Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-11-28
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER %, 1911.

w'O have heretofore been considered as amer
| tanning to the republican party as give tiiei
sanction TO this bill must hereafter be consider.
ed us apostaiizing from that political sect will
which they have heretofore been arranged.
will first enquire into the Justice Of this as
seriiolas II relates to the matter Of fact. at tt
first establishment ofthe bank OF the IT, States
ana next, as to the honorable and generous inie
renee which these magnanim0us asscrtcEs at
tempt TO derive from it-rNir. S. Smith who'll,
denied that nc lad ever called this IA party ques
ton or viewed ii in this light. MIR Brent sal,
that he had never heard the honorable gentle
man make such an assertion. hut he had been in
formed ii was attributed to linn Tile ho,lo,.
bic gentlomaEs declaration is however. per,,.c,E,
satisfactory 10 me; am satisfied that hc is in
capable OF making so invidious and ,ui0un;Ict
an aecusatica am too well acquainted viii
that honorable gentleman's Aed sense and 1.-The
rality. lie will therelorephesso good as not I,
consider any remarks shall make on the parti
cuiar question that am now Investigating as AZ,
plying 10 him. but to others who act with him a,
TO the general and ultimate fate OF tie bill under
consideration. That among the great mass O
people in sections Of the Union. particular
ly the state represent, this measure establish
Ing the bank of the United States was taken III
as party question, may be admitted but tina
it was viewed in this light in either house of tina
Congress which passed the law that the vote.
which we're given either afiirmatiyolv or other.
wise were the test TO ascertain who was of tlC
republican and who of the federal party, is al
assertion destitute of all foundation for whoe
yer will examine the Yeas and Nays of botl
Houses oil Congress will find some of our mos
distinguished republican patriots voting for tn,
bill, while others equally eminent and Jealous
in the federal ranks will be found in hostilit,
to it.
Sir. the Journals of Congress, testimony de
! rived from solemn and unguestiOnabio records
a species OF evidence which the laws OF ouI
country and the practice OF orr courts in IN,
graduation CT the different species of testimon,
places in the highest station and considers rs
the most imposing authority, demonstrate tlia
| the assertion that tie question:. concerning lii,
establishment of the bank Of tiie United State.
in the first instance was entirelSR party questi
on, is destitute ofall foundation THAT an asser
ton SO susceptible circulation by testimony s.
irresistible should have been made, is evidence
to me of the unjustiiiabie length to which SON,
| gentlemen Will permit their zeal to transport
them. Nay, Mr.. President, let me call youl
attention TO the only member, rs I believe, o.
this honorable body who was a member of Con
gPess when the law establishing bank OF the u
States took place, q mean the honorable MIR
Gilman) This gentleman is known to be re-
| publican; yet tho journals will assure us thai
he voted for the bill establishing the bank
1.-THE opinion OF the constitutionality or uncon
stitutionaity of the bank of tle u IS. is the cri
terion by which the estimate fAto Be made of tn,
political sect TO which each Sldividual belongs
what snail we say of Mr. Jefferson and the ma
joritics OF the two Houses of Congress during
his administration who by repeated acts recog
missed the Legality and cOnstitutionality of thi
Institution ?-Sllall we say that he and they have
| apOstatised from The republican cause Do thcs
! prcsumptuous and daring assertors pretend Il
impose upon us "a belief that during perio,
which VIC have hitherto supposed was the proud
est triumph OfrepubIicanisnl, those ofthe domi
nant party had apostated from the Republican
cause! Are we 10 believe that during the adj
| ninlStatI0n OF Mr.. Jefferson, the great apOstl
| OF PcpublIcanism, with whose name repub
| licanism has been supposed 90 be identified-ar
VIC TO believe that he has apostatiscd from hi
| political party? Are there any so pres,nntuou
! as TO imagine they Gun impose upon the uubli
mind or upon This honorable body so monstrous
50 absurd belief Can YOU be induced TO Sc
| lcct that period which has hitherto been ina
! ginod most aHspieiOus 10 republican principle
| as the one when above all others there was a to
| tai apOstacy from thcmI Ao,ssir, every effor
IS yaih Wiheh IS made TO impose upon US so il
| rational belief On the contrary we wi
account FOR the conduct cMr. Jefferson and Il,
republican majorities in Congress during hi
! administration, when they sanctioned by repeat
cu laws the constltutiOnality Of the banl, Of On
| United states, by the considerations I procee
to enuineratc. Whatever might have been II,
abstract opinion Of Mr.. Jcfci son rcspcctin. u,
constltutionality Of Tie bank on its first institr
ton, 1t IS now immatcTjai to enquire. lie saw
when he came into the presidency, that dis wa
m It's origin not party question bat that t