Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-11-26

individual stockholders, the IemamnS nNc Dy the President of the United States. The number chosen by the individuals is sulil- cient at all times, to control the direction of the bank. It is, therefore, separate interest, and liable to all the objections of other compa- ny banks; and much more alarming in go- vernment, because of its immense capital, and it's powers to extend its notifications through out the Union, in defiance of State authorities These Directors have chartered authority at their discretion, to establish at any point or points in your State a branch, or branches, of misnamed United States Rank, no other than a powerful monied institution, for the emolu-
 ment, and under the direction of few indivi- duals, of different States and Nations Where are your state rights, when twenty five men, private citizens, have right, thus 1 to trample upon your authority Collectors of tariff duties are officers of government, and the tax which they collect IS tor pubic use but the national banking tax collectors,
 are private citizens. not material ot what na-
 tion or country, collecting tax within the
 limits of your State, probably against its con
 sent, and for their own aggrandzement. l
 respectfully submit to your consideration, the
 proprety of making strong and decided
 expression against the policy of rechartering
 the Bank of the United States, especially on
 its present principles, and with it's present
 powers; and disconntenancing (for that IS the | limit of your state right) the establishment of other branches in the State of Alabama.
 It is worthy of notice that when the Con
 stitution delegates powers to Congress, it is
 frequently under specified limitations, viz:
 the to lay and e9lleSt taxes Sc is
 form throughout the United States. But
 when Congress exercises power not ex
 presslv given, it is without limitation, because
 the framers of the Constitution, not antici-
 patng any pretenson to a claim to such
 power, made no restrictive provisions. Such
 is the case in the establishment of national
 Bank, if Congress have the power, it is limit
 ed only by their own discretion; hence dan
 ger of State sovereignty not being sufficiently
 regarded, and hence a necessity of the
 States being particularly watchful on those
 subjects of usurped legislation. If the esta-
 blishment of such an institution be indispensa-
 ble to the welfare of the nation, would it not
 be advisable that each State in which branch
 may be established, shall be allowed to pur-
 chase so much of the stock in the branch,
 as will give to the State the control of it's di-
 rection. In this way the power and influence
 of the Bank will be divided among the States,
 and not concentered entirely in the General
 Government, or in the hands of individuals | The growing condition of the Bank of the
 State of Alabama equals the highest expecta-
 tions of its most sanguine friends; and its suc-
 ccssful operation will doubtless continue so
 long as the Legislature exercise their wonted
 caution, in procuring ability and integrity in
 its direction. I would suggest the propriety
 of charging the bank capital, by the sala of State stock, so as to authorize the establish
 ment of branch at some eligible point, with
 out injuring the operations of the mother
 bank This will enable the institution to
 extend its accommodations, and with greater
 convenience, to the citizens; it will also di-
 minish the inducements to establish a branch of the Bank of the United States within the
 State.
 It is unnecessary at this day to produce arr
 gument to prove to citizens of Alabama, that duties on articles of foreign, for the purpose | of protecting domestic manufactures, operate partially on the citizens of the United States;
 unjustly and progressively on those of our sec l tion; and that, as State, we ought to be de- cidedly opposed to the policy of the American | System. It would seem folly to oppose ar gument to the absurd idea, that the imposi-
 tion of tax, or duty, on any species of fa- brio, will not enhance it's price to the consum- CT; and until this be true, we arc sufferers,
 and cannot favor the policy. There is, how
 ever,m much diversity of opinion on the subject, l or tne eXttDt tO WHICH we may leSillndtely oppose the existing tariff. There are some
 who believe, that as a sovereign State, we l have right to determine as to the constitr-
 tionality of tariff law; and having decided it
 to be unconstitutional, to declare it inopera- | tive and void in the State, and resist the eX- ecution of the law. Others arc of opinion, l that the justice of our cause, set forth by so- | Der argument, in remonstrance or memorial, l will ultimately succeed in alleviating our | grievances; and should this fail, they believe l there is yet another course to be pursued which ought to precede the arbitrary exer- else of State sovereignty. The idea ofStates being politically united, implies a federal gov ernment and to preserve healthy action of
 the system of the Union, it is necessary that l this Government should have the power to
 make certain general laws. The Legislative | powers of the government of these United
 States are vested in a Congress. The Federal | Constitution defines the powers of Congress,
 also designates the objects of legislation. If 1 Congress, therefore, enact law on subject | designated, and within the pale of their au- thorty as prescribed by the Constitution, it l is binding on the different States of the Con- federation; otherwise it is unconstitutional and
 not binding. Further to illustrate the idea The Constitution vests in Congress the pow | CT "to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts,
 and excises ;" it also prescribes, that ''all du- ties, imposts, and excises shall be uniform | throughout the United States" If Congress, | therefore, enact a law to lay and collect du-
 ties which are uniform throughout the Unit
 cd States, the law is within the prescribed powers, and binding. on the States; but if the duties be not unitorm throughout the Unit- cd States, the law authorizing their collec- tion is unconstitutional and not binding on | the States. af But Congress, by the enactment of the law, have said that the duties are ALuifornl throunh-