Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-04-13

pared tn receive him almost no Where. Inc
powerful and formidable armament. destined Tor
the attack of Orleans, was composed, IN good
degree of the army OF Wellington; vain glorious.
ly called the conauerors OF Europe. Every mai
from that quarter was received with alnpst orea,h
less anxiety. 1t was even asserted 10 one OF 'he
papers Of the day, that Orleans had been caP'ure
ed. and that the President vas IN possession VI
official intelligence of the fact. Nay we "ere
by one editor furnished with the ominous pted,G'
ton, that we should never celebrate announcer 4''
Of July, as an independent nation.
The situation of affairs was such, as 10 cause
in the then temporary capital, meeting Oh Tue
members friendly to the Administration, 10 ur
eide upon some great question concer"ns 'he
public good; speaking from memory. VIII not
assert it positively,) believe the suo)ec' ha"e,
was the Bank was the subject,
have, to this dav. strong impression upon my
mind, of the effect produced BY bret address
from the venerable Finday Of Pennsyvanla-
His advanced aye, his lettering form, his tremu'
ous voice, seemed almost to produce the s"lem-
nifty of the voice OF one from the dead, when ne
called upon US To save the country In the midst
of all this anxious solcitude. but not I'LL after
the Bank Bill had passed, came the news oi the
memorable battle of the 9Th of January; and new
er shall forget the ecstacy OF the House, upon
hearing OF that event. will not attempt de-
scripOn, further than to say that it put to Hight
every thing like parliamentary form, IN the re-
ciprOcal congratulations which took place. -
Such was the condition of the country, and such
the circumstances occurring. during the Session
of Congress commencing in Sept. 1914, and
terminating March Sd, 1915. And now the
question arises, why did | not vote on the Bank
Bill of January, 1915? This is my answer
On the one hand, it was NV fixed and consci
eutious belief. that Congress had not The constl-
tutional power 10 charter Bank. On the other.
had The most ardent desire 10 sustain the honor
and arms ofmy country; and to that end, that
the government should be furnished with the ne
cessary means. understood that the then Sc
cretary of the Treasury was Of opinion, that, I'M
der existing circumstances, the establishment OF
national bank was one Of the most efficient
means of raising our credit, and supplying funds
| to carry on the war. In this painful dilemma.
| VIVA, should do, was the question to be decI-
dcd? My mind was not satisfied that the cx-
| tremi;y of the case was great enough TO justify
me, upon the principle saiuspopuh supre'nn lee.
to vote for the Bank, in direct violation, as |
| conceived, of the Constitution. The alternative,
then, was either to vote against it. or not to vote
at ALL Upon this alternative, deberated for
| uayS anu nights Win Udlniui duAietJs
expressed to seine of my political friends, my in
made to me, whose language. indeed, ] cannot
now remember. but whose import Is deeply I'M
pressed upon my memory.
was conjured, il could not aid them. in
carving on the war. not to impede them. Cues.
tons like this, in substance, were propounded to
me. Had such an overwesnins self-conhdence,
as to think myself intuii:bIe: Gould moi give
credit to my political friends. FOR virtue aud in
teligence enough, to doubt ;he proprlety of my
own opinionl II they could reconcile it to them
selves to vote for it. would persevere. in voting
| against a measure, which it was believed, would
furnish The means to defendfhe country, and thus
stake the defence of that country upon the inial-
libility of one single opinion of mnes
Under all the circumstances Of the case, de-
eided not TO vote at ALL and, If ever. in my life,
the motive to my action was disnterested patri-
o,ism. it was upon this occasion, emphaticaly.
that it operated. was not unaware, that such
course might subject me to criticism; but, un.
caring consequences, as they regarded myself.
! resolved todevote myself for the public good
II any one, for moment. can suppose, that there
was shrinking from responsibility. TO him, let
me say that my conduct and its motives. were
| not hid under bushe; they were openly avow-
ed. and publicly known in Washington. They
were also openly avowed and-publcly known IN
my district. They were there triumphantly vim
dlcated, by collection IN spite of this objection.
by an overwhelming majority. Many of the
facts which | have stated, have now become mat
ter of history. As to those which are not So.
though seventeen wears have now elapsed. |
would venture to appeal to the recollection OF the
few gentlemen, now in the councils OF the nation,
who were then members, and who belonged to
the same political school with myself.
But why need refer TO memory, when | can
derive from the records OF the House. satIsfacto-
ry proof by inference, that my course had refer
ence solely to the public good. and was pursued
under the emergency of the case?
The Journals will shew, that IN the 2sth No
vember, 1914, voted against bill. to charter
an United States Bank At that time. the crisis
in our al IRIS had not arrived. They will shew.
too, that on the 18th FebruSc1. 1915. | voted for
theipdednite postponementoi bill from the Sc
nate. for chartering bank. This motion was
made. too. bv Mr.. Lowudcs, who had thereto
fore voted for bank. Butt will be remember
ed, that the crisis in our affairs had now passed.
for by this time we had the news of peace. =