Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-17

less clear" But that itself "A very clear.
one? Had the old Congress the proper authority,
under the Articles of Confederation? They mgha
issue bills Of credit-They did issue them TO the
amount of niillions-but bills Of credit were not
Bank notes.-the very authority TO establish tho
Bank OF North America was doubted and disputed
at the time-yet the safety of the people was sup
posed to be the Supreme Law The Bank was cx-
cuscd from the necessity of the case The enemy
were at doors. The funds Of our country were
nearly exhausted Our gallant soldiers were suffer-
ing for want of pay-NIany were without shoes to-
their. bleeding feet--It ut such n moment as
this that Robert Morris; proposed the establishment
OF national Bank with capital of 100000. And
what analogy does such crisis that of 17S1 bear
to our present situation? No enemy ut hand-tho
public debt on the of extinction-the country
Astounding in solvent banks and specie currency.
Mr. Mclane also refers to the sanction which tho
Bank oil the u ,. has uniformly received from tho
several authorities and from majority of the people
of the nation The precodents, however, are not
all one way The Senate Of the u. S. refused to
re-charer the former Bank-by the casting and
glorious voice of old George Clinton. Some of the.
States have uniformly protested against the Instit,
ton. Sometimes a State, which has been at one,
time for 1t, has declared at another against it, Penn.
sylvania was once against it, and N York for itand
now they have shifted sides Virginia has always.
been in the opposition-But the sanction which
Mr.. McLane like Mr.. Madison draws from prcce-
dent, is northumberland is not recognized by
the Constitution its Expositor. That instrument
be amended but three fourths of the States
themselves.
! Let us ask then, why is not this appeal made. If
the Bank be so Indispensable if it has the voice of
the People so strongly in its favor why is not the
proposition made to amend the Constitution, so as
to sanction the power? Is this the wise and
conciliaory course? Appeal to the S,atcs-ask
them for the authory-if they grant it, all doubt
will be Mt an end All discord will cease The
question is at rest for ever
But admit the power-s it expedient to re-cstab-
lish such an Institution this is for the present fs-
cal facilities of the Government? When the present
Bank established i'm 1876 the public debt was
100 millions. Before its Charter expires, the debt
will be paid ofl.-Now, our revenue is from 25 to
80 millions-Then, it ought not TO exceed ID mil
lions. IL Bank of 35 millions be necessary ut this
time, one of Is millions the most will be suf1i-
cient in 1S33-Agan; the notifications necessary
in the present Charter would change the whole cha
racter of the lnstitution-N present the Bank is a
complete mockery of the reserved rights of the
States. 1t can establish Branch within the limits
of any State without her consent. 1t can remain
as long as it peases, against her wshes-With tho
and OF the Supreme Court, ii can defy her laws
The States have no share in its capital control
over its administration. Is all this right Shall all
this he continued in the new Charter?
| We feel bound therefore, protest against this
portion ofthe Treasury Report, and to "appeal unto
Cesar"
The Secretary then proceeds to the important
proposition for reducing the revenue to the necessary
expenses of the Government He is clearly in favor
of such reductions and the which he assigns
and the manner in which he expresses them, en-.
titled to unqualified appreciation:
with respect the exPediency of distributing among the
several States surplus that may casually
crue, il is not doubted that any scheme for encouraging
surplus for distribution, for any purpose which should
make it necessary will be generally dscountenanced.-
There too much TO apprehend that regular uni
form dependence OF the State Governments upon the
nue. of the General Government, uniform cxpecta-
ton from the same source yould create too great in
centve high and unequal duties merely dis
turb the harnony of the Unon but ultimately under
mine and the purity and independence of the State
The public welfare stability of the Union would
be more efeciualy promoted, by leaving all that is not
themselves Their affection for the Government would
be thereby strengthened, and the of individual and
national wealth augmented so that when the Govern
men should have TO increase expenditures for
public emergencies, might rely upon people able and
willing to answer the CALL While these means of the
national wealth thus cherished, the machinery by
which duties upon imports collected brought into
the public treasury may be kept in full operation and
susceptible of greater efficiency whenever the exipcncv
may make ii neccs ary."
o 81 SIC omnia-All this is wise, and JUST and tru-
y republican; consistent with the simplicity of the
I Federal Government the sovereignty of the States
and the virtue of the People.
Buin reducing the revenue the necessary erperses
these two questions arise LIST, what is TO be the
amount OF the expenses; and I'd, on what principle
Is the revenue TO be cut down to that scale?
7 EXPENSES.
Mr McLane estimates the present expenses at
| l3,3O0,0O0-buth he proposes additional expenditures
OF Notwithstanding the whole S15,0000OO The
additional sum does not appear calculated 10 startle
us by ITS amount-but the people have q right to
demand, that not cent should be taken from them
but what is wanting for the expenses of the Govern
Lnent-Let us take hasty glance then at MIR. Nc
Lanes budget:
Erfend''lS the drmories, and arneg the n,ilitia--
Ihefe can be no objection to going far as the So
crctarles OF the War and Navy recommend in their
hepOrts-but not step further. 1t is their duty to
study such subjects-and although we should posi-
lively abide by no mans authority yet we should
prefer in such cases the opinions of his two col
leagues to his We make the same remark as
to Ggmenng The ndrat and military resources increase
81 ndual pay and enoitnents, &c. &c. We would not
go step beyond the acquisitions of the respective
departments; nor then even, without investigating
every item and every argument in its favor.
Hemoring distractions from The Uestern Waters-
Not cent would devote to them-because
Congress has no jurisdiction over our rivers We
"do not find them in the bond" Until that nstr,i-
ment is changed, by the parties it, the Federal
Government is not authorized to appropriate cent
to the purpose.
Surveys Of The coasts and harbous.-Thcrc seems
no reasonable objection 10 the measure.
| CHstom-houseS and 0arehouSes..-WIereve there
he any difficulty in obtaining them let them be built
but we have not yet understood there was any diff
! ficuy in the matter.
The same remark applies to Cowt-houscs and
CLERKS OHceS-wih this difference, that we have oc
casonaly known the u. $. Court driven TO hold
It's sessions i'll uncomfortable rooms-Where 10 ar
rangemcnts can be made for obviating this ncon-
ycuIcncc there should be hesitation II, bt,;ld;no