The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-02-09
CHR Gnqutrer.
RICHMOND. FEBRCARY 9. 1911.
GAN OATH, AN OATH.
I HAVE AN OATH IN HEAVEN

the Constitution of the United St nes"
! This is the Oath taken by each member of
Congre ss.-How then can they reconcile their
vote for the Bank of the u y. who deem it I'M
constitutional
! No doubt, every sort of trick will be used, to
! eclipse the meaning of the constitution ii
! to mould Congress to- the views of the Bunk
Intrigue will assure every shape-Britsh gcio
may conspire with bank notes to tempt the cor
rupt-and the influence ofthe bank will unite with
that of the Treasury, to melt the ductile & awe
| the weak.
6. Gallstin, <says letter from Washington
now before u.s. is, apprehenI playing strange
game all for the better; his conduct this
| occasion will throw light on the prospect before
us !"
Z" See (says another letter Of the 6th) part of
the game now playing here !"-And what is
this letter from the Committee of the Sem
ate and Reply from Mr. G.. of the 50th Jan.
strongly in favor of the Bsnk-A word or two
on these Papers, before we lay them before the
| reader!
| A Committee of tie Senate enquire Of Mr.
! G whether does not think the renewal of
the Charter will not greatly fdciftate the collec
ton of the revenue, and promote the public ssei-
fare :! "By holy St. Peter" we wonder that
Mr. Crawford did not consider Mr.. G. the
| Pope of the Constitution, and beg his dispen-
sing grace-or that at least he did not ask him,
whether thought the Charter agreeable
10 tne Sons'Iution.--l he queries, put IN tdct,
| by Mr.. G.. do not touch the great point at issue
II Mr. G were to wer in the affirmative, they
| do not prove the right of Congress to act The
phrase in the constitution, is not greatly Ia
ciltated," but " necessary"-nor has Congress e
right to promote the public sselfdre. but in the
| ways specified by that instrument.
And hotp does Mr. G llatin meet the enquiries
ofthe Committee 1--WE pass the horri-
iic carricature, whicd he draws of the conse-
quences arising from suspension of the bank,
with this one remark-thstif there had been no
better ground which to build his reputs-
ton as Financier, he would not at this time
have been the Secretary OF the Tieasury OF the
u. > Let us come to his -nrstiulionsl point
and here h stynd, between wostools un-
suppe. ted by ei.her
Thinking myself (saysh h use Of banks
"a. be at pr. necessary TO- the exercise ~
and VII t then w ~ the b.rk of the s. "a
necessary! What skip is II re from the p
SIS to The Conclusion So,tnat after having s,ewn,
that state banks " may be used"-that "the o I, :
dinWry business will be transacted without any
nsupe able difficulty :" m ugh not quite so cons
venient h. ,s,erts. notwiths ,s"dirg &, that IN,
, u S. b. nix is necessary p bank necess ry to
fl the revenue because II facilitat, its collection
, is this the way, in which our constitution is
TO be whitfield down !-How do James Ma
olson laugh this sophstiy, to scorn !" Hear him
he essential aracteristic of tn, governments
o.mposed of limited & enumerstedpowe ,wo uld
tai means any means could be used, which in
the language of the preamble to the bill, might
be conceived to be conducive to the successful
conducting of the finances; or might be conceived
to tend to give facility to the obtsnng of loans =
He urged an attention to the difxse and duetiie
rms which had been found requisite to cover
the stretch of power contained in the bill :" Let
Mr.. G. or let any refute this sound, consti.
tutional Speech of Mr.. Madison, In '91--if he
can
"But the bank charter having for number
os years, beef: acted ;;i;o; acqiiiesosd
| constitutional, by all the constituted authori.
ties of the nstion'-why, this makes it constitu.
, tional Gracious powers is this the mind of gI-
ant port, that he world has often praised Is
| this the man to whom Curtius has ascribed I" the
precision of mathe matics, the method OF logic
and che treasures of experience p To stoop &c
| such pitiful sophistry this VIA does u
surpaton consecrate itself, may we sta the con-
stitution, and then justify our crime b, the very
wounds which we lnflict Twill Mr.. G. dare to
say the Sedton Law is constitutional, because II
had received the acquescence of " all the con-
stitated authorities Of the nation ?" Yet Con.
gress passed it-Mr. Adams signed It-and q
Chace executed it.
We tremble for the Consttution--we trem.
BILE for our country ~ when such doctrines
avowed in the face of day--To the mem.
bers of Congress say, " Go not to the Sc
. cretary of the Treasury--but to the foun Tain
head--to your Constitution Go to that sacred
Charter under which you actor that is the
only Oracle, which you ought to consult. And
, remember, that you have an Oath, registered
in Heaven"
But 10 the REPoRT-
L f L T E r