Expresses opinion on the Water Works, Jackson, US Bank and government (2 of 2)

and increase the power and patronage of the President far beyond what the Old Federalists ever contended for – but there are no Federalist now as formerly – then they wanted to give power. Now the party that wants to take away or lessen the power and reduced expenses is called the federal party.  They were called federalists who supported J. Q. Adams.  He managed the government with about 12 millions – that was complained of – now almost three times that sum is required.  Under him there was about half dozen removals of opponents from office and it was proclaimed long and loud that the freedom of opinion was arrested.  Now there is an increase of a thousand or more officers of government and a thousand removals were made of opponents to put in friends and all right.  Under Adams 4 or 5 Editors friendly recd appointments then the press was bought up and enslaved.  Under Jackson 40 editors in less than 10 months were removed, for to give place to friends – all right – Under Adams a few members of congress received appointments.  Then it was corruption.  Under Jackson nearly all appointments were made from that body to important and distant stations.  Yet it was reform.  Genl. Jackson in his inaugural address alluded to all these abuses of appointing friends to office and said in these works “the task of reform is too legibly inscribed to be overlooked”.  He appointed none but friends to office.  If the Senate rejected he appointed them after the adjournment of that body and returned the third time the same name!  He carried all his favorite measures called every man an enemy that did not go with him and went out of office choosing and nominating to the people his successor – a thing never hinted at by any previous President and

which I hold to be more violative of the spirit and principles of Republicanism than all his other acts.  I was your representative when Van Buren was nominated for Vice President.  Then Jackson’s warm and devoted friends opposed him because he had not conformed to the Virginia faith of Politicks and that Genl Jackson was then warmly in his favour and would at the end of four years wish to see him President.  This was then hooted at by other friends who seemed to consider themselves the real friends of Jackson and the only true friends to their country from that day forth Genl Jackson had no opposition that availed anything – in Congress – in the Senate – in the State legislatures.  There was no opposition that could or did arrest one stop he desired to make – and the favorite steps were in reform of the Currency – to make it “better and sounder”.  Then U. S. Bank paper was better than gold & silver and merchants did give sometimes 102 & 3 dollars for a 100 dollar bank bill.  Then you could get coin for any bank note.  Then the government had its funds recd and paid out for nothing.  Now for the last tow years immense expense has been incurred and great loss likely to be sustained.  Suit has been brought against receivors for about half a million and more than 2 millions in doubtful situation.  I do not think the framers of our government intended to grant power to create a U. S. Bank but 40 out of some 50 years we have had one and under the auspices of wiser and better men than Jackson.  Who if he had let the public money remain where the law placed it and never have issued an order refusing bank paper and forbid

the state Banks to loan for their own benefit the public money when placed in their hands – might have averted much of the evil that has come and is coming upon us.  I say coming – did you witness the sales for cash on Monday & see a negro man sell after months notice for $214 – that 12 or 18 months ago would have sold for $700.  Surely the partial and brief incidents mentioned might lead an enquiring mind to doubt and hesitate to support fully the present administration of the government.  The form of our government I hold in sacred & devotional remembrance.  But for the men who administer it whether they be Whigs or Democrats I entertain nothing more than respect - where there is unbounded confidence there will arise abuse and corruption, whatever party may rule.  I would look to the principles of our government to the constitution – to the real wants of the people governed and not to the wants of those who govern.  Man never was made for unbounded trust.  His first footsteps on earth were marked with error & every days experience but renders more manifest the fact that we are prone to errour.  We know not our own weakness.  You and I entertain alike a holy feeling for our government.  Our interests the same.  Our anxiety to shun evil & pursue good animates us with equal zeal but leads us in different directions but I trust as we aim at the same object – difference in Politicks as in Religion will be rewarded by purity of intention and that the present and future generations may still be blessed with our present form of government.  The Union and the Independence of the States.  I fear that you are weary and have been but poorly entertained.

Yours truly,
Chas. L. Crockett
Feby 14^th 1838

Mr. J. Chatwell

Cripple Creek