The enquirer — Richmond, Va., 1810-12-27 00:00:00, page 2

«ttuition deprived men of their right by
prohibiting ;i member from holding an of.
fice whilst' in that capacity, or from serving
iti any office created whilst he was a nieni
b<M\ rtm in whit respect would this re
'Strictio:! affect the community ? Could not
offices as well he filled out of Congress as in
It? Congress had aneady legislated as far
us in their power on iliis suoject t>v passing
a la v to prevent contractors from holding a
seat on this ll.mr. J
The independence of the Legislature was
the object. It there was nuciveiousiiess of
office, if human nature was perfect, we
should want no laws. But laws have be_
dome necessary to check lie frailties of our
hature, and this provision would serve to
repress the inordinate desire of man for of
fice. Indeed, said lie, it is as necessary
almost to -\rd against a virtue as against
a vice. 1 ake the c ise of a man who has
Tong been in Cnugi css. whose worth all ac
knowledge, about to retire, and we kn >w
tliat he has not wherewithal to support
himse t-we should almost, forgetting our
duty to the cmsMtution, be willing to make
a place expressly for him.
Mr. M. said, it appeared to him that no
thing could he more incorrect, as related
to the independence of the Legislature, than
for men to be sitting here, knowing that
when the> retired they were to have an of
five. Knowifig that they were to have it
•was not worse than wishing to have it; he
cause in cither case the ;ir» ‘pendencc of the
expectant was destroyed, lire practice of
bestowing offices on members of the L. gis
la!tire had already attained to an extent not
before known. It was a practice pleasing
to members, and it would grow. Suppose
any member wanted an appointment, and
should go to his f-.iehds and get recommen
dubious from twenty, thirty, or forty of them
Would it not opentte almost as a command
on tht Executive, when lie saw a majority
ri the Legislature declaring that this man
or.*- it to have an office? If he were to re
fuse he would snon tecl the consequences.
Relieving the purity of the Legislature to
depend on the existence of such a provision
as he had proposed. Air. M. said lie could
not consent to strike it out. livery thing,
*vaid he, depends oti the Legislature. Make
the members of ihe Legislature ofticaJninc
ers, and you make the nation so. If the
executive archives could be consulted, ji
would be seen that the applications for ’of
fice in the nation at large had progressed
much in the same proportion as those from
the members of Congress. And is it not
natural, sir, that the people who send a
man to Congress, seeing him provide l with
a snug place would want the same thing?
I am willing -o extend the principle ; 1 am
almost willing to g • as far as upon the jury
principles in trials for life. I am willing
not only to excluue ourselves, but to ex*
elude oar kindred. Could any thing be
ii’.-nc mortifying. Mr. M asked than
to see every little a. pnintmeut in the nation
fivm to the Legislature? To him it was a
in- inlying circumstance, H could men
timi names ; but that it was always painful
fi r him to do so. lie had seen this prac
l:cu glowing with our growth; and. if not
check, d, it would come to be one of the
greatest of evils. If tne gentleman from
1 enncssec could demonstrate that there
was such a poverty of fulent in the nation,
tnai, Dy the exclusion of members of Con
gvess Irnm office, the business of the nation
would be arrested, he would vote tor his
motion; and not otherwise.
I. been said that the proposed a
roendment to the constitution, went to de
pi ive the citizen of his right. It appear
ed to Mr. Macon, that this right of office
was not a good thing. He knew that no
man hi the House was farther from office
hunting, than the gentleman who made the
motion—his remark applied to the subject,
and had no particular application to men!
li experience had not convinced gentlemen
that something wanted doing, he despaired
ot convincing them lie hoped the motion
would not be agreed to.
Mr. Boyd said that of the Republican
principles of the gentleman last up, he had
no doubt ; but these principles might be
cat ried too far to support themselves.—The
gentleman’s argument Supposed that the a
biiiiy of those persons sent here being known
to tlie president, they therefore ought not
lobe appointed to office. The argument
was, beciiise a person was recommended
to office by the best men in the nation, he
ought therefore nut to be appointdt[.' 1.
went upon ihe supposition that the Presi
dent, an officer chosen from the people for
his superior virtue, would appoint venally
But let us beware, said Mr. ». of tinkering
the constitution, from the veiy innovation
which the amendment proposes, 1 should
oppose it because it is necessary to the
lile ai d vigor ot the constitution that we
meddle with it as little as possible. By so
frequently altering the constitution. wc
slum keep the people in a perpetual ler
ment, not knowing whether thev lm\e a
polar star or not.
