Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-03-22
GOy3gM~ MaaY0TfABO
BANK OF THE UNITED ST.4TES.
AR. BENION'S SPEECH.
SENATE-W FpNrspAY, Feb. 2.

ter of he Bank of the United states ought not to be re.
newed. lie commenced his speech in support Of tho
application Tor the leave he was about 10 ask, with a
justification OF himself for bringing forward the Ques-
non OF renewal at this time, when the charter had Till
i've years to run; and bottomed his viudicaiion chiefly
on the right he possessed, and the nece Ssiiy he was un-
der, TO answer certain Reports oil one of the Commits
tees oil the Senate, made in opposition TO certain reso-
lntlons relative TO the Bank, which he had submitted to
.he Senate at former sessions; and which reports he
hau not had an opportunity OF answering. He said, il
Deen his fortune or chance, some three years ago.
20 SUBMIT a resolution in relation 10 the undrawn ba.
'aiices oil public money in the hands OF the Bank, and
20 accompany 1t with some poor remarks OF un.avora-
pie implication TO the future existence of that institu-
uoh' MY resolution, said MIR. b, was referred 10 the
Committee ON Finance, who made a report decidedly
a.'e'se 'o u my views, and eininentlv favorable TO tho
bank, both as a present and future institution. This re-
port came in on the 18th of May-iust fourteen DAVIS
before ths conclusion of a six months session, when
AL was hurry and precipitation TO terminate the bust
ness on hand, and when there was not the least chance
10 engage the attention OF the Senate in the consider
su1n oil any new subject. The report was, thei efors,
ialu upon the table uusnswered; but was printed by
the ORDER oil the Senate, and that in extra numbers,
and widely dihused over the country bv means of tho
newspaper press Atthe commencement OF the next
session, II being irregular TO call Tor the consideration
OF Tie past report, was uE1er the necessity to begin
anew; and, accordingly submitted INV resoluton a So.
coma Tune, and that quite early in the session; say, on
ue hrst day OF January. II was nv wish and reo,Ies,
mat ms resolution should he discussed m The senate.
"ut me sentiment OF the maio'it was different: and a
seeenu reference OF II was made 10 the Finance {, ON
m'tee' n second reportoi the same purport with the
h'st' was a matter OF course: but what did not seem TO
me 10 ne n mailer OF course, wa' this: that this second
report should not come Ia until the 2O,h day of Fcbru.
a5i ius' - uaNs again before The end OF ihe session,
loru was then the short session, and the senate "a mpch
punched as before Tor time 10 finish the business on hand.
NO answer could be made to it, but the report was
printed, with the former report appended TO il. and.
mus, united like the Siamese twins, and with the an.
parent, but not real, sanction of the Senate, thev went
ior'h together TO make the tour OF he Union in the CO..
inhns OF the ne wspaper press. Thus, [ was a second
uine out OF court; Il second line non-suited for want NJ
a replication, when there WAS no time TO file one. had
intended TO begin de moro, and for the third lime, at the
opening OF The ensuing session; but, happily, was an.
tlcipated and prevented by the annual message If the
new President, (Gen. Jackson0 which brought the
question OF renewing the Bank charter directly before
congress. A reference of this part of the messaqe
was made, OF course, 10 the Finance Committee: tho
committee, oil course, again., eporled, and with increas-
ed afdor, in favor OF the Six. UnhsppiIv. this ,hird
report which was an application and federation of
ue TWO lormer, did not come in until the session was
Tour months advanced, and when the time of the So
ha'e hau become engtossed, and its attention absoIyed.
ny me numerous and important subjects " which had ar.
cumuiated upon the calendar. Printing In extra nu,o-
oers, general circulation through the ne wspaper nres.
anu no answer was the catastrophe of this third refer
ence Wthe Finance Committee. Thus was non-s,i,.
ca Tor the third time. The fourth session has now
come round; the same subject is again before Tho s,n.
Genihiuee on The reference of the part of the presi.
uehts second annual message which relates to III.
bahk, and, doubtless, a fourth report of The SANE ~
port with the three preceding ones, may be expecreJ
n"' when' Is The question! Aud, as cannot answer hat
1--'N'' 'A aFt otSAADl Is % TWO fhtFts HduannAl
an" as ! nave no disposition to be cut off for The fourth
ume' l have thought proper to create an occasion for nv
SCI" 10 denver my own sentiments, by asking leave TO in.
uoduce a Joint resolution, adverse TO the tenor of ali he
reports q TO give my reasons against them, while u,.
poring my aP 'Iication for the leave d-manded: a conrsa
oil proceeding which is just to myself and uniust IN
no one, since al are az liberty to answer me. These
are my personal reasons for this steps, a part of INV an.
