Litchfield enquirer., 1832-01-26

ofMe U. $. Bank to q select committee.
 Mr. Huntington, of Connecticut, said, that he thought a part, at least, of this debate, might have been omitted, upon the question whether this memorial should be referred to a standing, or a select committee Ofthe House. He regretted that his friend from Georgia, (Mr. Wayne,) had deemed it proper or neces- sary to introduce into the discussion topics of purely political character, not connected either with the merits of the memorial or the question of reference; and he (Mr. H.) cer- tainly should not follow him in the course he had taken. He should not inquire upon what authority it had been intimated. that the pre-. sentatiOn of this memorial, at this time, was connected with certain political movements, which have recently been made, in a quarter not far remote from the Capitol; for the character ofthOse to whom was entrusted the management of the affairs of the Bank and the interest of it's stockholders, forbids the snppOsition that they were actuated by any other motives than those which appear in the memorial itself; motives which commend themselves to our understanding, and our sense of public duty; and the Hon. Chair man of the Committee of Ways and Means, whose relative position to this subject, and whose means of knowledge may be supposed to he more ample than are possessed by most others, and who, with great truth, has said, that he should be exonerated from the charge of having any conneAion with the political movements referred to, with his usual cantlor and high sense of honor, has stated that he does not believe that the Directors of this Bank have been influenced by any other con- sldarations than those which have arisen from what they have deemed the discharge of an simperious duty. Nor should he (Mr. H.) stop to inquire into the effect which the action Nss Nsn Nh Sa o,,hSn nA f concern, would have on an important election soon to take place in the country; though it would seem, from the manner in which this topic was treated, that fears were entertain ed that 1t would have an inauspcious inHu. cnce on the prospects of certain individual. Mr. H. said hewas deferred from comment Ing on this subject, from the consideration that it was entirely foreign to the question before the House, and because he believed that the members who compose this body were prepared, at the proper time, to act on the merits ofthe memorial presented to them, learlessIy and independently, without refer ence to the effect which it might have, or be supposed tO have, under any circumstances. on inc election of any individual, to the high. est office in the gift of free people. He snon'd' therefore. proceed to consider the question of Teterence, disconnected from any extraneous matters; and he should occupy the attention Ofthe House but few moments, us the subject was nearly, if not quite exhaus- l ted and he had risen principally for the pur- pose of replying to the suggestions made by the gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. Johnston,) and the gentleman from Md. (Mr. Howard.i | The Hon. member from Virginia, (ifhe un- dcrstood him correctly said that this memo | rial should be referred to select comn:Ittee. because 1t involved question of constitution. 1 at power--the power of this Government to 1 incorporate Bank. If. said Mr. H. this be suit an open question, is not the Committee of WGys and Me0as as competent to examine it. l ana express an opinion on it, with the reasons on which 1t is founded, as a select Committee | would be? Is the chairman of that Com mittee so little known to this House, as to | make 1t proper to commit the examination of l this question to other hands
 MT. Johnston rose to explain. He had | been entirely misunderstood though he had | no doubf, tinintentionally. He had admit tea that the Com mttee of Ways and Means were equally competent with any select com m'ttee who might be appointed to investigate any constitutional questions connected with | the re. .chartering of the Bank; but he thought that as the whole subject would require much | minute investigation and laborious research. oo!h as to principles and details. it was of sui. hc'ent consequence to require select commit 1 tee; and that the amount of business before the standing committee was such, that they might not be able. for want of time, to make this investigation.1
 MT. Huntington resumed, and said he had misunderstood the purport of part of tlis re- marks of the member from Virginia, and the explanation given made it unnecessary to do more, than in reply to the remark that the in. qu'rles connected with this subject were yari. ous and numerous, to say that such inuuirics couio DC made with as much advantage by. ana would receive as much attention from st0n0ang c9p1mittCe, as from select commit Tee: The Committee of Ways and Means VIII, of necessity, if they believe it proper to renew the charter Of the Bank, consider all the details necessary to effect that object, and report pill, with such conditions, limitatioos ana restrictions. as they may deem expedi. I ent' And will this House have more conf qence 'n any select committee which can he appointed, than they have in the Com mittee 0f Ways and Means? We have not heard
 from its Chairman that they are 60 burdened
 With business that the time necessary to 2 careful examination of this important subject cannot be devoted to it.; nor that thev are anwlltng to discharge the trust. ifcommitfed 10 them, with pr0mptness and fidelity IF then. this Committee are competent to per- form the duty proposed to be imposed m tnem, and can and will discharge it. what req ded to them? ~o'"'
 The gentleman from Maryland TMr. Hmm.
 ara had suggested another reason ,vhv sh;. subject should he rNEarraA x. - ..1. ''J sS.'"