Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-09-14
RICHMOND, SEPTEMBER IL
FABKiT-UfS-No

NO.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ENQUIRER
SIR-tt appears from what has been
stated, that there is no power given to the
general government To incorporate a
bank; certainly not in express terms /;
and II is believed not incidentally, IL the
| meaning OF the word necessary" be
| such as has been commended for. The
government conducted the affairs Of the
Union for considerable time without
The agency of the bank, and carried us
through war of great difficulty. Itcan
hardly be said to be an indispensable
auxiliary power.
Again; those who seem TO think il so,
have been somewhat puzzled Ia designate
The particular general power, TO which it is
TO be incidental, fuctuatiug at different
periods. amongst certain specified powers,
which taste or caprice may have selected
as most important. II may be doubtful
al last, whether III the pressure of an argu-
ment, II may not be necessary, 10 cover
The retreat OF such a construction under
the broad flag of the words ''promote the
general welfare" in the preamble to the
constitution A mode of escape which
has moi unfrequenily been resoried to,
though II seems pretty we'll exploded, and
YET, n really IL not much more latitudina-
ran IN principie, than 10 resolve the
powers OF The government iuio cunside
railOns OF expedicncy.
Whether the experience we have had Of
the Bank of the United States, since lis
adoption, be a safe criterion OF lis heccs-
SHY, II Is perhaps premature 10 enquire
"a, any rate, II is AN enquiry | do moi wish
Ia go into. /, might presen, problems
ditticuli of solution. The government is
The best Jndge of its operations in "a
financial lghi; and though some late
writers have seemed disposed 10 take
up the cndgeIs for The government against
The bank yet 10 Judge from some semi
otilcial publications we have seen, the in
reference is treated like that which is
made Ia stop The quarrels of man and
wife; The person is told he is an intruder,
II is domestic dispute, which they have
right To settle as they please
In relation 10 the operation of the bank,
IN cases merely commercial, we could
be'ter Judge; but perhaps that is wide OF
me enquiry now IN hand, beause IL the
National Bank is 10 be justified in point
OF authority, 1t must be on the ground OF
It's necessity, as machiu- To sustain the
financial operations of government. not
from us use or convenience to indi, iduais.
Ii Is perhaps TO he regretted, tina, the last
president yielded To the suggestions of
those who, engaged in the management of
our financial concerns, anticipated such
miraculous effects from "a bank. The
good might he considered as probIemaii-
cal, but the evil consisted I'm making an
lnroad upon principle, which ought TO
have been held most sacred, namely, that
ours is government OF specified powers,
or OF Indispensable auxiliary powers
II WAS adding too, the weight Of great
name, aud "a deservedly great authority,
10 principle, which il persisted in, will
destroy the whole fabric of our free and
limited constitution. II was more TO be
'aDented because he had been one of
the great champions OF The opposite
construction, and his waver of the true
principle, woEld encourage, or rather
excise lesser spirits for losing sight OF the
polar star of the republican cause. Far
be u from me to impute any error Of
Intention 10 the gentleman alluded 10. |
have no doubt his motives were pure
tie acted under sense OF cxpediescy,
and the diff uliy of the times. That he
Is great, pure, and patriotic STATES
man, | have never doubted-though |
think the course In Tie present instance,
was unfortunate.
| have shewn then, that this power Of
Incorporating a bank has not been given
10 the general government. Has il been
prohibited TO the states? II has uot been
prohibited in terms, and one would have
supposed that they would have used en-
press terms To effect that object. next
rely on the authority of Mr.. Hamilton, in
The passage quoted in my first No. AS shew-
ing that al period, so recently after the
adoption OF the General Government. and
amongst persons who were concerned
IN that great affair, il was distinctly admit
ted, by one OF the warmesj, and abesi
OF the advocates OF the right of congress
10 create Bank, that the same authority
existed III the states in the most unques-
iionaDle and unrestricted manner.
FABRICiUS.