Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-03-20

Il
negativcd-ayes So, noes 20.
| The house then proceeded with the re-
manning amendments Of the committee oil
the whole, the consider alton and decision
| on which having been completed
Mr.. Calhoun moved to amend the bill,
| by fixing the amount of the second cash
| payment at $40 instead of 5, as it stood
| in the biz. This being agreed to, and
some other minor motions being disposed
| Of
Mr.Webster moved to amend the clause
which declares that the bank may sue and
be sued =" in all courts whatsoever" by
designating the state courts.
Mr.. HILL asked, if it would not be better,
before this motion was acted on, to enquire
little whether Congress have the power
to grant jurisdiction to the state courts,
which, in some cases they had refused to
exercise, he thought properly, and the con-
sttutionality of which was very doubt
full.
Mr.. Webster said the question was an
important one but this was not the first
time Congress had legislated on it. tho the
courts of Virginia had resisted tiie;r juris-
diction. Without, however, discussing the
question at present, Mr.. w. said the bill
was just as Objectionable as it stood, because
1t gave the bank the power to appear in
" all Courts whatsoever"
After some further discussion between
Messrs. Calhoun, Wright, Wilde * Gros-
venor, on the proprlety of granting juris-
diction to the state courts specifically
The question was taken, and the amend
ment adopted.
MIR. Root then renewed the motion h
had ursucccssfuliy made in committee of
the whole, to reduce the rate at which 6
per cent. stock is to be received in subscrip-
tions to the Rank, from Far to ninety her
cent. Mr.. r. repeated briefly his reasons
for the motion, already stated, and Mr..
Calhoun his objections to it =; when, af-
ter some remarks in support of it by Mr..
Ross,
The question was taken and decided 10
the negative.
Yeas 81. Nays 1906
MIR. Hall then moved a new section to
the bill. the object of which was to apply
the bonus arising to the government from
the incorporation of the bank, to the in
ternal improvement of the country and
to avoid any contention about the part of
the country at which to commence the
work, Mr.. II. said, he would leave that
to the decision of future Congress. The
bonus, he thought, would afford from year
to year, as much as could be easily employ
ed, and by the end of twenty years. when
the charter would expire, the proceeds
would have accomplished every object of
Improvement which would be proper for
the general government to attempt.
Mr.. Calhoun declared his appreciation
of the object, but feared the adoption of
the amendment might drive off some who
would otherwise support the bill. Unfor-
tunately for us, he said, there was not an
a m fsa Ii IN 60. &c
provement, so.ne believing this not the
proper time to commence that work and
such proposition might deprive the bill
OF some friends, which at present was the
main object of his solicitude.
Mr.. Hall thought this the most DroDer
moment for commencing the great work
OF internal Improvement but if he tho't
his amendment would draw off any SUP
port from the bill, he would not urge it,
lie believed, however, it would produce a
different effect, & would gain friends for the
bill, who otherwise would not vote for it.
His principal reason for wishing to provide
for this object in the bill, was that it would
theO be sanctioned by a charter, and not
revocable, &c.
MIR. Grosvenor had no objection to the
application of the bonus in the way propos-
ed, but he disapproved of providing for the
object In this bill. Government might
hereafter wish, for various reasons, 10 get
rid OF its stock in the bank, but it would
be precluded in doing so, if this amend
ment was adopted. There was no good
reason for attaching it to this bill, because
1t majority of the house were, as he hop
ed they were, friendly to internal improve
ments, they could act on the subject sepa-
rateIy.
Mr.. Wright and Mr.. Wilde, success
sively offered some remarks in favor of the
motion.
The amendment was rejected by con-
siderable majority.
Mr.. Condict proposed to amend the bill,
by substituting New York" for "Pkila-
deiphia," in the clause which fixed the To-
cation OF the Bank. 1t was, Mr.. G. re-
marked, unnecessary to say any thing as to
the considerations which ought to prevail
in fixing bank for commercial purposes
lie would merely remark, that in addition
to the superior commerce Of New York,
the bank in that city would serve the f an
cial purposes Of the government, as well
as it could at Philadelphia. In the latter
city, he believed, moreover, there was al
ready plenty of bank capital, &c.
Mr. Calhoun observed, that this was a
question on which, he presumed, all had
made mp their minds and it would be SUI
pertiuous to say any thing on it. lie hoped,
however, the motion woull not prevail.
The old bank Of the United States was cs-
tablished at Philadelphia, and he would
prefer that city for the present institute