698. BANKS, Evils of.—
The evils they
[the banks] have engendered are now upon
us, and the question is how we are to get out
of them? Shall we build an altar to the old
paper money of the Revolution, which ruined
individuals but saved the republic, and burn
on that all the bank charters, present and future,
and their notes with them? For these
are to ruin both republic and individuals.
This cannot be done. The mania is too
strong. It has seized by its delusions and
corruptions, all the members of our governments,
general, special and individual.—
To John Adams. Washington ed. vi, 305.
(M.
Jan. 1814)