Mr. Harwell considered the part pro
posed to he struck out as the most valuable
part of the amendment. If that were sUuck
out, there would be hardly ahv part ol' it
worth retaining. This question, he said,
was particularly fortunate for those com
posing the majority of Congress. It fur
nished them an opportunity to convince the
woikl at large, that they were not governed
by mercenary motives; that the course
they pursued v is dictated by their judg
ment alone. What could tend more to re
concile all parties in the nation, than a
|>evlect confidence that no sinister mo
fives governed the vote of any member of
this House? And who would charge any
member with corrupt motives when the
constitution had precluded him from office ?
This was indeed an occasion at winch genl
tlemeu ought to rejoice, n - it would shew
the disinterestedness with which they snp
pov-ed the present or future President of
tin United States; and that, in giving t.ieir
miIF age for a President, they were not in
fi if.nced by ‘interested rno:iv. s. Mr. B \ya»
Willing hmi'clf (ogive this pledge*
I ne objection ol tin- gentleman from Ten
nes ee that tins provision would abridge the
pnvil' ges of the members, w is entitled to
very little weight imbed. The constituti
on t *d already in this way abi klged their
pt ivil ges It had already disqualified the
members of Congress in a certain degree
fr< n holding office ; this proposition merely
went torx'rnd .lie ptii.ciple. The stieng ii
r.: a gow. ri.ment like this depend* n :t great
d' gt on the c mfidence of the pet p;e in
th e 'ho f w the time being cm rol ns o.
pn .nous. 11c trussed that a m ajority „f
tnt . Hi use would prt ve to the people and
to die wot Itl. tna? ther were governed by'
th" putr-t motive*. He called the a iemi-1
c of die House to t’’e Hritisli government. 1
Wvs it not iiotuiious, he asked, that whoe-j
Iter Wits'prime minister, could always com
mand a majority in Parliament ? Had it
not been frequently seen that men one day
in a small minority, cou»d the next day,
when raised to oflixe, wield a majority of
tha same men as had before opposed them ?
What did this arise trout ? VVasit not front
the influence of the Treasury, not only on
the borough part of the House of Commons,
but on that part elected by the people
themselves, the government in the latter
Case acting not only on the Kepresentative.
but on the p-ople whom he represented? —
Tilt* example shewed the importance of
I guarding at aa early dny against a similar
I corruption here.
I here was but a single objection, in the
opinion ot .Mr. 11. to the adoption of .lie
resolution—that gentlemen who were mem.
ber8 of the House, whose talents 6c persona
deportment might be known to the fclxecu.
live, might advantageously be selected to
office. Hut could the Lixecuiivo h ive a '
thorough knowledge ot such pei s>>ns? Were
there not reasons to induce them to hide
their real motives and character, and d
I siring office, to regulate every thing tu v
said or did by their views to that object ? —
Mr. Harwell said, he had himself supposed
that talents were dispersed in every part of
tile Union, and that nothing was more ab ,
surd than to suppose that only one indivulu
| ai in me nation was competent to fill any
office. Characters for office might lie
found in every part of the nation equally as
(i^ aiul w?U cj»ia\it!^d as those who came!
here. Another consideration had great
weight with him. However the constituli.i
on might have guarded against the inllul
encc of members of Congress, it wasnever j
theless a fact that members, from their si.
tualion and knowledge of the nation at large
had more influence than any individuals
scattered through the country. There:
were few men of so much celebrity, so great!
talents, whose transcendant worth wetesoj
generally acknowledged that they weie ex i
tensivt’.y known thioagh the community__
There was scarcely an individual, that had
not been in Congress, that was known out
of the state in which he resided. What was j
moic important, he asked, in the selection j
of .1 person to fiil the Ctiiet Magistracy, |
than to make the members of Congress as
impartial as possible, and to induce them
to enquire accurately into the character of
the person proposed for that high office._
This was a time, in his opinion, when they
should fortify theigselves against the dan.
ger apprehended, and justly apprehended
by the gentleman from N Carolina Mr.
