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

N such n task as that. L
Mr.. Huntington went on TO say, that gentlemen had
been defining the duties which pertain TO the Committee
Of Ways and Meahs-bnti it seemed to be iorgouen, ina.
thcy had already referred in substance, the very subject
Of tho memorial to that committee. whether originally a
better reference would have been TOT select committee ne
knew not-but ut this time. he was in favor ofsending tito the
Finance Committee. The gentleman from Massachusetts,
(Mr. Dearborn had very appropriately remarked. that the
Presidents message, as far as the bank question went, anu
the report Of the Secretary of the Treasury, had been re-
fcrrcd to the Committee of Ways and Means. The Secre-
tary speaks of the great fiscal operations of the Govern
mont, and dwells on this great moral spectacle of the ma
tional debt being l~iquidated on the lih OF March, 1883 ny
means, among other resources, Of a sale of the $1,000, 900
which we hold of the bank stock, for a sum of IS, oo0, 900
Mr.. Huntington went on TO comment on the loss which
accrue, from Changing the six per cent. stock for the three
per cents of the debt, and concluded, after some other re-
marks, by stating, that tho merits of the bank question was
not then before them and urging the reference OF the me-
mortal, without further debate, TO the Committee OF Ways
and Means, and in order to arrive ata calm and deliberate
action upon it.
MI. Wayne said, he was answerabio for this debate, and
he was willing, to bear the consequences, both in and out
Of this house. But he was talking TO both friends and enc
mics, perhaps he should say political opponents-and it be-
hovcd him, therefore, to be discreet, TO weigh every word
and sentence, before he gave them utterance. But he had
never had an idea that it was his duty, or the duty Of any
member in that house, to conceal existing facts, or to hest
tate in revealing the political attitude which any ~individu-
al or party had assumed. He has been accused OF foster
ing a party spirit on this occasion. He would candidly
avow he had done so; and he was sorry the gentleman
from Pennsylvania had so far misunderstood him, as to sup
pose that such was not his intention. IL was So, and he
was perfectly prepared to defend himself He would not
bring party spirit TO tho discussion OF the merits Of this
question, but he would bring such a spirit to counterfeit
the measures OF those out of that house, who had cndcavor-
ed, by the introduction. of the measure at this time, to co.
cree their action upon il, to serve their own party purposes.
He knew well there was no gentleman, not even the gen
tlcman from Maryland, would tell them, that a circum-
stance which had occurred within these five weeks. hal
not had an influence in bringing this measure before them
at the present time. He knew the opposition to be too
candid to make such a denial. He conceived he had
right to allude to any paper coming from individuals
differing from him in political sentiments, and he
would call their attention to tho manifesto of the
Baltimore Convention. Was it not the evident inten-
ton OF its trainers, TO urge the measure forward on the
government and on the President; and were not tho purpo-
ses for which this was TO be done, equally e~vidcnii Nor
would he blame them for this-it was an allowable prac.
tcn of party war, butt il was not equally allowable for him,
boldly to declare what he could so plainly pcrcoiec} lift
were not permissible in their opponents 10; endeavor 10
steal a march on them, should they be denied the right to
oppose thatfnarch! He did say, and he spoke it confident
ly, that the Bank had been urged to bring forward this
measure now, Ignorant OF the public opinion on the sub
ject, with a view of casting odium on those who should OPP
pose it.. He conceived, however, that he, himself, and
those who thought with him, might vote for laying the
present memorial on the table, without plcdging them
selves as to their ulterior action on the question. They
were not unpreparcd for the subject, and the gentleman
from North Carolina had misunderstood him, ifhc suppos-
ed he wished to avoid tho question now, out ofany fear Of
after consequences.
Mr.. Carson explained: what no had inferred was
drawn, not from the gentlcman's preference of a select
committee, but from his wish that it should be laid on the
table.
