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

-. NN "NNSNNN W, unit "a hartman oil the Conn
iniNee OF Ways and Means should preside over IL In the
event Of ITS being appointed. What was the usual course
III respect TO matters referred? 1t was customary to refer
s"cn d question either TO a standing committee, TO a special
committee favorable 20 the measure proposed, or finally.
10 one inc members of which were known 10 accord i'm
opinion WIN q great majority OF the House, upon the ouss-
uoh submitted to IL. Ii bad been urged that IL OUGHT NOT
TO go 10 the Committee of Wavs and Means. ON account NJ
!, rme report oil that committee having been decidedly
:" w ,, ie-ehartenng the bank; but even supposing that
10 DC an Objection itself, still he must beg TO state that the
committee was now differently constructed. He belicv-
ca mat the charter OF The bank of England would ex-
pire before that of the bank Of tho United States. and
he conJured the House to reflect on the effect which lis
cNpirauon might have upon the capital and currency of
MS country Inc event, in addition to the reasons stated
in the memorial of the bank, was sufficient. in his onin;nn
10 renderit extremely desirable that the House should
come TO speedy and decisive action on the question
whether the Bank Of the United States were obc re-. char
tered or not, 1t was OF the first importance that measures
s anoSn % adopted to provide against contingencies, and
enable 1t TO meet any of the emergencies which MIGHT
possibly arise from the event he had alluded to.
MIR. Appleton wished the memorial TO be referred too
select committee; the Committee on ways and Means
might nave TO do with the question partially as a matter
oil revenue, and as such might be qualified for its consid-
aIoh u, 'nat committee, as now organized could have
ho'hihg 10 DO with ITS important bearings on the currency;
u would be most important that the committee 10 which
ms question was sent, should consider whether. in case
their option was in favor of its renewal. the Rank cba,ter
was not susceptible of many and important notifications.
and improvements; with these views he wished n select
committee TO be appointed, who might give the matter a
thorough and not a party investigation.
MIR. Mitchell said, he concurred heartily with tbe
gentleman from Georgia who spoke first, Mr.. WAYNE \
Il e ud not mink the present the proper time for opitatip1
THIS question. But they had been told that the citizens of
the United States were interested in its immediate settle
ment to the amount of fifty millions of dollars; and that il
would be impossible, fwe deferred the settlement of this
matter to the next session, for the Bank TO wind up its
affairs by the time their charter would expire. There
was one simple circumstance connected with tho 30
cent history of the Bank which he should mention, as
he conceived it, in itself, a sufficient answer to this are,,-
ment. Alta meeting of the stockholders, held in Phila-
deiphia last fall, they had thought it sufficient 10 leave il
TO the discretion of their President TO apply for the objects
oil this memorial at any time after the expiration of the
Bank charter. What then should be said of this impera-
i've. Immediate necessity for action on this memorial. The
persons most interested, individually interested, had not
thought it necessary to act upon it; they had left it to the
discretion of their President TO apply for the purpose of
a renewal at any time before the expiration of the
charter. Gentlemen had disputed this being n mar
ty question. II was decidedly the most so of any agitated
in congress. The party who were against the Bank, were
for having the matter decided on constitutional principles.
and he hoped, when this question should come up thew
fycald, power that urar dari,,od' islSas", principles to on
He did not consider the Committee of Ways ana means
the proper committee, ifit were determined TO refer this
memorial. Were this question TO be decided, whether it
was best to sell out our own stock, or whether il were bet
ter TO sell TO the Bank, or not at all; then, indeed, the re-
ference might have been proper. BUTT was not a simple
question of revenue that was to be decided il was great
constitutional question. He did not conceive it an evil
that party should exist on this question; it did exist in eve
ry speech in that Housc-every newspaper out of it bore
testimony TO the fact, but it was partly founded on what
it ought to be, a jealousy of the Infringement OF constitu-
tional rights. At present, he thought the question should
not be before the House. We had another and more i'm
portant one to act upon; he meant the tariff A whole
section OF the country were calling earnestly and loudly
for the settlement of that question; and it would take MS
the whole of the session TO come TO an issue on it-He
hoped the honorable gentleman from Georgia would re-
new his motion 10 lay the memorial on the table; and if
that failed, he trusted il would be referred TO a select COM
mittee.
Mr.. Root said, the question before the House was
not at present of a party character, unless it might
be considered as appcrtaining to that party 10 which
the gentleman from South Carolina, (Mr. Mitchcll)
alluded, as the constitutional party. The question
was, to which Of the three committees, tee the memorial
state Of the Union, to the Committee of Ways and Means,
or 10 a select committee. If it is 10 be made a party ques-
ton, and that on a great constitutional principle, il became
them toexamine more particularly as to the powers of
Congress, on the subject OF Incorporating a great National
Bank. Mr.. r.. went ON to say, that it was acknowledged
by all those who advocated that institution, that the pow
ers of Congress were incidental in the matter, inasmuch
as the Bank was necessary for the management of the fs-
cal concerns Of the nation, and the proper establishment of
its currency. Congress deriving its power, Mr.. Root
said, from the necessity Of a bank as an instrument in the
hands of the Treasury, for the collection, preservation,
and disbursement OF the revenue, and TO give us the be-
neht Of one uniform currency throughout the nation; and
upon these two grounds alone, that the power was found
ed. 1.-THE re- chartering of the Bank were TO turn upon
the question of consitutionality, the mode Of reference
was still more important. What committee then could
most appropriately make the enquiry? In his judgment,
certainly the committed which managed the fiscal affairs
Of the naion-the committee that prepare and digest the
schemes of revenue and exercise a general supervision of
the public finances. With these views, he was fully OF
opinion that the memorial should go the Committee of
WAYS and Means.
Mr.. Dearborn said, that 10 refer this memorial to the
Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, would
RHN aN0' 0F'EN $780,
which would answer merely 10 waste the time Of the
House. As TO a select committee, gentlemen could gain
nothing by its appointment, if the parliamentary rule OF
appointment were observed. IL had everbeen the rule to
appoint, as members Of such committees, those who were
favorable TO the measure referred. The minority of the
Committee of WAYS and Means, as well as that OF a select
committee, might prepare a contre pTojet, and exhibit the
other side Of the question. For three consecutive years
the President, in his message had called for action on thi,
subject, and the House, in apportoning the message, had
referred that part TO the Committee of Ways and Means
as well as the report Of the Secretary of the Treasury OF
! that subject; and now, when the Bank takes us at oul
word. and LAYS the matter before US, it Is objected that tina
committee has heretofore reported ~favorably on it. On
remark of The gentleman from Georgia, was 10 him a sub
iect not only Of astonishment, but regret. He had said
this measure was prccipitated on them by the recent move
menis Of a political party; at the same time, the journal
of the House would testify, that it had been before then
for three years. IL blame should attach any where as Il
this matter. it was to the President, not 20 The Bank. The,
had como there merely in self defence TO put an end 4
that fuctuating state Of their stocks, TO which the undo
| cidcd state Of This question gave rise. lie wished the
measure referred, asit had heretofore been, tothe Commi;
tee Of Ways and Means.
MI. Johnston, of Virginia, said that it was a matter q
] general notoricty that this was ono Of the great question
which aeitatcd Hc nation, and il was incumbent on IN
House to examine into IL in such a manner as 10 develop
the past influence Of the bank on the affairs of the countr
and on the public business. He deprecated, however. On
introduction Of personal or political feeling into this debate
1 and oxprnecod hfa trteh fbot tho cctN sbo,Id h. uzt .