11. said lie hoped there was virtue enough
in this House to sanction this principle, al-J
though the gemieman from Tennessee sup
posed it wouid abridge the privileges of the
citizen. It was a principle which might se !
cure lie purity of this H mse tor many years
to cmne. He hoped therefore the amend
ment would not succeed.
. Mi. Rhea said he tell himself under con
siderable obligations to the gentleman from
North Carolina or exempting him from
the charge of office .hunting He did not
know that he should ever ask for or hold
an office under the government; but that
would not prevent him from saying what
lie thought on this subject. A material ob
lection against this proposition was one
which had not yet been noticed. If it be.,
came a part of the constitution, it would
constantly create a powerful league among
influential ci izens against the President of
the United Sia.es, combined to get him out
as soon as possible. The framers of the
constitution had completed this matter, as
far as necessary, by declaring that no mem
ber of • ongress should be eligible to anv
office created or the emoluments whereof
h id been raised during the time for which
: he was elected: He had no obj« c>ious to
| that part of the resolution which went, on
, that ground; but he believed it should be
! with serious deliberation that any thing like
the remainder of the proposition was adopt
I ed.
He was willing, without sacrificing his i
deas of propriety and expediency, to leave
i to the world to judge of the propriety of his
motives. The vote on this proposition would
be but a bad criterion. His conduct should
| be judged by his votes in general, and not
I on this proposition. If such a vote as this
I was to purify all bad qualities, the Legisla
( tore which had taken the head of Charles
i lhe alluded to by the gentleman from
, N, C. might have passed this vote, and
i thus absolved themselves of the wrong they
j had done. If they went on in his way al
tering the constitution, its form would in
time be so much changed that the people
would not i eccgnize it. Instead of strengthen •
iog the principles of freedom, they might be
frittered aw;.y till they were lost in chaos.
Amendments ought to bt* made with a spa
ring hand. In the opinion of Mr. Rhea me
present mode of election secured the purity
of the House as far as the gentleman could
tienire. There were but two states in the
Union, in which Representatives were not
elected long before their term of service
commenced; during the whole of which
ime of probation they were excluded from
office.
Mr. Smilie made some observations fa
vorable to tbe motion of Mr. Macon, lie
thought the purity of the representative ho
dy was essential to the existence of the gov
ernment ; that the exclusion from office es„
ablished by the constitution was not suffi
tient, the abuses now being nearly ns great
as it no such exclusion existed—lor there was
but little difference in principle between a
man’s accepting an office, while a member &
j Ins expecting to receive it at the end of the
years he. had to serve,
I he motion "of Mr. liUcn was negatived
Aves 12.
Mr. /iacon suggested some amendment in
the phraseology of the resolution ; and doubts
existing on the subject
On motion, the committee rose, and the
resolution was, on the suggestion ot Mr.
sheHey, referred to a select committee,
with directions to report their upini«n
i he' c*on.
l'he resolution wnsthoni referred to ase
Ivct committee Composed of Messrs. Macon,
Bur well. Bacon, Sluffey and Mdchill.
Mr. liuHHKt reported a bill lor incur
porating die Proies ant Episcopal Church
ot Alexandria.——1 wice read and commit
ted.
Friday Dec. 21.
Mr. Jotien and Mr. Cto/iton took, their
seats
Mr. At Kinlnj, the member chosen in •
the place ol Mr. John (». Johnson re* I
s;gned, appeared, was qualified, and took
Ins seat.
Mr (iardnrr moved that the petition of:
the inhabitant* of Nantucket, praying that
,f he made a port of . mry for vessels trad !
"*!i **■'.<,ml th-* Cape of (vriod II .j>(» pre.
•cn.ed at tne last acssion, be icfcrrcdtu the
conauftittee if Commerce and Manufactures.
Agreed to.
