Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-17

bank. He (hr. Johnston) had ALWAYS unJc,S,ood "nss W
Un" 10 ,he constitution and the practice of the govern
ment, II was the peculiar duty of the Chief N;asistrafe 20
submit his views on all the great questions of noIonaI ~
hey TO Congress, for their legislative action thereon. wien
necessary. Those viSss were not supposed to b,vo 49,
undue weight in the national councils, but they were free
", examined and acted upon, as he had before Observed
s;d"nt ' bqqS ne was glad to see that the present Pre-
siuent had not departed from the usage and practice of
ms predecessors in office in this respect; and so far from
ms conuuct meri1ng even the minutes, censurc, il. in
ms opinion, was entitled 10 the appreciation of the IIouse.
whether they agreed in his views err not. Mr.. Jobn.
ston proceeded. TO remark that the subject involved
TWO inquiries oil a wholly different character. The FIRST
was as to the constitutionolity of Incorporating The bank. and
the second, although subordinate in importance. WAS yot
of great moment, that of the necessity. expediencv' :, 3D.
vantage OF so Incorporating it,. To decide upon The first
question, a select committee was not necessary Co. 60
Government was not founded upon the common, but tho
written law. The question then was, by whom the mani.
ry respecting the propriety of re-clartcring the hank
should be made. A standing committee might be ncrfect-
~ competent TO examine into il; but there were many
other considerations of sufficient consequences IN roou;ra
special committee. There were for instance. the douh,a
Sy sone as 70 ,e construction OF the charter and it had
been suggested too that their charter was violated bv is
suing OF drafts, alluded 10 by the gentleman from New
FORK, lhr Cambreleng) payable nowhere. All these
and various other circumstances, equally affecting the nnb.
lie interests, rendered il proper that the whole subiect
should undergo a minute investigation; and IL was his
(Mr:J's) intention TO propose, at another period. rcsoIu,ians
instrucing the committee 20 pursue their examination ~.
putting a series OF detailed inquiries. He beNovod H.,
from the amounto business before the Committco Of Wa W."
and Means, they would not be able TO make the loborio,s
investigation required: and for this reason, also he was dis
posed TO advocate the motion for the appointment of a spe.
cial committee.
MIR. Howard expressed himself in favor of n Select
Committee-he wished this more particularly. os ,hera
were various opinions and suggestions on the sub;ec,
oil the bank charter, which were only likely TO obtain a
consideration in n Select Committee. While some yaro
favorable TO a modification OF the present bank charter.
others opposed this as altogether Unconstitutional and ,ycro
in favor of state banks-but there was a third party sbo
proposed a substitute for the present bank in custom house
and treasury drafts; he had never received information
sufficient 10 enable him TO comprehend il, but sill i, nirh,
be practicable-and he thought it due to The House and
the country, that every plan Should be considered and i im-
NcSuHateu. In the Committee of WAyS amd NIaoD, F.
its organization, there was no chance of this-.nd he
was, therefore, strenuously in favor of a Select Conn
mittce.
Mr.. Foster, after a few remarks, which tbe rc,or,or
did not distinctly hear, said that the subject of the Presi-
dental Election had been introduced into the discussion.
but It was scarcely TO be wondered at-for, of late, il wo,d
be difficult TO find any question of importance deh~ed in
mat House, with which it was not more or leS mixed up.
Mr.. +. said, he had listened with a5fencideeadI,T? III ISe5inus
arguments on the subject, and 30 Sonowiitea The Presi-
ucH3is r.S ~SssSsra"Lsr O: aelfsai Icast, which treated
on the bank, had been referred to the Committee of WAYS
and Means two years ago, and that committee yindica,ed
the constituhonality and expediency of re-chartering the
oanS' Last session, the question was referred in a similar
manner. and again also during the present winter, when
The proposition for a select committee was rejected. IL
should be observed, foo, said MI. Foster. that every ono
who opposes the motion for a select committee. avow,
himself friendly 10 the bank, and yet is averse 10 that full
inquiry into the merits of both sides of the question. which
the appointment OF a select committee would lead TO. Hs
should have thought both the bank and its supporters would
gladly have caught at the opportunity of unfolding all tho
iacts connected with the management of their affairs. After
aveflng TO the circumstances Of the well known opinions
of the Committee of Ways and Means favorable to tho
'"I'ns hC oJScI tiidt tc supporters oil III motion Tor a
sciect committee though they conceded a majority, wero
not even allowed a minority. He concluded by saying.
