokerage, and leave the people's money in their own pockets.'
The Prophet seems to be thoroughly imbued with the Whig financial doctrines. He wants a national bank for the 'accommodation of the people,' and to save the federal and state treasuries from taxation. In two respects, however, we think Joe's plan has decided advantages over those of Messrs. Clay and Webster. He sticks to the simple specie basis, dollar for dollar; and his plan is more economical, as the offices are to be elected by the people, "with wages at two dollars per day." There is another recommendation, however, of this 'great financier' which, we fear, will somewhat embarrass the practical operation of his scheme. He tells the people:
"Petition your state legislatures to pardon every convict in the several penitentiaries; blessing them as they go, and saying to them, in the name of the Lord-'Go thy way and sin no more.'"
We fear that, if this humane recommendation be adopted, the 'specie basis' would soon disappear from Joe's mother bank and branches, including that of Nauvoo, which would quickly show a "beggarly account of empty boxes."
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