Mi. Poindexter introduced several peti
tions respecting lands in the Mississippi ter
ritory ; which were referred to the commit,
tve on public lands
Mr. Southard introduced the following re
solution, which w is ageed to:
Jietolvri/, l ii it .1 committee be appointed to
enquire into the propriety of passing slaw to
pi escribe the iimde ot talcing evidence in conies
ted elections, for members of the Umse of Ke
preseuUtivcs of the J.nte I St ties, » iJ to .om
pel toe attendsncc of witnesses, and tii»t t.K
committee have leave to report by bill or other
Mr. Seijbcrt presented the petition of
sundry merchants of Philadelphia, prajing
relief from the operation of the nonjuter
course law. Referred to the committee on
foreign rel it ions
CULTURE OF HEMP.
Mr. Sheffcy remaiked that the interrup
tion of commerce to the U due had given a
spring to the culture ofhempin this country,
which would he much relaxed if the coin.!
iiierca should be opened, l ie was, lie said,
one of those win. ii ul always considered tin*
encouragement of agriculture as one of the
first objects ot i g> *1 government. He
therefore proposed, with a view to ascertain
hi.« tar it u as proper to encourage the cul
jure <>t hemp, to offer a resolution to enquire
into the subject.
He mn not know how far it would be pro
per to ml >pt the measure which be con
tern plated ; he vr is not advised whether tue
culture in the U S. was sufficient for the
consumption. It so, he should feel disposed
icstridl the importation from abroad.
1 hr Committee of Commerce and Muni*
facturc-. would be best able to ascertain how
far it was proper to protect the culture of
our OW I raw material. He therefore sub
mitted the following resolution ;
Kesolvrd nm the ;.<>tn iniuee of Commerce
' ’''Enut'acture.^bc instructed to enquire into
the expediency of* enc mrnging t|(C culture »f
hemp, by protecting impost <lut.es.or prohibiting
thr importation of that article into the U. States,
and that the committee have l?ave to report bv
full or otl rrwhe. J
Mr M\t chill said he had no inclination to
oppose the passage of the resolution, its ob
ject being merely to enquire ; and resoluti
ons lor enquiry, generally speaking, were
those which, of all others, the House ought
to pass. Me would just mention, however,
his perfect conviction that the resources for
the supply of this article were ample, and
that enough could be raised on the Genessee
flats a.id \V illkdl river in the s.ate of New
York, to supply the north, and in thestateof
Kentucky, to supply the south. The inter
ruption of commerce with the Baltic, crea.
ted an extraordinary price, which was boun
ty enough for the present. How far it might
be necessary to extend the principle during
tree commerce, he did not say.
The resolution was agreed to without a
division
Mr. Van Horn presented the memorial of
the United Wabash and Illinois Company,
stating, that they purchased certain lands
from die Indians in the year 177S,and pray
ing from the U, S. a confirmation of their
title to such part of the same as Congress
shall deem expedient. Mr. Van Horn mov
* d to refer the memorial to the committee of
Public Lands.
Mr. M'Kec objected to the reference on
the ground iliat it was a subject on which i
Congress had frequently legislated, and had
shewn their indispositi >n to comply with the
wishes of the memorialists; and that it there- j
fore would :>o a waste of time to refer a
petition on the principle of which the If.use
had so frequently decided.
Mr. Van Horn replied, that the right of
petition was one which was secured to e
verv pi i*pn h v ran^Hlutinn ■ and that
the House was bound to listen to their pray
ers ; that this was a subject >f great impor
'ance to the petitioners, and their claim
was one which a committee of Congress
had so far recognized in 1801, as to re
commend a compromise of it. Besides the
reference of every petition was a matter of
course.
The reference proposed was agreed to.
On motion of Mr Jennings, the House
took up for consideration the resolution of
fered by him yesterday.
On the suggestion of Messrs. Quincy &
Pearson, the resolution was so varied as to
refer the subjeetto a select committee, with
;i view to embrace an enquiry into the gen
eral sc ate of the laws relative to fugitives
from justice ; which it now stated, were
very defective.
The resolution was so referred.
The hill for the relief of George Arm.
royd &. Co. was read a third time and pas
sed.
BANK OF ALEXANDRIA.
