It is the contemplation of such an enormous power placed in the hands of any body of men that gives a more correct appreciation of the conduct and motives of General Jackson in his determined contest with the United-States Bank.

He saw that such an institution increasing with the growth of the country would surely lead to corruption, and by its unlimited power would interfere with the independence of Congress and with the just liberty of the people.

In the present system the National Bank deposits its bonds with the Treasury Department, where they are held as special security for the redemption of the bills which the bank puts in circulation.

In the former case there was no protection to the people who trusted the bank by taking its bills.

In the case of the National Bank, the government holds the security in its own hands and protects the public from the possibility of loss.

The one defective element in the National bank system is that it requires the permanence of National debt as the basis of its existence.

In a Republican government the people naturally oppose a perpetual debt, and could with difficulty be persuaded to consent to it for any incidental purpose however desirable.

But so long as a National debt exists no use has been found for it more conducive to the general prosperity than making it the basis of a banking system in which flexibility and safety are combined to a degree never before enjoyed in this…

In no other system of banking have the bills had such wide circulation and such absolute credit.

They are current in almost every part of the American continent, and are readily exchangeable for coin in all the marts of Europe.

The judge declared that the power of the President undoubtedly implies the right to arrest persons who by their mischievous acts of disloyalty impede or hinder the military operations of the government.

If this proceeding is approved by the government and sanctioned by the people it is not merely a step towards revolution, it is revolution; it will not only lead to military despotism, it establishes military despotism.

Having given it a generous support in the conduct of the war, we now pause to see what kind of government it is for which we are asked to pour out our blood and our treasure.

The action of the Administration will determine, in the minds of more than one-half of the people of the Loyal States, whether this war is waged to put down rebellion in the South or to destroy free institutions at the North.

The evil effect upon the public opinion of the North of such language from a man of Governor Seymour's high personal character and commanding influence with his party can hardly be exaggerated.

I understand the meeting whose resolutions I am considering, to be in favor of suppressing the Rebellion by military force--by armies.

Long experience has shown that armies cannot be maintained unless desertion shall be punished by the severe penalty of death.

Must I shoot a simple-minded soldier-boy who deserts, while I must not touch a hair of the wily agitator who induces him to desert?

He had a genius for war, and in a purely military point of view it would perhaps have been better for the Confederates to lose the battle than to lose the most aggressive officer in their Army.

The indispensable requisite to Union success was a commander for the Army of the Potomac in whose competency the Administration, the people, and most of all the soldiers would have confidence.

With men of the North the struggle was now for home first, for conquest afterwards, and the tenacity and courage with which they held their ground for those three bloody days attest the magnificent impulse which the defense of the fireside…

The tide of invasion had been rolled back after the bloodiest and most stubbornly contested field of the war.

The numbers on each side differed but little from the numbers engaged at Waterloo, and the tenacity with which the soldiers of the British Isles stood that day against the hosts of Napoleon, was rivaled on the field of Gettysburg by men of…

Heart and spirit were given to the people, hope grew into confidence, the strength of the Government was vastly increased, the prestige of the Administration was greatly heightened.

He had no boastful reliance upon intuition or inspiration or the spur of the moment, though no man excelled him in extempore speech.