'"ct 80 h" - c'io1 trtl hsv bteAa q. -, Tn.
conduct oil TIE BsLk, an! IL frio,d d., constitutes The -.
coDd hranch o''my u.ufsdiion IL ceyain - nn' a.
soon | r them. Iuhy'ug ~ heir qn,luct O., 49,.
tmt question OF renewing the bank charter. H.. AMI on,
OF C.ngTSss, 'hey al Sesm "a BE- ri Que 6cccrJ on ,hi.
point. Three reports o. cominiteesin the S.nate. End
oos ton a COMMITTEES fthe House oil r pr.s.ntai,ss.
have been mad, IA isvOr OF the rlnewal; all. Al ,bsss
reports, instead ci betng laid away fr future use In
Stead OF being sock in pigeon holes, aud Lab. Dcd fo.
iuinre atlennon, a. tLiGgs coming ( r.h premaiu; civ.
and toi wanted ir rrss.ni ssrvice,- hayt, On liz CO..
uary, been universally received, by the Pa K and u,
rleuu''i In onA great temp'tt Of sPPiaue g, gre. ted win
every specIes OF acclainatjnsi rep in,ed tn most of lhs
papsrs, aDd every effort made to gvs ue widest drG,.
'IGn' and the highcst eff ct, 10 b. arsnmeDts thrv c,n.
iaiD. la addition 20 tits and a. the present s,ssion viii.
10 n lew days past, 5000 copies OF h. exposition of ,bs
affair OF the Bank have been printed by order of tbs
two house,; Il thing ~ yer befare done, ard now in.eoJ.
81 10 bi'zen The meri OF ths Bank. (Nr. Smith, of Md.
mere expressed some dissent 80 tits statement, but MIR.
o. at1fmedits sorrec ness in substance, il net To he let.
ter, and continued This d es not look asif ne n nh "A.
'o'a'es thought u was too S0on to di,cUss the question
Of renewing the charter; epd, upon the e~xhib,tiop of
their ssninonts, | shall rest tn assertion. and The
p OF, That they do o, think so This third branch of
my JufuncaIcn TCs. ufOn a sense Of public dutv-un.
on a sanFe OF what Is just aud sdvlnta geous to the peo.
PIE 10 g-n rel, AMI q the debtors and slockholders Of
the Bank 10 particular. The renewal OF The charter
: a questo- when eIncefn' The people ct large; and
i they are to have sry hand in The decision of his
question, II they are svea TO know whs, is done belo,e
Il IS done, II is high lime ibai they, and their R-pres,n.
iNtlveS in Congress, should upderstapd Zach oihsr'.
mind upon ~. The charter has but FIVE wears IN
run; snd, u renewed a. al VIII ro)abiy be at some
short period; cay, two or three yeArs before tie lime
" 9u'; aud AZ any uma sooner that chance can he 4, en-
toiga'iop the revenue through Congress. The people.
therefore, have no time 70 lose, il uey mean TO have any
hand IN the decision Of tins great question. 10 the
Bank Itseii, VI must be advantage Gus, lat least0 II not
desirable, to know its fate at once, that IL may a .oid, iii
here IL 10 be no Ieuewal0 the trouble and expence Of
multiplying branches upon he eve OF dissolution, and
Tue risk and Inconvenience of extending loans beyond
cages, and indefinite accommodations, It mus be also
advantageous II not lies ra5le to be notified in advance
of the end Of their indulgences: so that, 10 every i'm.
ierest, public aud private, political and pecuniAry, gen.
efai aud particular, luIl discussion, and seasonabis de.
cison, Is just and proper.
/ bold my myself justified, Mr.. President, upon tho
reasons given, for proceeding in my present application;
but as an example Is sometimes more authoritative than
reason, I VIII take the liberty 10 produce one which is
as high ia tie point OF authority, as 10 is appropriate in
point OF application, aud which happens to 6t the case
before the Senate az completely as u II had been made
Tor It.. / speak Of what Las lately been done in The
Parliament of Great Britain lt SO happens that the
charter OF The Bank Of England ia TO expire upon its own
limitation nearly about the sane time with the cbartey
Of tho Bank Of the United States, namely, in the wear
before its expiration, the question OF its renewal was
| lehatea and that with great frerJo,. =. ~ U.at-L