On mo ion ot Mr. Van Horn. the House
resolved itself into a committee of the whole. ;
44 to 43, Mr. Desha in the Chair, on the '
hill to continue the charter of the Bank of
Alexandria A desultory discussion arose
on the bill, it being objected to it that it i
barely recited the title of tha law which it
was proposed to continue, without specify.
in£ any of its provisions ; and that a law
on such a subject, giving exclusive privile.
gestoa corporate body, should be enacted
with the greatest precision and caution. j
After an hour’s discussion, in which (
Messrs. Love, Taylor, Milnor, Van Horn. 1
Quincy, Tallmadge, Bacon, Smilie & Lew
is partook ; on motion of Mr. Taylor, the
committee rose and reported progress ; and
leave to sit again being refused, tiie bill was
re .committed to the committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia.
On motion of Mr. Rfifiea, the House re
solved itself into a committee of the whole, '
Mr. Cutts in the Chair, on the bill rna 1
king up the deficiency in he appropriation
of 1810. for the relief of distressed Ameri
can seamen in fireign countries. Aft.rr
some detailed statements from Mr F,;>pt s
of the objects of this expenditure, the blank j
in the bill for the appropriation was fill' d
with g 75,559 89 cents.
The committee rose and reported the bill,
which was ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading.
MED I rERR \MF.AN FUND.
O.i motion of Mr. Rfi/ies the House re
solved itself into a committee of the whole.
Mr. Bassktt in the chair, on the bill for
continuing in force the first section of the
act entitled “ An act further to protect the
commerce and seamen of the U. S. against
the Barbary powers ”
The committee rose and reported the bill
without amendment, which was passed to a
third reading without opposition.!
On motion of Mr /iacon,
Metolvcil, That me Secretary of the Treasu
ry be directed to lay before this House a stat'
inrnt of all su~h sums as may have been paid to
th® Consuls, Vie Consuls and Cummerr is) \
gents or Vice Commercial Agent# of the United
States iu foreign couatries by the misters or
commanders >* Americ in vessels for the purpose
uf coiHUiatuijf a fund for the relief of destitute
America seamen in foreign parts, under the 3.1
section of tlie set " suppleuientary to the act
one ruin.; Consuls and Vice Consuls,'* passed
281 . February, 1803
On motion of Mr. d/orrotr,
Kno.veU, I’hit the committed on the Public
f.:uid!k in* instructed to enquire into the proprie*
■ V °r providing by law for the rein ival ot the
j 1-ml office at Nashville iind the land office at
i ^*n’on, so that they shall respectively be left
I within the districts for which they were estab
j ‘ished ; and that they enquire into the propriety
| of dispensing with the attendance of tli» G vei
j nor or the Mississippi Territory at the public
j Sales of the public lands m the district east of
: Pearl river, as now directed hy law ; and the
j committee report by bill or otherwise.
On motion of Mr. Svtoo/ie,
A\ sa.ve l. Tost the President of the U Stales
he recjo sted to cause to be laid before this
I bouse, such information us he may possess, re
| lative to the duties as at present imposed hv the
j Emperor ot trance, on all articles, the iinpur
! iitioii ef vvhich into the dominions of France is
' pi I-II lit led on board of American vessels : and
; whether all articles, the produce of the JmeriA
i toil, will, on their exportation from the U.
| States, obtain a free admission into the ports
1 ot France, and it not, wiiat articles of said pro*
I dure are orohibited.
rii»* .,,i;„urnecl to Monday.
BANK. OF THE UMIFEO STATES
MEMORIAL.
Presented to Congress Ore 18 1810
To the Sen tte in / House of liepi csen tativrs of the
U. S. of America, in Congress at*eni’>ied ; the
memorial of the Stock holders of the Hank of the
L' S.
UE'iPr.CTri'LLY SHEWETH,
o-r,,at.’h> *" »?t of Congress, passed on lljs
~ >lli of February, 1791, the sunset tbers.to ihc
ital stock of the Bmk of the U S their sue
‘‘l' sors uint assigns were incorporated for a term
of years, which will expire on the .1th day of
March nex?.
Aware of the evil* which must result from the
sudden determination of the operations of an in
stitution, intimately & extensively connected
with the commercial interests of the nation, with
the public credit St the fiscal concerns of the go
vernment, your memorialists submitted to the
lOlii Congress an application for the extension
of their charter Tne wisdom if Congress having
hitherto declined a decision upon the subject, it
becomes the duly of your memorialists again to
submit it to tiie l-gislative consideration, and to
repeat their prayer, that the chart r of incorpo
ration, under widen they have hitherto existed,
may be renewed.
