Monmouth, August 28th,
1832.
On my return from the eastern section of the state, I read
in your paper of the 10th inst. an editorial suggestion of the names of several
citizens as electors for President and Vice-president of the United States, who
are known to be in favor of a renewal of the charter of the Bank of the United
States, with a request that the individuals named should signify to you their
acceptance or rejection of the proposed nomination. My name having been
suggested, I conceive it a duty to state that, although I have long considered
the Bank of the United States a valuable institution, well calculated to
promote the general good by its tendency to lessen the price of exchange, and
to produce and preserve a uniform and sound paper currency throughout the
Union, and would be pleased to see its charter renewed for a limited period,
with such modifications as would prevent an abuse of its powers, yet, without
wishing to underrate its consequence, I do not consider the question of
rechartering it the only or most important one which is likely to
be involved in the election of the first and second officers of the government.
In the present important crisis there are, in my opinion,
several great questions of constitutional construction and national policy,
much more vitally interesting to the people of the United States, and
particularly to the citizens of the South, than any which can arise out of the
bank question. I can not, therefore, consistently with these views, agree to
become a candidate for elector for President and Vice-president, solely with
reference to their opinion on the renewal of the charter of the Bank of the
United States.
SOURCES: John F. H. Quitman, Life and Correspondence
of John A. Quitman, Volume 1, p. 131
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