Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-03-18

in committee Of the whole. MT.
Nv. suppurtedhis motion with a va
riety Of remarks on the improperly
Of tyipe ur5 the hands Of the govern
ment for twenty years, and probi-
biting it BY charter from legisIating
according TO the growth of our
population the wants Of the country,
&c He concluded by requiring the
yeas and nays, which we're refused
-and then
His proposition to amend the Dill
was rejected, only 9 or 10 rising IN
It's favor.
Some other motions not requiring
particular ,mention being disposed
of;
Mr.. M'Lean Of Ky rose TO renew
a motion which he had made With
out success in committee of the whole
and which he should not again ettel
if he did not conceive that his for
mer attempt had been decided under
AN incorrect view ofthe subject. Mr.
M.Lean then moved clause to the
bill to prohibit the establishment OF
a branch Of the bank In any state
unless such branch should be az
eepted by law of the state. Mr..
M'Lean supported his proposition al
some length showing by facts the
injury which might result 10 sons
states extensively interested 10 their
own banks. by forcing branch OF
the national hank upon them. This
was the case in Kentucky. where
the state owned great portion oil
the stock Of the state bank. which
was very prosperous. and its stocks
very profitable; aud MIR. NJ Lean
said he was unwilling to put 1t IN
the mower ofany twenty five men, 10
impose upon, that state, without us
consent, an institution which might
be extremely pej0diciai TO its int
rests &c.
mr.. C;,lt Gun replied briefly, that
this motion appeared TO Involve an
enquiry into the constitutional power
ofi opgress TO establish banks in the
states. This was question which
he had wished to ayeid on the pre-
sent occasion, & he should decline
saving airy thing on il. When the
necessity arose for discussing The
question. he shouid be prepared to
meet il
Mr. MEeap's motion was neSativ
ed, without division.
Mr.. Pnkin then proposed TO a
mend the bill by striking out entirely
The provision which gives the PresI
dent and Senate the power of ap
pointing Eve OF the Directors--and
leaving the "hole direction
TO be chosen By the corporation.
Mr.. P. went into general inves-
tigstioa Of this question. the argu
ments on which were so fully gwen
when before the committee. ln sup
porl OF his molten, he said that WITH
all the interest of the government III
the old bank of the United States, II
appointed none of the Directors, yet
there was no complaint ever heard
of the public concerns being misma-
mayed In that bank, Ii there was
ne necessity for exercising the pow
err in that bank, he argued there was
none for it in the present one. Mel
Their the safe keeping OF its deposits
nor the care Of lis interest III the
hank required the government to pos,
sess the pow er, because there Wouid
necessarily always be a close con
nectioa between the bank and the
government, produced by the strong
est of moiiyes--interest. III the pow
er then was not necessary for any
useful purpose, he would not vii
lIngl, risk any danger frons the pos.
sibiIity Of the power being convert
ed into an engine of oppression in
the hands of the government. He
argued that it WAS probable but few
directors would be appointed in PHI
ladelphia by the stockholders that
seven being Sufficient to do business.
and the government directors being