Had your memorialistsconsHlted merely their
own convenience and security, under the
uncertainty in wnich the success of t icir ap
plication has since that time remained, prudence
would have required them gradu illy i» cull n
their funds as a measure of precaution in case of
a dissolution. But considerations of public util
ty, which have always infl icnced the condu it of
this institution, and a belief that the general m
terest required, and would therefore o pain, ..
continuance of its incorporation, h ive post|>oned
the adoption of a m-:sur<r, in whatever mannei
effected, pro Juctive, as they apprehend, of great
public as well as private distress.
The superior information of the legislature
renders it iinneres-nry for vnur memori.il.si• to
detail file general benefit of backing institutions
The expert n • and the practice ot all nations, m
modern tim s, sufficiently prove their utility to
trade, their id in tne m-nagt-meni of the nation
•1 revenues, and their necessi'y in tim s if pub
lie emergency and ge..e al calami y I., „o emu
try have these Itciicfr.! *t.eii *ti . c to *c n v ex
enirilificd, or more fully expert' or. d, t‘ia i in
n,e truth ol this rem.uk is obvious, I
in the amount of tins productive cap tal of the
country above the quantity or the p -e i u met
als ; in tile rapid advin-emcrit of gn ul.uie,
m oiufactures 8t comm. r-;e ; the sotidiiy of p ,
vate as well as pu>dic credit ; the ease wi
which the inouied operations of the gov-rnment,
of societies and individuals, to all immense a
mount, are carried on ; the accumulation of
wealth, and the general prosperity of the nation.
Ii.s not intended to suggest, that the creation
•<r banks has of itself produced th~se effects._
The activity, energy and enterprise of the peo
ph*, under the protection of a wi-e anil able go
vernraent, have co operated in their production :
But witiioutllie augmentation of the active ca
piul of the country, and the other facilities to
ousiness produced by banking institutions, that
activity, energy and enterprise, would have but
feebly operated, i uat the puclic opinion, the
correct arbiter of the public interest, coincides
with that of your memorialists, is evidenced by
the institution and the increase of banks in eve
ry state of the Union.
In producing these beneficial effects, your me
morialists reflect with pleasure that the Bank of
tl»e U. S. has contributed in an eminent degree.
Its early institution, its extensive and com uned
operations, and the weight of its capital, at
the name time that they afionl it the op|>:>rtuni
tyof being acquainted with the trading inter
esls of the Union, gave it also the m an s of es
sentially advancing them, while its disposition
to do so has always kept pace with its ability.
Isot restricted to any particular district, it hus
acted as the general guardian of commercial ere
dit, and by preventing the balance of trade, in
the dine rent states, from producing1 * deficien
cy of monev in any, his obviated the mischiefs
winch would have been thereby produced It
h *s fostered and protected the banking institu
tions o{ the states, and lias aided them, when un
expectedly pressed. Its disposition towards
them 13 manifested in the quantum of its capita),
of which they luve generally had the use, not
much less in amount than one tenth of the whole
In its accommodations to individuals, it has
b' en Imeral, but, at the s nue tune, discreet,
with a view as wall is to their safety as its own
By means ol it, the merchant «nd the munufac
lurer have been enabled to push their operatic
ons to an extent, far exceeding what would havu
been practicable without it. Judicious an
prudent enterprise Ins been encouraged; ns*1
and prodigal adventure has l»een discountenan*
red ; and, a sufficient fund being provid d
from which rearmaole loans could be obtained',
usury lias been prevented, and usurious lenders’
repressed.
Its importance in the administration of the fi
nances, and its utility in the operations connec
ted W|lh the public credit, have been fully e
stablishcd. 7
It has a Horde d a place of deposit for the pub
lic monies, without expense, and without haz.rd
to the government
It has aided in the collection of the revenue,
by introducing a punctuality in the payment of
duties, otherwise unattainable, and by accom
modaung with loans those who had such piy
incuts to irt'ke ; thereby assuming upon itself
the rish which otherwise had been borne by the
government, 7
It Ins, at all times, upon its own respoosibi
l.ty, and at its own expense, transmitted
1 ',c P'1 ,,,r'm ,ni • f"»m one part of the U.mm
to another, so as to meet the exigencies of tin
government, an.l from the surplm revenue ot
o ie place, to supply ilie deficiency of another —
Hy this im him, the governmewt has at way
>c u enabled, with c mvenienc , to ..ay the m
Lercst wu tun y jbue debt, «u4 i» jnew it* ouV
demand1!, at su'-h placa^, as ifs fnjj■
required: an operation which, with >ut «uch ait
•M l, would have bt—n productive of ir uMe ha*
z »rj, and expense, ;r> the government, .nd
would still have been liable to d sapp nmimut.
