Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-01-11

stood the gentleman from Georgia Alright, though
he had made no specific motion ON the SUBJECT
he would have It thrown contemptuously un'
der the table, as an unfit subject at the present
time TO engage the attention OF that House.
And what reason did he assign! Because the
petition partook of party character. and that Its
presentation was connected with certain political
movements. That might be reason to that gen.
tleman for the sentiments he had expressed, but
it was none for him; he (Mr. c. was not in the
secrets of the Baltimore Convention. He stood
on that floor not as the representative OF the views
of that any other party. but OF portion ot the
people of the United States, and to assert the right
Of the petitioners to the attention Of that House,
was part of the duty reposed in him. The homo
rable gentleman from South Carolina MR. Nc
Dufie) has said, that If the question was connect
ed with party politics now, 1t would ever be so;
and that the same evil in this respect would al
ways hurt them. He did not view things in so
bad light. He did hope that the great expert.
ment Of representative government would not
be found so utterly to have failed, as that such
government was incapable Of deciding question
| Of the first Importance, on great and fundamen-
tai principles, without the interference OF party
politics. Whcn-hs could assent to such belief,
he should consider that the great end Of republic.
can government had failed; for in the eye Of rea.
son It was matter Of perfect Indifference whether
tyraut on his throhe put forth his mandate to
control the will OF apeOple. or whether dema.
gosue from bis committee room issued his pro-
clamaiion for the same purpose, AID with the
same result. He trusted this question was TO be
decided. not on preference for this or that in
,ividual, but on those great national principles
whose object was the welfare of the community at
large He did not wish. to bring on discussion
Of The merits Of the subjects; his sole desire was
that respectful petition. on-a fitting and mo-.
mentous subject. should receive the attention of
that House. WHY should we be deferred from
approaching this question for the reasons men,
toned by the honorable gentleman!lMr Wayne
Let him who feels himself free from the motives
of party influence-who is conscious ne can bring
to the consideration Of this question a judgment
unbiased BY party politics-approach the ques-
ton fearlessly. But suppose it to be true that
there is party who might design to pervert the
powers and uses Of that House, and to make 1t a
mere party machine, how could their views and
purposes be better aided than by the course pro-
posed by the honorable gentleman? Should any
one sound the trumpet Of party on this question,
he had no doubt such person might be able to
take with him some few OF similar sentiments;-
but he felt confidence ip that House that it
would not render itself subservient to such an
end. He did not accuse the gentleman from
Georgia Of any such design; he only spoke OF the
effect his course was likely to produce, and at
the same time he had no doubt OF the sincerity
Of The fears he had expressed; he must say he
thought they would be found to have no founda-
ton. TO what committee the petition was sent
he was mainly Indifferent, but he wished the mat
ter to be fairly and honestly met. II il went to
the Committee Of Ways and Means, he should.
indeed, feel confdepse which he might not If
il went to Select Committee, and he could not
see why it should not take it's usual course
That was Committeesto which all topics con-
nected with the revenue of the country were re.
terrible; and from the days Of Alexander Hamil-
ton to the present time, the Bank question ever
had been considered as so connected. To use
the strong expression Of gentleman from South
Carolina MIR. McDufie1 the other day, those
subjects were as intimately connected as soul
and body. According to parliamentary usage,
it should be referred to committee favorable to
it; not to {" nurse that would wish to strangle
it." The most trivial matters we're so referred;
and would they act differently by one OF so much
Importance as that before them? Whatever com.
mitee it went to, he earnestly hoyed it would re.
ceive that earnest and deep attention which Its
character required
Mr.. Arcner, AFTER some preliminary IcmdIhs,
said, that, in the event Of the gentleman from
Georgia, Mr.. Wayne or any other member Of
the House, moving to lay the memorial on the ia
Bile, he should certainly record his vote IN favor
Of the proposition. He did not think the subject
Of the memorial prematureIy brought forward,
considering the vast interests involved, and the
great influence Of the institution; but still he
must ask whether the Directors Of the Bank we're
to choose their own time to bring 1t into that
House for discussions The question that arose
was as to the manner Of disposiug Of the memo
rial. What had been the mode heretofore!-
Certainly it had not hcsn the practice to refer it
to the Committee of Ways and Means, which
usually had its hands too full Of its own proper
business to allow its devOting due attention to
subject Of such magnitude and importance
subject which, considering it in any point Of view,
was well worthy of the consideration Of special
committee. Another reason existed why it should
not 60 before the Committee of Ways aud Means,
and that was, that the Committee, two sessions
ago, composed Of almost the same materials as
now, had presented airport, corresponding in