Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-04-30
CONGRESS-.
UNITED S1.aTES B.i.NX.
IN SENATE.

Dill before the OUTLAW, "i'o NV =,
at liberty to oppose the introduction OF inc
report, vet thinking it might be advisable 10
try the principle before they Proceeaec. TO us
cuss the details, he should move to strike out
tbe first section of the bill. lie Wouid barely
observe, that was this not question which
was generally understood, on which not only
every member of this house, but every cti-
zen Of the United States had made up mas
mind. he should feel himself bound to otter
reasons in support Of the motion but mas
n,uch as # was a question which every gen
tleman had doubtless decided IN his own
mind. he felt unwilling to take up any more OF
the attention of the Senate, especially SO Late
in the session, when there was so much ousi-
ness of importance before them, which re-
CURED to be acted on.
Mr.. Crawford said this was way OF disPo-
sing of business which struck him as some
what astonishing. A bill was proposed to the
Senate to continue in operation an institution
of twenty wears standing, the good effects OF
which had been universally experienced,
whose influence on the public prosperity was
admitted bv all ; and, without assigning any
reason WHY it should not be continued, they
were told that the public sentiment had decld-
ed the question, and every gentleman must
have made up bis mind. He appealed to the
gentleman who made the motion, whether this
was fair and msgnanimous mode OF proce-
dure How was it possible tor the friends OF
this bill to ueet objections never made 10
foresee the grounds on which gentlemen
would have made up their minds Surely,
when question of this magnitude was to be
decided, it ought to be expected that some
reasons should be offered why the bill should
be rejected Mr. C.. said, he hoped if the
hon gentleman from Tennessee chose to veil
himself and argument from discussion on the
ground that he had made up his mind, that
some gentlemen would condescend to give
reasons in favor of the motion
Mr. Smith (aid.} said there was CERTAINLY
nothing novel in the course taken by the gen
tlenan from Tennessee. The gentleman
from Georgia could not be ignorant that some
of the state legislatures had taken the subject
up 1t therefore became the duty, with ali
respect to his friend from Georgia, of the in
PRODUCER of this bill to give some reason to
induce the Senate to give their votes for re-.
newal of the charter.
Mr.. Anderson said that he had deemed 1t
strictly proper ard parliamentary to make the
He deemed it incumbent on those who meant
to support this bill to assign the reasons why
the section should not be struck out. TO his
mind, Mr. a. said. this system was infinitely
more injurious than beneficial It created
kind Of fictitious wealth in the community
destroyed in degree the tlrn principles OF
our political institutions and, II we went on
with il for twenty years more, we should be at
least Fifty years older, he would not say IN
corruption, but In the want OF the strict poll
teal virtue winch, II the bank had never eX-
listed, we might have maintained. This opl-
Mon was sufficient objection, without saying
any thing of the unconstitutonality of the
thing, which TO him had always been para
mount objection.
Mr.. Crawford said that the gentlemen from
Tennessee and Maryland had misconceved
what he had said. He had not complained that
the motion was made /; nothing like it. He
knew that such course was sometimes pur-
sued But it was the first time he ever knew
such motion to be made without discussion
of the details, without detailed statement of
the reasons for opposing such and such provi-
sions. He must be permitted to state that
such course was not usual in this or any o.
OOCy, aS THAT a CllcuIllldil W CdllCu
upon to state reasons which induced CON-
nlittee to report any provision, when motion
was made which went to put an end to any dis
cussion of the detail. Gentlemen assumed
the affirmative side Of the question they
were about to defeat tie bil---ought they rot
to assign their reasons What situation am
/ placed in, said Mr.. c. How is it possible l
can foresee all the objections to the bill And
if perchance should foresee them and defeat
them, will not gentlemen say these are not the
reasons which Influenced their votes 1t is
like the pursuing Hduo' the Hish: you can
never arrive at the true object of pursuit.
should humbly hope. sir, that some gentle
man, who wishes to put an end to this bill,
would assign the reasons on which he deter
mined to give his vote.
Mr.. Smith (Nd,) said he had always tho't
ii was the duty OF committee to inform the
Senate of the reasons which induced them to
report bill. l WAS not On the committee
(said hey. There were but five On it !; aud
consequently there are % OF US vino Cannot
tell what induced that gentleman to report the
nil, ,vbirb has nyoduced This agitation among