It has, by its Inns, enabled the government
to comply punctually with its engagements.
when deficiencies or delays ha vp occurred .n the
revenue ; and has thus enabled it to maintain
I iviolate the public fait i and credit, both at.
home and abroad. There have been peri .L»
when the nation toun l it necessary to borrow,
largely from this institution, and a» one t nus
ha I upon loan consul, r.ibly more than three
•north parts of its active capital.
It lias, lor the a'-commodation of the govern
ment, established branches at places, dis .dvsn
tageous to ns business, and from which no profit
w:,s expected to be derived
Most of these operations have been attended,
with inconvenience, and with expense to the
ba ik, but tiny have always been performed with
aluc ity and Iteerfutnetsi.
Whilst tour memorialists thus recount the
aids they have afforded. they feel .10 disoositi*
011 ti> forget the advantages they have received
from government in return. The support which.
| it has given to the hank, and the confidence
whic > it lus reposed in it, founded upon a
1 ‘.nbwlvdge of us management and condition,
1 have conferred upon it a stability, a dignity .lIM|
a splend >r, wiiicli hav.; pivsi rvcil its credit f- >m
suspicion, and have seem ed to it tint cot.fi tence
ot e. 11 rope, as well as America.
Thus mutually aiding and aided by t'.e fo
yernment, has tlie Bank of the United States"
I • twenty years, continued ii. operations ; ..n<f
diir ng that time lias obtained the general ac
knowledgement, that its affairs have been
conducted with honour and dignity, with
impartiality and candor, with liberality Cr pru
io tlie ong^m-.l'm for the institution of
this Buik, the success of experiment is iv.vu
added; and with the existing proofs of its ,,-.-*9
a“< u, services, every consideration of ii.il > v
and of justice urge its continuance Independ nt
of the positive evils its dissolution would pro.'
duct- to the community, the government would
at east, he depriv ed of tho6, advantage, it |,a£
Imhe-to derived from its existence, unless it
could he supplied from some other quarter, ei
1 ,er b> lht** established by the several
states, or by a btiii upon a foundation altogef jto
new- ,.As* tu !h? hanks, your m -m *ri d.sts
aie lully sensible ot the benefits resulting fVon»
their establishment, and of their sufficiency for.
the purposes d their institution, ti.-e local ac
commodation of the places, in which they exist,
is u their capitals are by no means ideqmte to
the demands of tile general government in a
time ot emdgency; a time when the ordin re
claims .Iietr own stab governments, ,.,J „tv
ui- a- own particular customers would be in.
creased and entitled to a preference Neither
< onld the transmission of the public monies,
horn one quarter if the Ui,,n to another, be
effected with suHi lent ease md dispatch, nr to
the requisite extent. oy banks oflmvted capital,
navnig no connexion with, nor direction over,
each other
Nor would it be prudent in the government
to trust t i“ dep isits or its funds to the ,-xient,
to vvhioii they sometinu s ex -t, in a varietv of
::ut.:u.,oiu, united by 10 c i n n in bond and in
no degree responsible, for each other; ov*r
whose conduct the g-neral government could
luv ■ iw cuoaul; into whose m i■< ig ;;n -nt mil
condition, it could not legally ■ ml
wmc.i those inst tnti ms, even ,f d s.,-»s-J,'r. mid
not l- g.dy -...m nun. -.ate. In leuende.n of the
Hazard to vlti h >ue public monies might be
•mi >j ‘Cl d >y iinsm n .gemeoi, a power w mid bo
“ ,n,,un l“*w "5b,*fr-im want .if responsi
. 1 u ‘,id w*"1 control, might be used <u in
jn- ->us imposes.
