JULY 10, 1832 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) — President Andrew Jackson today struck the first blow in ridding the nation of its central bank, the Second Bank of the United States. Jackson returned to the Senate, unsigned, a bill that would have extended the bank’s charter for another 15 years. The current charter is due to expire in 1836.

 Along with the unsigned bill, Jackson sent a message explaining the reasons for his veto. A key portion of his veto message focused on monopoly, privilege, and favoritism:

 “It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes. Distinctions in society will always exist under every just government. Equality of talents, of education, or of wealth can not be produced by human institutions. In the full enjoyment of the gifts of Heaven and the fruits of superior industry, economy, and virtue, every man is equally entitled to protection by law; but when the laws undertake to add to these natural and just advantages artificial distinctions, to grant titles, gratuities, and exclusive privileges, to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society-the farmers, mechanics, and laborers-who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injustice of their Government. There are no necessary evils in government. Its evils exist only in its abuses. If it would confine itself to equal protection, and as Heaven does its rains, shower its favors alike on the high and the low, the rich and the poor, it would be an unqualified blessing.”

 Tragically, 81½ years from now, on December 23, 1913, the Sixty-Third Congress will reintroduce central banking to the United States by passing the Federal Reserve Act. Through its monetary policies, the Federal Reserve will gradually destroy the nation’s currency to the extent that the American economy will collapse in the early 21^st century.

 Sorry about that.

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 JULY 10, 2009 (FRONT GATE OF JACKSON SQUARE, FRENCH QUARTER, NEW ORLEANS, LA., AFTER GATES HAD BEEN LOCKED) — On the 177^th anniversary of Andrew Jackson’s veto of the bill to recharter the Second Bank of the United States, James Hines of SaintsAndFools.com and Tom Kowitz of OurTimeToStand.com memorialized the event at Jackson Square in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Kowitz’s account appears below:

 So, I’m heading home from work at 5:25 on a Friday evening, when my cell phone rings. It’s my good friend James Hines calling to see if I would like to go with him to Jackson Square in the French Quarter to light a candle in honor of Andrew Jackson. ‘Nuf said. Of course I would.

 Fast-forward to about 7:45. The gates of Jackson Square are locked. No big deal — we’ll light our candles at the front gate.

 Turns out we have 13 candles. Bad luck? Good omen? Bad omen?

 Well, for James, the original 13 colonies come to mind. Maybe a good omen. But for me, the year 1913 comes to mind. Maybe a bad omen.

 Candles in place, I ask James for a match.

 Long pause.

 James didn’t bring matches. Or a lighter. Another problem. Not an insurmountable one, however, as we spot a few groups of people smoking vegetation of varying degrees of legality. James scores us a lighter pretty easily.

 Finally, down to business. Except the breeze that kicked up was just weak enough to not notice at first, just strong enough to blow out the candles every few seconds. Another problem.

 While we’re fighting the breeze and struggling to get all 13 candles lit at the same time, it occurs to me that it might be interesting to try to communicate with Andrew Jackson. After all, we’re in a place with more mediums per city block than anywhere else in the world. And not only that, they all accept fiat money! I explain all this to James, but he doesn’t seem to like the idea. He’ll light a candle for Andrew Jackson, but that doesn’t mean he wants to talk to him.

 Next thing we know, a group of vampire hunters shows up at the front gate. The leaders of the Vampire Tour make it clear that they are licensed vampire hunters. They can’t believe that someone else would try to occupy this particular space at this particular time. They are incredulous that we don’t know that the front gate of Jackson Square becomes their box office at 8 o’clock every evening. Sheesh!

 So now we have another problem. And if there’s anything worse than vampire hunters, it’s vampire hunters with a license from the city. These guys are well-connected not only with local vampires, but with local bureaucrats. James and I don’t want any trouble, so we ask for just a few minutes while we fight the breeze.

 At this point, James informs the leaders of the Vampire Tour of the amazing coincidence: We are vampire hunters, too! After all, we’re going after the Federal Reserve, perhaps the world’s most formidable vampire!

 Which leads to the highlight of the evening:

 One of the leaders of the Vampire Tour recommends we read The Creature From Jekyll Island. Now, that happens to be the most informative and powerful book I’ve ever read, and it changed my life. I’ve recommended it to more than a thousand people over the years, so it’s particularly delightful to have a vampire hunter recommend the book to me at the very moment I’m honoring the man responsible for knocking off the Fed’s predecessor.

 Soon the breeze dies down, and we quickly get all 13 candles lit at the same time. We leave them there, burning, along with a copy of Andrew Jackson’s veto message to the U.S. Senate.

 Here’s to you, Old Hickory.