Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-04-06
d O M ES TIC.
CONGRESS-.
IN sENATE.......March IS.
Sketch cOntinued)
ON THE RANK nj

YIN IHE BANK BILL.
The motion to extend the proportion of the
srst specie payment being under consideration !:
Mr.. MASON OF n H. and Mr.. King having sup
ported, and Mr.. Bib having opposed it
Mr.. BARRoUn of Va next took the floor. and
opposed the proposed e..dment in speech of
considerable length, of which, what follows is
but an outline. He too, like the gentleman from
Georgia considered the question of bank orno ban,
as the most important that could be presented
10 the National Legislature at this session. The
rejection of this bill, he believed would exnose
us to continuation of all the inconvenience ex
perIenced in every quarter Of the union from the
present state OF the circulating medium, CAUSING,
iuctuatlon and uncertainty in the value of nro.
perty and products greatly to be deprecated ::
and bringing with it train of evils it would be
s'-rea. iIlsrrssbte 80 On The o,Ier
hand, he said, he had such confidence in tbe af
hcacy OF National Bank in correcting the evils
OF the mass of paper ahoat, in enabling the pov-
eminent and individuals TO fulfil their enPape.
ments, that he had brought his mind to the con.
ciusion, that the establishment of a National
Bank would be an epoch in the affairs of the ma.
tan that, instead of the cloud which darkens
the horizon, it will usher in new day of pros.
perity, rePlete with benefits to the nation. Sc
with the gentleman from New-York, (Mr. Kinpl
MIR b. sad, he entirely conceded in sentiment
as TO the respect due to public opinion, when dis
tInctiy expressed and well understood: but wbv
that sentiment was REQUIRED to at the present
time, he did not precisely understand-for sure
ne was, that on this occasion it had been audi
bly, and distinctly expressed from every part of
the United States, as we'll as from the executive
authority, in favor of this measure and above
all, IL had been recently declared from AN une
quiVocal source, the House Of Representative.
VINO are the mirror in which the sentiments Of
the people are refiected-and whose decision nm
SUCH topic IS pillar of light, the pursuit of
naU tfNtynl 4 m
agreed also with the gentleman in his v;ews &c
the independent duty of this house. in reviewing
the proceedings of the other branch of the leoTis.
AZURE so Tar as regarded the absolute right of
the senate to decide, according to their own i'm.
PreSsions of the fitness of things, on measures
presented to them by the other House but n
.ne gentleman meant, that twas a reason for lea
lousy m regard to any measure that had passed
that House, MIR. b. differed from him rota ccIo
On the contrary, he said, that Circumstance
would oe' with him, persuasive argument in
FAVOR OF any measure for, though he would sur
render 10 them no part of the rights of this boz
dy' he should perpetually recur TO that body nc
an oracle from which true responses NAV be
drawn as to the public will 1t may err; when
- ulu " ms OPINION, he should not feel himself
bound by its views, &C.
MIR. u then proceeded to the consideration of
the great subject before the house The consti
luton, he SAID, had impaired to the Congress.
among other great attributes, the power of regu.
latIhg the coin OF the United States. How had
congress acquitted themselves of this duty p
where and of what effect were these re.
Suiations Where was the uniformity of cur.
rency Mr.. u described the variety and fuc1,,.
at'on OF value OF the paper n circulation, not
~ various states, but in contiguous towns and
counties, &c. This was great evil. deDrecat.
Ell on all hands. The power intended bV the
constitution TO have been lodged in the handle of
lhe general government was, By the failure of
'he government TO make use Of il, exercised bv
every state IN the union, frequently by ind yd,i.
AIS &c. Hence arose an excess of paper issues.
causing depreciation to an extent which could
scarcely be estimated an evil which called for
remedy IN language not to be misunderstood.
"nere was tie antidOte, which the Executive
" thls only the organ of the public sentiment.
iiao 0alled on Congress TO nterpose The pa.
.ient, said Mr.. -. IS sick, from the crown of bis
hea % The sole Of his foot he asks for oil and
VINE to be poured into, his wounds. which would
DC O'herwise fatal. Where is the mah who will
propose any other antdote than that now before
US Where IS the adventurous knight who Will
sugSes another remedy If there be Don Onjx-
Que IN politics, let him appear. No, Mr.. n
sac, not even nOstrum had been rendered 10
substitute this plan. limo other remedy was Of
'efed, ought they, he asked, to higgle about de
tails, to split hairs OH the Question Mr. n
then spoke OF the rsccssity ofmutdal concession
among legislators, without which, he said. The
'dea OF legislation was tue most vogue and llu.