Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-17

| 1t was SUBJECT OF vital importancc-it was ,
subject which engaged not only the attention Of
government, but Of tho whole community: md
more than that, il Il subject which must en-
gage the action of that House; if not now in
very short period. How then was it propc r to
meet such petitions? If he understood tho gentle
man from Georgia Alright, that though he had made
no specific motion the subject, he would have
IL thrown contenptuously under the table as an
"hh subject at the present tmo to engage the at
teniion of that House. And what reason did no
assign! because the petition partook of a party
character and that its presentation was connected
WIN certain political movements. That might DO
n reason 10 that gentleman for the sentiment, he
hau expressed, but it was none for him; he Mr.. CT
was not IN the secrets of the Baltimore Convention
re stood OH that floor not as the representative
OF the views of that any other party, but of n
portion OF the people OF the United States, and to
assert the right of the petitioners to the attention
OF ihat House, part of the duty re posed i'm him
INC honorable gentleman from South Corolina
(hr. McDui'ie) has said, that if the question was
connected with party politics now, it would ever
oe so; ana that the same evil in This respect would
always hurt them. He did vot view things i'm so
Dad light He did hopc that the great expert.
nient OF representative government would not
DC 1"und so utterly To have failed, as that such
government was incapable of deciding question
vi INC hrst Importance, on great and fundamental
p''hciPles without the interference of party poll
tics. When he could assent to such belle bo
i S"ouiu consider that the great end of re-
publican government had failcd for in tho eve of
'N'FS'' IL Indifference her
'yrant on his throne put forth his mandate IN
control the will of people, or whether demaoouuc
r'on Ills committee room issued his proclamation
ior the same purpose, and with the same result
nc trusted this question TO he decided not ON
preference Tor this or that individual but on those
great national principles whose object was the vel
rare OF the community at large. He did not wish
10 bring on discussion of the merits of the subcc
ms sole desire was that respectful petition on a
hliing and momentous subject, should receive tho
attention of that House Why should we he do
terred from approaching this question for the rea
sons mentioned by the honorable gentleman? MIR
Nayhc.) tctEiin who feels lnnseff free from the mo-
yves OF party infiuence-who is conscious he can
bring TO the consideration ofthis question udpment
unbiased by party politcs-approach the question
icarlessly But suppose it to be true that there is
party VINO might design TO pcrvert the power
ana uses OF that House, and make il m re partv
machine, how could their views and purposes be bet
Ter aidcd than by the course proposed by the hon
orablc gentleman? Should any ono sound the
trumpet oil party on this question: he bad no doubt
SUCH person might be able to take with him some
few of similar scntmcnts;-but he felt conf
dcncc I'm That House that it would not render itself
snbServIent to such end. He did not accuse
inc 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 lie thought they would be found to have
no ionn"ation. To what committee the petition
was sent he mainly Indifferent but he wished
the matter to be fairly and honestly met If If
went to the Committee of WAYS and Means he
should indeed, feel a confidence which he mjght
hot II IL went to Select Committee, and he could
not see why it should not take it's usual course -
mat was Committee to which all topics connect
ed with the revenue of tho couury were rcfcrablc.
and from the days of Alexander Hamilton to tho
present time, the Bank question ever had been
considered connected. To use the stropp
expression ofa gentleman from South Carolina
Mr.. McDuiiiel the other day, those ubccts wero
aS intimately connected soul and body. Acco rd
ing TO parliamentary usage, it should be referred
to committee favorable TO it; not to a "nurse
that would wish TO strange it," The most trivial
matlers were so referred; * would they act different
~ by one OF so much importance that before them7
W haleFef committee 1t went To, he earnestly hoped
1t would receive that earnest and deep attention
when It's character required
Mr.. ARCHER, after some preliminary ren,orks
SAID, that, in the event of the gentleman from
Geofgla, Mr. Wayne or any other member of the
house, moving TO lay the memorial on tho table,
ne should certainly record his vote in favor of the
proposition. lie did not think the subject of tho
memorial prematurcly brought forward consider
ing The vast interest involved, and the great infu
ence OF the institution; but still he must ask whe
'hcr the Directors of the Bank to choose their
own tine 10 bring 1T into that House for dscussion7
The question that arose was as to the manner Of
dlspoSIng OF the memorial. What had been tho
mode heretofore? Certainly it had not been the
practice to refer 1T to the Committee of WAYS and
Means which usually had its hands too full of ts
own proper business TO allow of its deyoting duo
attention to subject of such magnitude and i'm
Portance-a subject which, considering il in any
point OF view, was well worthy of the consideration
OF special committee. Another reason existed
why 1T should not go before the Committee Of
ways and Means, and that was, that the Commit
tee, Two sessions ago, composed of almost the same
materials as now, had presented report CORE
spending In substance with the memorial before tho
House. lie certainly Tot disposed to use tho
allusion OF the gentleman from Pennsylvania MIR
Coulter, to send it to who would stranrle
IL; but at the same time he was equally avcrse 10
sending 1t tor an opinion to those whose opinions
were not only made up respecting it, but also well
known. Send it to select committee, observed
Mr.. ARCHER, even if you have a majority of tho
members of that committee friendly to the OBJECT
OF the memorial, and place, in addition, if you
choose, the Chairman of the Committee of WAYS
and Means at its head.
Mr.. MERCER said, it had been conceded bv all.
that 1T was necessary ;orIty of the COMMITTEES
should be In favor of the measure referred; all
That was contcnded for was, a minority adverse to
it, lie thought their object likely to be gained
I'D the Committee of Wavs and Means as bv tho
appointment OF Il select committec-The fact that
TWO or three sessions ago, IA report favorable to
the measure had been made by that committee no
looked upon as nothing. lie wished it to 90 to tho
Committee of Ways and Means; and he had looked
pretty deeply into the subject. lie thought il
should 60 to that committee, because the terms on
which the charter should be renewed, if it were
removed, should accord with those matters and
measures of revenue which that committee had
under consideration. Whatever might be his opi
mon, generally to the present administrations no
could safely say, he had as little TO do with party
Pontics as any member in that House; but when he
saw this measure oMrudcd upon them, as il had
ooen ny the Chief Magistrate, he must condemn