Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-14

Mr. Coulter, Of Pennsy said that he had not been
80 fortunate as the gentleman from Georgia, (Mr Wayne)
inasnuch he had not heard that such memorial was
this day be presented to the House, and the only ea
he felt any particular interest, as to the dspouon oil
it, was that many of the petitioners resided within the
from which he He had the same interest In
general with other citizens oil the country; "nat was
cd by number Of highly respectable citizens on asubec
vitality interesting to the nation Had they nota right to
address this House! Had they approached II with am adj
dress upon light and frivolous subject subject improper
to occupy the othc Legislative body? No. twas
asubect which camed the attention only OF that House
but OF the whole Union subject which undergo the
action of the Legislature, at period not far Distant
And how was it proposed to treat these czens' II he
had not misunderstood the gentleman from Georgia. that
gentleman had proposed that these citizens together with
the subject which they petioncd should be contemp-
uously thrown under the table, and that the ground
that it was subject not fit at this time TO occupy the at
tcntion of the Representatives OF the U. States. What
the advancedin support of this poon Why
that the subject of the petition parook of party charac
hat the presentation Of the petition connected
with certain other political movements in the country
This might be a good with the gentleman from
Georgia. he very possibly in the of par
y that had Baltimore, but for HIMSELF he was
not He stood that floor the Representative of the
Pcopcprepared TO act the subjects which in that
pacity might be brought before him. He governed
by such consideraions-hc knew of xon of
the memorial with any party other proceedings Bal
tmore All he knew was, that the petitioners resided in
the State of Pennsylvania; that they had right pre-
sent the memorial, and had acted properly in doing
and allegation that the paper was connected with
political movements at Baltimorc formed why
he should not exercise the responsibility which had
been committed 10 him. Ii had been said that The
question always would be connected with the politics
of the country IL that true, il objection that
would apply equally all times. But such was not his
view of the subject lie hoped that the great experiment
of representative government had completely
failed, that Legislative Assembly could pronounce
upon great subject connected with the interests of the
country, without being governed by predictions
and by feelings OF mere party politics. The he
should be compelled to believe that he should conclude
that the great republican experiment had failed; for il
the TO him whether despo the throne donineer
cd over the country or some dcmagoguc who issued his
proclamaons from a committee room, elsewhere, con-
trolled public opinion, and ruled the country If great
questions ofNationa Policy be the pary
politics OF the day, by preference for individuals
the people ought to know it, 1t because he beev
that that House capable of deciding such question
that of the Bank purely national principles that he
believed that the present memorial ought receive
action of that House He should enter upon any con-
sderaons which touched the merits of the question he
would only say in general that the paper before the
House respectful petition subject every way fl,
for the action of the House, and ought its action
Were gentlemen TO be deferred from the consideration of
the memorial by such reasons as had been offered by the
gentleman from Georgia! He hoped that every man who
felt in his bosom higher and nober principles of
ton than that gentleman had alluded to- would not be de-
TERED from the discharge of his duty that the who
stood there Representative of the people, and felt that
he worthy stand, would in such manner as
to show that he above the reach OF such motives
Let him suppose that this House was 10 be wrcsted from
the course OF duty and patriotism and perverted and de-
based into mere party machine, what he asked would
be The most direct mode Of accomplishing such end?
He knew of directly calculated effect il than
Georgia. II any gentleman that floor chose become
the trumpeer 10 blow the rally of party he might perhaps
succeedin carrying portion OF the House with him. yet
lie must still believe that House capable, in spite OF all
such efforts of deciding national questions on national
principles. He had idea that the gentleman from
Georgia intended TO rally party but whatever the
gentemans intentions, such alone could be the effect
his remarks; could he have devised filter mode tc
really felt all the bodng fears Nc had expressed but he
could not but consider them entirely premature.
AS to the committee TO which the memorial might be sent
W. IN matte Ot
only difference between sending a Select Committee
and sending ii TO the Committee of Ways and Means is
his that in the Committee of Ways Means he had the
utmost confidence, but he might quite as much in
a Select Committee. He reason why the subject
should not take the same course hitherto done
The Committee OF Ways and Means raised expressl,
to consider questions connected with revenues and he
asked whether this subject did naturally ;tse
with the duties of such committee? None could doub
it, From tho days of Alexander Hamilton until that day
they had been closely conncctedso closely that to use
the eloquent expression of the gentleman South Caro-
na the might be called the body and the the soul
Why should not the memorial go the Committee of avs
and Mcans 1t belonged TO that committee by the rules
of the House, and had always been referred TO them
preparatory step. Why should it be He could
valid reason had TO be sure been objected that
that committee had already expressed opinion the
general subject: Very true; and that very reason
why he wished to send there. 1t parliamentary
refer subjects TO committees whose views favorable
and should not great question: which the wses
men of the country had bestowed their thoughts
pressed their opinions go to committee whose views
were IN It's favor, when matters OF the most trivial
mcnt were subject 10 that rule! The object in that very
proper parliamentary rule that proposed
might he presented in the most favorable manner-that
might TO speak, have fair chance; and the language
OF the books parliamentary law, that il might not
committed 10 who would be strangle it.
He did not wish TO this memorial stranged He wish
ed TO to committee where it would receive the con-
sdcraion which it neritcd, in order that it might after
wards receive the judgment of the House, unprecedented
and fairly expressed.
Mr. Appleton said that the sbiect-matter of the petit
ton OF the deepest interest the community 1t
most Intimately connected with the commercial in
erest but not exclusively Every class and
ton OF the country interested in the question whether
the charter of the Bank of the United States should be re-
ncwed He thought that the importance of the interests
involved made proper that the petition should be refer
red to Select Committee who would give the subject
their undivided attention. The appropriate duties the
Committee of Ways and Means had reference the nan-
certain degree with this nstution-but in his opinion
its bearing the general prosperity of great
er and paramount interest. Its relation
nvoved perhaps, the most important question in our
whole internal policy He supposed there no doubt
that, whether referred TO the Committee of WAYS and
Means to Select Committee, according to the prnc-
pies usually adopted in the appointment of committees
report would be made in favor of renewing the charter
But 1t was OF the utmost importance that careful and
thorough examination should be had whether some mod
hcations OF the existing charter should made on its
renewal; and what should be the terms and conditions
lie believed il 10 be susceptible Of mprovem and hop
ed committee would be appointed who would examine
the subject thoroughly, unniuenced if possible
ty considerations which certainly ought connect
ed with this subject
The debate further continued, by short speeches
from the following gentlemen:
Messrs. Archer and Mercer, Of Virginia. Ingersol of
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