“Whatever interest or influence, whether public or private,
has given birth to this Act, it can not be found either in the
wishes or necessities of the executive department, by which
present action is deemed premature, and the powers
conferred upon its agent not only unnecessary, but
dangerous to the Government and country.”
“It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often
bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes.”
“If we can not at once, in justice to interests vested under
improvident legislation, make our Government what it
ought to be, we can at least take a stand against all new
grants of monopolies and exclusive privileges, against any
prostitution of our Government to the advancement of the
few at the expense of the many, and in favor of compromise
and gradual reform in our code of laws and system of
political economy.”
–President Andrew Jackson
Veto Message opposing the Bank of the United States Act
10 July, 1832