Mr.. Wayne resumed. lie had hoped he had suAf
~ guarded against such inference by the ulterior right he
had reserved to himself. He had been told by the GENTLE
ram from Massachusetts, that the affairs of the bank had
no, b."p mentioned at the Baltimore Convention. He
ga nor KIT, fit had been a topic of talk there; but he
aa Know lnae l Il ORA chief subject of reliance with those
had g one aiff1" aessSs, aid %S Il desi a di90esnie ON ,h "a 6 gSn,iai
occasion he was not surprised al, had implied that he (Mr.
W. was connected with the Baltimore Convention and its
secrets He must ask that gentleman IL he had mean,
this seriously or in humor.
MIR. Coulter said, be had certainly not snid any thior
intended TO give personal offence. He had merely said
that he himself was not connected with that convention,
and knew nothing Of its secrets.
Mr.. WAYNE resumed. 1t had beoen a matter of hu-
NOR, as such the gentleman was welcome to all the merri-
ment 1t might have occasioned them around him. After
some further remarks, Mr.. w. concluded by DENYING that
a select committee must Of course, and bv parliamentary
usage, be appointed Of members favorable 10 a measure.
ihey could not tell in what manner the committee might
De appointed. It might be by ballot; but however APP
pointed, 1t should be a committee ofinquiry, able to inyes-
ugate and discuss the merits of the subject.
Mr.. Sutherland said, it would be expected OF him m,
ing from the state of Pennsylvania, that he should make
one or two remarks on the subject. He W sure hs
constituents would find fault with him if he should he Alto.
gether silent upon it; and tho gentleman from Georgia
lnIr, waynel might very well suppose he had overlooked
was himself no great friend or advocate Of the institution.
and he was not present asitsm member. lie had, however,
no bias nor prejudice the other way; but was prepared 10
go Tor the measure in that shape which would best COM
port with and promote the interests of the country. He
the Committee OF Ways and Means? Why not-Gentle.
men had said they ought to hear a report on both sides,
and therefore wished it to go into n Select Commit
tee. He. did not, he wanted no divided councils. He
wanted 1t to be sent to them who had before in
yestgatcd ana discussed this subject, and given their opin-
ION TO the House upon ii; that they might again
bring it in a proper shape before us for consideration.
The gentleman from New York might then offer his amend.
ment; and the other gentleman from Maryland submit his
plan; but let them not propose what would be a hindrance
10 the progress OF the measure altogether. Let there be .
oti ana report on tho subject. They might then have suC-
hcient opportunity TO trim and lop as they pleased. Some
VINO are opposed 10 the measure would have it sleep awhile.
yes, they would have it sleep The sleep of death. Others
wished 10 have a select committee-that they might re-
port againsti II. But if they did so, wouldit not be an insult
to the Chair to appoint such a committee. PorIiamenIarv
usage required the appointment of persons favorable TO =
measure. why then should honorable gentlemen wish for
a sSIect committee. The gentleman from Virginia seems
70 th'nk me President has acted wrongly in giving his opi-
NOR on THIS subject TO that House. So far, i'm his opinion
vas the Ghiei Magistrate from deserving ccnsurc for this,
ne 'bought we ought 10 admire his manlincsg in, wear az
Ter year, urging the subject on which he holds such opi.
MONS on the attention of that House; and he thought il
became mat House now TO meet I in a like manly yav-I
~ nd oeen said this was a political question. and vet
,hough ne came from a State, from a city known TO be evil.
oently attached to the Bank, and deeply interested in lis
weliare' nc had not been asked on his election there
now ne should vote on this subject. There was one
point on which he felt bound TO put a question 10 fbe
honorable gentleman from Georgia, (Mr. WavneO Did
ohat honorable gentleman mean to assert that the pro.
suent and Directors Of the United States Bank, residing
III Fhnadelphia' men OF as lofty character, of as strict bo,
20 ana responsibility, as any set Of men in this country.
that House or out of ibid he mean TO sav tb,t t,eSo