mat as II wasa matteroi Importance, he should call for tho
Mr.. Joniier addressed the House at some length in ia.
vor OF the reference of the memorial to the Committee Of
Ways and Means.
Mr.. Huntington said, aarge part of the debate, might.
in his opinion, well have been spared. He regretted tha,
the gentleman from Georgia, (dr. WavneA should not
have thought it necessary 10 introduce topics of party: but
he (Mr. H. should not be induced TO follow that course.
nor ask on what authority the statement respecting the ro-
cent uOVpinpnt A Ralimorc xuos TonpfoJ M -
able and h~igh-minded gentleman at the head of the FL
nance Committee, CMr. M'DuiieD had very frankly old
the House, that he was the last man to be acquainted with
inc movements IN that city-and the honorable men who
signed the memorial were not only above the CHARGE of
having cone Sc win a pohtlcai view, but even the suspi-
cion OF it. He would not stop TO inquire whether it was
necessary 10 speak OF the allusion made TO the Presidential
election, for he had contidencei in the members of the House,
that whether the Bank was TO be rc-chartered or not,
when they came to vote on the question, they would vote
independently, and without the slightest consideration Of
whether might lose an office, or Is gain one. He would
proceed then, at once, TO the question of which committee
The memorial should be referred to. The gentleman from
Virginia, CMr. Johnston0 had objected TO the Committee
OF Ways and Means, and argued that the consdtutionality OF
the chartering Of the Bank might form part of the question.
Well, said Mr.. Huntington, and is not the Finance Com
mittec competent to decide upon such a question? The
head OF that committee, (Mr. McDu1ie) is a gentleman not
altogether unknown.
Nh. Johnson of Va. explained. He had said that stand
ing committees were equally competent with a select
committee-but that so numerous and various were the in
quiIies connected with the subject, that the organization
OF the latter was preferable, and, because also, the bank
question was thrown before them, as il were, on The
thority of the Presidents Message.
MIR. Huntington proceeded. lie had misunderstood
the gentleman, but he understood him rightly now TO mean
that the question was a mere isolated one of the c-charter-
ing of the bank-but when the committee shall take UP tho
question, they would have TO discuss and deliberate upon
the terms, limitations, and conditions upon which the char
ter, if granted at all, is TO be granted. And was that COM
miltee incompetent TO the examination of all these various
details? lie was about 10 ask, whether the chairman of
the Committee of Ways and Means was so unknown TO
the House that they had no confidence in himl Or could
the Speaker select one who deserved more of their conf
dcnce than that gentleman If, then, the committee was
both willing and competent, why not send the memorial 10
them? Another gentleman, he Observed Mr. Howard had
spoken Of an issue of treasury notes or drafts, or something
of the kind, and the location Of a bank at the seat Of govern
ment for that purpose-but he (Ir. huntington believed,
0 that if we wait ill Congress determine on the propriety
7 Of charteriDg such a Bank, we shall wait till we find the
0 present generation sleeping in their graves for a half a
century. The House, ne was sure, would never give its
assent TO the establishment of such a National Bank at
Washington, nor place underi its control the wealth OF the
nation.
Mr.. Howard here said, that ono object Of a national Bank
IS was, to = preserve the public wealth, and another the trans
c fer OF its funds. His remarks had reference 10 The latter
c part; for an opinion existed that that object could be better
Y accomplished by another organization OF the public funds,
e instead OF mixing them up with private accounts.
I'll Mr. Huntineton.-My remarks are predicatcd on what
RI " $3.50 nE--.I..d a.rg r. uvtrhUa hsa H.