Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-26
Richmond, Thursday, Jan. 30.


Richmond, Thursday, Jan. 26.
The .National Ba,k--Ihc National h,ieltigencer.
The National Intelligcncer is still harping upon
the Bank-still true TO its favori;e object of expand
ing the powers of the Federal Govcrnmcnt.-Be-
cause wish limit its jurisdiction to the powers
which are embraced by its Charter, we are to be
charged with peryersc disposition to cripple it i'm
every respect. Hear HIM!
Nothing (says the lnteligencer) exceed the per-
versity OF the opposition of the Richmond Enquirer TO
cry thing which, in its scope or interest national
character The time was, when the Enquirer tho
herald Of national feelings when its editors bosom
ed with delightful sensations at beholng the national flag
floating national structures, and when State scruples
and iidculed. Now, how changed! Opposed all leeis-
a'ion by the General Government of national beneficial
character, Sc. Sc
We have uniformity supported that Government
in all lis Legitimate powers We are as much The
friends of the Union, as these Editors themselves
Our bosom still swes with delightful sensations in
beholding the national flag floating to the breeze
We will so far to support the legitimate author-
ties of the Government, any other Citizen. But
because we cannot support il in the assumption of
powers not given, or in the abuse of those which
given, the Editors of the ~ Intelligencer have ta-
ken il into their heads that have ceased to cher
sh tho pride of Americans; that we determined
to oppose call Legislation of beneficial character"
We difierin deed with the National Intelligenccr-
They first enquire whether thing is benefciai-But
our first enquiry is is il conslitutiona-our next is
it beneficial. When road is to be made, we do not
first ask is it bcnefcal-but is it agreeable to the
Constitutional it is with National University
and so it is with National Bank.-We hold, that if
power be beneficial i'm its exercise but not spec-
ment of the Constitution. But il should not be
sumcd, lest
n .rTil b. be recorded for for ptee.den.:
will rush into tho State.
As old George Clinton Justly remarked:
ain the of long life have found that Govern
mcnt is not 10 be strengthened by the assumption of
doubtful powers but Uise and energetic execution
those which ncOnfestbiehc former never fails TO
produce suspicion and dsrst whilst the latter inspires
respect and confidence IT, however, fair experience
the powers Vested in the Government shall be found in
competent TO the attainment of the objects for which it
was instituted the Constitution happily furnishes the
means for remedying the evil, by amendment"
These memorable words were uttered by George
Clinton in February, 1921, when he gave his casting
vote against the renewal of the Charter of the first
Bank of the u. S.-What was our language upon
that occasion? Were the heralds of this nation
al power at that time?or have ceased be stick
lers for power which we then asserted?-Hear us!
"Wc are happy TO learn that the Bank of the United
States seems at last descending o the tomb of the Capu-
iets-may the perddnt laurel forever bloom around the
venerable brow of Clinton IL TO H. and his the
death warrant. How much hung upon that voice! How
nobly has he borne himself up under the responsibtv
which hung upon hm!-Ifa Roman could deserve civic
crown for saving the life of fellow citizen how much
does that man merit who preserves the constitution oil his
country"
| But the n. Intelligencer charges us with seven
advocating the exercise of espotic pocer to defeat
the wili OF the sovereign people in an anticipated
case of importance to all the people of the ITn
ted States."-Despotic po,cer! WHY was the veto
power given TO the President at all? Is it never to
be exercised without its being stgmatized des-
pofte po'cer:? When Gen. Washington vetoed the APP
poriionment BILL did he exercise merely despotic
Po,0er? Was James Madison despot when he We
toed q bill providing for certain Religious Esta-
blshment? bill charerng particular Bank? a
Dill establishing mammoth fund for Internal I'm
provemcnt?
Aye but says the ~ Intelligenccr s'the will of
the people has been expressed in favor of re-char-
tering this Bauk-and it would be a despotic exer-
cse OF ms veto for him to hwart their wishes. We
snail leave 1t to the Inelligencer set at noiIght
the conscience of the Chief Magistrate-to make it
mandatory upon him to drive the ploughshare
through the Constitution of the country-acc ording
to every asserted shifting of the political breeze.
Though he is an agent of the People us well as
their representatives in Congress, vet it seems he is
not to act as his conscience actuatcs him. but as tile
voice of the majority of Congress shall drect him
And where is the proof that this voice has been
prompted by their constituents? Where are their
Instructions?
Aye! but says the Integencer we are to presume.
mat such instructions have been given.-IIow SOP
Because, =
Since (he two Messages of the Presidency the whole
body OF the House of Representatives. and one third of
the Senate OF the United States, have been renewed by
popular election Upon question which has thus been
presented to the People, tho Houses of Congress must
certainly he considered reecors of the public WILL
The President himself so considers them for in his annual
discharged has constitutional duty, he leaves the
subject TO the investigation of the People and their Re-
presentatveshe might have said as indeed the whole
bearing OF that portion of the Message implies 10 have
been his meaning, their instructed Representatives Let
1t be also borne in mind that though the Members of the
present Congress have their duty in reference TO
TINS matter under instruction from the People, the Presi-
dent oil the United States has not for his opinions this
and more than one other great public question: were not
certainly known before his election, were generally
believed be opposite TO what they have turned out to be-
He therefore, has no index the will of the People on
TINS question, but what may be afforded by the votes i'm the
Two Houses OF Congress, and especially the House OF
Representatives"
The lntelligencer does not show in how many
cases the question made at the hustings--or
how many members of Congress were elected upon
this ground. Until these facts are made out its
whole argument rests upon an idle hypothesis-lke
the Indians theory of the Earths being supported
upon the back of atoroise.--IIave they been since
instructed by their constituents TO vote for the Char
ter! No. Were they even elected upon that ground?
1t does not appear to be with majority of the
members.
But let us see how this argument applies to the
President himself 1t is true, that he has not been
elected, since his two Messages were announced
But does any man believe that he will not be re-
elected Does the National Intcllgencer even dream
of Mr. Cays If the President then is TO he
reelected, what will it show, according to the
Intellgencers copy but that the People are will
ling Tor him to exercise his Veto?-And if he
be not reelected, why then the Bank may try their
fN nat