The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-02-07
Prom the Pror,dsncs Herald.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

1
of the u. S. Bank -
On Saturday, after the novel and unpsrlis.
,nenlsry debate on the report Of the Commit
,ec, on the subject Of Masonry, Mr.. Potter
4o.e and said, he wished to call the attention
of The House to q subject, which he deemed
of great importance 10 this country, and which
he considered a proper subjec, for the consid.
erstion Of this Assembly at this time. IL
would be recollecied that the charter Of the |
United States Bank, would no, expire until |
the year 1896. and that it appeared hy the
newspapers, that the Directors Of that lnsti.
tuition had mcmorialIed Congress, asking a
renewal Of the charter st,he present session
Before the charter would expire, there would
DO new election of Representatives 10 Con-
cress, upon whom. the expcdiency ofre.char-
tering the Bank, IN his opinion. would right
fully and constitutionaVy devolve. In order,
thorefore, TO bring this subject before the
House. ne had drawn up resolutions which he
begged leave TO read.
Whereas she Charter Of the United Statos
Bank does not expire until the year 1896, before
which period, there will be an election Of now
Congress, by tho people, upon which the re char
terint OF the Bank win con additionally devolve:
And whsreas, the expediency ofrechartering that
state Of the country, its financial condition, and
that Of the bank and Of the Union. &c.
Therefore rssoirsd by this General Assembiy,
That Il is inexpediept for the present Congress
10 scehartcr said Bank, as such an act win in
fringe upon tho constitutional duties OF the NEXT
Congress.
Rssoived also, That our Senators in Congress
be instructed, and our Reprcse natives be re-
qossted 10 use their influence 10 postpone the
recisrtering ofsaid Bank at the present Session
Mr.. Potter said his object in submitting
these resolutions, was to cause the question
OF re chsrering the Bank to be postponed TO
the next Congress. lie was opposed TO leg
islating in anticipation on any question. THIS
subject ought 10 be well considered, aud well
understood by the people. who would be call.
cd upon to elect, representatives 20 Congress
before The charter expired. The present
Congress he'd been elected without any ref.
crcnce 20 the Bank question, and it was there.
Vsrr fmprvpvr tvr- them 70 act upon il now.
They haS been chosen for term Of two
ycrs, and had no,- -structions from their con.
stit.ents how to act upon il. It was proper,
that when the question of renewing the char.
ter was properly before Congress. that The
mcmbcrs should be fully informed Of the wish.
cs and feelings of those, who sent them. The
people ought to be heard on SO great ma.
tional question. and their sentiments made
known in the choice OF Representatives. He
would say nothing on the constitutionality Of
the Bank; that was a question not involved in
the resolutions. He had never doubted the
constifutional power Of Congress to establish
B.nk in the District Of Colombia, but he
very much doubted the constitutional right TO
establish Bank, or Branches in any Of the
,ssstes Of the Union, without their assent AT
any rate. it was highly improper for Congress
70 Qct upos the question at present. II they
can decide upon the charter now, four years
before il expires, he could not Gee why. they
would not have had just as much rish, 10 have
taken IL up 10 or Is years ago, and letcrmin
cd they would re,chartcr it. lie would rc.
mind the House Of the election Of Mr.. Bur.
4 yil} to the Senate Of the U. States, in 1915.
That election was made at the Juno Session
oftho Legislature, and the time for election
had been established by usage. which form
sd part Of our common law and constitution,
ssthe October Session ofthis Assembly. Be.
tween Juno and the October Session, there
was new election Of Representatives, upon
whom devolvcd the right to elect Senator.
He was tight in the caucus in June, when il
was agreed to elect Mr.. Burril, and he then
opposed il, as General Greene would bear
lature had no right TO make the election, in
ssmuch as a new election OF Representatives
would intervene before the October Session.
which was the time the vacancy would occur,
and the election ough, then to be made. I,
was acting premoturcly, and taking the busi-
ness Of future Legislature, into their own
,hsnds. lie was opposed TO such Legislation,
% il wes an Infringement upon the rights OF
nose who come after us. But, he finally ae-
quiesced IN the election OF Mr. Burrill, least
he Mr. p. might think he wanted TO be elect
ed himself. And Sir, what was the conse-
quence? We had 10 retrace our steps. and
were obliged 10 submit to the farce Of Mr..
Be Pesigning AT East Greenwich. in order TO
secure his seat in the Senate, and then to
white. wash him By q new election. He con.
sidcred the attempt to re-charter the Bank
BY the present Congress- parallel case with
that Of Mr.. Burrif. This question did not
belong 10 the present Congress 70 decide.
F. lie considered thero was great danger in
pressing renewal Of the charter, at present.
The Bank was sspowerful engine, il was q
sort Of monied monopoly. which might have
sn improper influence. The people ought 10
be consulted aud their Representatives ough,
- bs acquainted with their feelings on this
subject.
A thu Charter would no, expire until 1896,
the expediebcy Of rochartering 1t must de-
pend upon the tncn situation Of the country.
II was improper ID pct upon il now, ss cir.
samstssces might occur before that period,
which would have q mster,al iuHuencc on
the decision Of the question. .--tpn this sub
jsct, he said, he was happy 10 agree 9TH one
when HE political opponcnls held up TO be one
cf ,he greatest men Of the sge--mr. Clay
--though he differed with them on this poni.
u vas rarely he agreed in sentiments with mr..
Clay, yet hs had expressed bis views upon
THE very question. speech delivered al Gin.
cinnst. ~ 1880, ~hieh entirely corrcsponded