Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-03-01
, " ARLINGTON Feb

Ess. Member of C congress Tor this District
TO the Editor OF the gus ds;ed
WA,HINoroN. Feb 23sd, 1911
A few days ago l wrote YOU a
short letter. and informed YOU of tn
result of the vote in the Senae on
striking out the Grs. section of the
bill, then before that body. for renew.
log the charter of the bank of the II.
States. ,
It is not little singular that
both Houses were SO equally divided
on this momentous sublect--the inde-
finite postponemenr OF the FIRST bill IN
the House of Il representatives. having
been carried by one vote; and the
last bill, in the Senate, having been
decided against by the casting vote Of
the Vice-President. Lis, however.
an suspicious event to the II Ssa,.s
that even so small majority was
found opposed to renewal of the
, charter: though, at the same time.
the rejecting mind, that dulv appre-
ciat@s strict regard tn the true pr;n-
oiples OF the constitution, cenno; but
view wiZh emotions OF regret, and not
withoutSsome tincture of melancholy
feeling, the circumstance that so LARGE
a portion OF the members of the natl
onal legislature should resort to the
dangerous doctrine of implication TO
justify their efforts TO obtain a con.
iinuauce of that institution--an ins,i.
tuition Of pernicious tendencv. even if
IL coald possibly BIZ reconciied to the
principles OF the constitution. Bul.
In my opinion, no magic of sophistry
mo political legsrde name mo per-
version of the constitution, wsich the
most dazzling genius can exhibit a
view OF no co!onring of argument,
which the strongest powers of mind
are able to display, can stamp on it
the semblance of measure authori.
sed by the constitution, when fairly
and with any Judgment brought to the
true stanard of that instrument.
The death OF this charter will
probably give to the republican prln-
ciple sort of recuPcra:ive energy,
which will naturally promote IT'S infIu.
ence and efficient operation, unless il
should be at some future day check
ed by r vival OF this b ,nI,-establisn.
inent, or the creation of some other
one OF similar tendency. For nv
self, however, | confess that am
nor without my fears that, 'ere long
another such poxious eIcrescence
M y spring forth from the same cor
raps seeds OF false politics, which 6rst
Brought his iato being.
. The nice division on this question
shews that very small weight, shift
ted from one scale and placed ia the
other, would give 10 that other the
/ preponderance, and wo6,t. insure sue
cess in a similar effort, unless the
I Preponderance should be restored back
again by a presidential negative. How
| much TO be lamented will IL be then,
If the complexion Of the next, or any
future Congress, should vary even but
little from the present one with re.
sPect to such subject, if that vari-
ance should be such as to change the
side OF the majority ! The late de.
cisions, so far from excluding all
ground for apprehension that such
may be hereafter the case, are caIcula-
ted to excite strong fears that II may
| be /; when we reflect that cousIdera-
bic portion Of those, who are RANGED
III The ranks Of the republicans, have
fallen into this dangerous error and
espoused the cause of this baneful
institution. This is a circumstance,
no doubt, which must strike the atten-
tion OF the prime agents in this sort
OF business and will hardly fail OF
afio.diny encouragement 70 proceed
with future eifcrf. II the friends of
spch sort of institution we're exclu-
siveiy ofthe federal sect, or if such
political heresY was cherished by that
sect alone, I spprehend there would
scarcely be shadow Of danger: but
as some, and many too, in the repub-
hcan files have already Joined in sup
port OF the existing offspring OF that
hercsy, and aided IN the elTort to pro.
long IFS existence, it seems to be
matter Of chanceHalmost as likely 10
produce majority on the other side
as TO continue it on the side where i,
now is. How much, therefore, is it
u be desired that future Congresses
should be composed of a comman-
dfroy ~, afr,.ss-, ts,l,,