Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-03-15


The following are the reasons assigned
by the Vice. President of The United States
for his casting vote on the question oil
striking out the first section of the bill 70,
renewing the charter of the Bank Of the u.
States.
Gentlemen,
AS the subject, on which I am called
upon to decide, has excited great sensibili.
~, / must solicit the indulgence of the
Senate whilst l briefly state the reasons
which influence my Judgment.
Permit me to observe, that the question
to be decided does not depend simply upon
the right Of Congress to establish under a.
ny modification, a bank, but upon their
power to establish a National Bank as con-
templated by this bill. In other words,
can they create a body polite and corpo-
rate, not constituting a part of the govern
ment, nor otherwise responsible to it but
by forfeiture of charter, and bestow on its
members privileges, immunities and ex.
emptions not recognized by the laws of
the state nor enjoyed by the citizens gene.
rally? 1t cannot be doubted but that Con-
gress may pass all necessary and prope
laws for carrying into execution the pow
ers specifically granted to the government,
or to any department or Office thereof but
in doing So, the means must be suited and
subordinate to the end. The power to
create corporations is not expressly grant.
ed ; it is a high attribute of sovereignty
and in its nature not accessorial or deriva.
tive by implication, but primary and indie.
pendent.
1 cannot believe that this interpretation
of the constitution will in any degree, de.
feat the purposes for which it was formed
on the contrary it does appear to me that
the opposite exposition has an inevitable
tendency to consolidation and affords Just
and serious cause of alarm.
In the course of a long life I have found
that government is not to be strengthened
by an assumption of doubtful powers, bu,
by a wise and energetic execution of those
which are incontesuble the former neve,
fails to produce suspicion and distrust
whilst the latter inspires respect and conf.
dence.
If, however, after a fair experiment
the powers vested in the government shall
be found incompetent to the attainment o.
the objects for which it was instituted, the
| constitution happily furnishes the mean TO,
remedying the evil by amendment, and ]
have no doubt that in such event on an ap.
peal to the patriotism and good sense O
the community it will be wisely applied.
Twill not trespass on the patience Of the
Senate any longer than to say, from the
best examination | have been able to give
the subject, I am constrained by a sense O
| duty to decide in the affirmative, that is
| that the first section of the bill be striker
out.
When zpiH zVonders cease mo one
need be reminded that at the head of the
opposition to the Constitution of the u
States, when it was offered to the people
for their acceptance, no man was more
distinguished for his v~irulent hostility thar
old George Clinton ; he thought such
constitution would deduct too much from
the importance of the Governor of ths
state of New ork.-When therefore, We
behold this same man now administering
this same constitution as the second Office
of the government, and behold all its frs
friends and supporters slandered out o
their popularity and prosecuted into OBJ
security and neglect, we may well %exclsin
zVhen wiH wonders cease! But when W,
observe this same old man giving the cast
ing vote to destroy the United States Bank