I idition ; he dignity of the govar
•nfc.
c:ns to require ns lis d operations • » t*.
uucted nrongutue medium of m instiiiu--. ,
r
guina-. u Dy itself ; of m lose ability to him v-i
ull
the purpose a of revenue and public credit
to
doubt can exist ; of whose situ i on and > j.
e. dings, a ompetent fcn .wledge can In- |,\ | .
,ver whose conduct u sufficient degree of >-v, ol
' ' pfevent .vilfnl misconduct, should exist „id
u*n;V* ^vh®^e disposition to ,s ...t the g >v.- ,qi^t
- • V,R' '• j. *w,»«vr nay oe coilfi i.-.l iy
. ' . o. ,C I » institution is the bank of the
vu-ied Stale*, and sin h it will rein tin f eou'i-v
-u. il n. its pres nt f ,.~m. i he amount of -s r\:
P-t d gives it siiffioi-nt pow It., s.Uiat.on i, p*.
•dioally communicated t , , ireasury d „U
.nem. Over us proceeding he government p is
-e.„e.s a pow-rf d v . le extentof its d
posi ■ s ; ot its distortion t.. , id do very legi -mala
ssistaiice to the government, it has jriv-n t'i»
strong si, e. idence* ; an-1 to ensure the comma
atice of this disposition, its interest and its J.uv
combine *
if it national hand be thus conducive to the in
terest of the community, a;, 1 of importance to
the government, no obvious motive suggest*'it
> 'ur memorialists, against the continuance
ot the present bank At any t, m , and especial
ly at t «e present, when so luge a portion of A
murican propcny re mains unproductive in Eu
r°j>e, so great .1 reduction in the amount of t .e
acuve capital of the country as the disso u ion of
i ne bank would occasion, must be alien, i l
great and general injury, from the depreciation
in the value of prope.ty, the stagnatimi of wi
ness, and die coeck to commercial elite ze.
which would result from it: And 8t ,
the operations I ®uch an migine, one of t w »'•oti
sequc.icc* mint oe produced ; eittier to ,t,, d,j
ch.iigmg the debts due > the bank^great sacri
tic! s must be made, and every resource of* too
me:chant drained, nr in the ftilurc to pay them
an irreparable bio * most be gtven to commercial
ere .it and punclu dity.
N-is it easy to calculate ; lie effects which the
, .aru tio. ot the bank would p.-o luce, in me
los . Min Id occasion to th public revenue, to
charitable institutions, widows, ch i Iren md o*
tilers, mi rested in the s.ock ; fr ,in pressure
to which ihe other bands must oe i cvitably sub
j- cted } from the want of uonfid nee it would
create m the stability of ou instil iuons ; & f om
the general derang meat of credit.
Under these views and impressions, your me
morialists solicit the renewal of t ,eir charter •
and upon the wisdom and justice of the legist*- 1
Hire, and its regard for the rights and interests of
its ciliSc is, they rely fo. its -.oncession.
Signed on behalf of the stockholders.
PI l I //.i ■ Eli’VOX, Prttident.
Philadelphia, Decern >er \Oth, Idlu.
U. S. B ANK. —AGAIN.
I he bank petitioned congress on the 18th
inst. for a renewal of t ie charter —'m .h0
memorial is no signed by the king of Eng.,
land, one of its stockholders.
The gemlemen ore modest (if they are
not hypocritical;) they say, they did not
tnoner commence the recal of their notes
>r abridgment of discounts purely to ac
commodate the public‘ — But, the real de
ngn was to produce a shock by a sudden
winding up, which would t ,rce C mg- essto
renew their charter. If VI,. Ltib's rt s na
tion be carried into effect, the British st >ck
holders will not succeed in hat point : fir
the s.ate banks could then extend their di*.
Counts.
I ne bank gentlemen inform cong.'°ss of
the service they have done th' va »—f>ut
not a w <rd do 'hey whispei of u<- viewy
millions ..f dividends sent • > E i.l ..id . ,, ,V
'} 1 of that b ink to subject .is r,
England by me <n* of tha m ( u ion .id
r -.y-* t'H o which it gar rise.
I'1"* : ’ 1 * ( i I ,i
luc joke,) now many widows a id orp ..