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


was there obnoxious IN the construction of the
committee 1t was true that, two years ago, they
had reported on the subject, and that the distir.
gush"i g-utlcnion from SoIth Carolina, (Mr.
McDuni2,) WAS ihcn, now, at its head; but since
then il had undergone entirely organian.
ton. f. consisted OF seven mcmbers three friend.
ly, il mi gh be supposed to the cchartornm of the
Bunk. The other three we've new members of the
House and OF the committee, and there was no
possibility OF knowing t,.Cir sentiments in relation
to it; at least, speaking Tor himscif, he could So
lcmnly declare his total ignorance OF their opinion.
Thus, then, there were thrcc tor and perhaps three
against the Pr. position. Whore, then, would be
the utility Of referring the matter to Il select com
mjttee2 They MIGHT well lot the memorial sleep
the table, tot it would b" doing indirectly, to
refer it 10 select committee, with IL minority
against it. fthc object those who advocated its
reference to select committee was to have q mi
nority, for the purpose Of giyn, expression TO their
views they had it already IN tho Committee of
Ways and Means. They had conceded the chair
man, the gentleman from South Carolina, MR.
McDuiHe9
Mr.. W,yHn. That was the argument of the gen.
tleman from Virginia, MIR. Archery
Mr.. iNGausoLL resumed. lie had understo God it.
to be conceded, by all those who wished for the
appointment OF select committee He did not
care to what committee the memorial was sent it
ought certainly TO 80 TO one where it would be
speedily acted
the floor this question with the object of ap.
pcaling 20 his friend from Georgia, (Mr. WayneO
not to move to lay the memorial on the table. He
trusted that course would not be taken with it, but
that it would meet the respect which the import
ance of its subject deserved at ;hcr hands. He
wished to know. he ua cirgd, what had been the
former course in relation .o the matters connected
with the chartcrng OF Inc Bank. Did the bill
which granted the charter CuauGtc from the FL
nance Committed Ii SO, tayro surely could be
no IMPROPERLY in referring the memorial TO that
committee. Hit originate. IN i select committee,
he, Mr.. Carson, was perfectly disposed TO let the
matter pursue the customary order, and 5 end the
memorial TO Il select cumnlttec, III which case the
Speaker would be fully warranted in placing it in
the hands OF its friends MIR G.. went on to saw
that he also disclained introducing party politics
into this discussion. He was disposed neither to
put down man, elevate another, in reference
to such matter The member from Virginia,
lMr. Mercer, had said that he one of the last
persons iii that House who could be Justly charged
with mlnglIng party politics with subjects of hgh
national importance; ami yc- Ia regretted to say
that that gentleman had been imporecpliby drawn
into expressions OF Il strong party nature. Whilst
he dlsciiimcd all party spirit, he expressly con-
dcmned the Executive for having recolnmc nded to
their attention, in his message, the subject of the
approaching expiration O. the Bank charter and
the question of its proposed extension or renewal.
30 lar from this beng matter for ccnsurc con-
domination, in his (Mr. C's) opinion, it formed
cause for commentator. lie had a few remarks
further to offer, and would not dotain them long
he hoped his friend from Georgia would not
move to lay the memorial upon the table. Let
DC ana Dill, the commit
tee thought proper, reported the subject, and
then 1t might be discussed i'll spirit of nanliness
and franknuss. He could not but express his re-
greet at some OF the observations which had been
made, but he would only so far aludc TO them, lest
it might be thought the friends of the Executive
were apprehensive on the subject of the recent oc-
currcnccs at Baltimore adverted to by the gentle
men from Georgia, (Mr. Waync9
Mr.. WILDE said, that it seemed TO him, grea:
Inconvenience would result from referring the me-
mortal toa Committee of the Whole OH the state
the Union, proposed by his friend from South
Carolina, (Nlr. Davis.) After full discussion of
the question in al! its bearings, it would have to
DO referred to committee before they could ar
rive at final action upon it. 4 bill would have to
be reported and another discussion would neccs
sarily arise With respect TO the object of the
gentlemen who proposed and advocated its refe-
renee to select committee, he would beg to OBJ
serve that ne did not see how it could be accom-
plishcd by pursuing the they had pointed
out. what was the object they aimed at? 1t was
to have another opportunity of viewing the question
under another aspect, but it had been acccded to,
that the Chairman of The Committee of Ways and
Means should preside it in The event of its
beng appointed. What was the usual course in
respect TO matters referred? 1t customary to re-
fer such question either to the standing commit
toe, to a special committee favorable to the mea-
sure proposed, or finally, TO one, the members of
winch were known to accord in opinion with the
great majority of the House. upon the question sub
mittcd to it. 1t had been urged that it ought not to
go to the Committee OF ways s. Means, on account
OF former report fthat committee having been de-
cIdcdly IN favor OF ra-charering the Bank; but
supposinE that to be an objection itself still
he must beg TO state that the Committee was now
differently constructed. He believed that the char
ter of the Bank of England would expire before
that OF the Bank Of the United States; and he con-
jured the House to reflect the effect which its
expiration might have upon the capital and curren-
cy OF this country. This event, in addition to the
reasons stated III the memorial Of the Bank, was
sufficient i'll his opinion, to render it extremely de-
l,l,. 1.
and decisive action the question. Whether the
Bank of the u States were to be re-chartered or
not, it of the first Importance that measures
should be adopted to provide against contn gencies
and enable 1t to meet any OF the emergencies
which might possibly arise from the event he had
alluded TO.
Mr.. APPLETON wished ;hc memorial to be refer
red to select committee, the Committee on w avs
and Means might have to do with the question par
TALLY matter of revenue, and as such might be
qualified Tor its consideration but that committee
as now organized, could have nothing to do with
It's important bearing on thG currency; it would be
most important that the committee to which this
question sent, should consider whether i'm case
their opinion was in favor Of IFS renewal the Bank
charter was not cept!b.c OF many and i'm Important
notifications and improvements; with these views
he wished select Committee TO bo appointed who
might give the mater thorough and not partial
investigation.
MIR. MITCHELL said, no concurrcd heartily with |
the gentleman from Georgia who spoke first, MIR |
WayHe) lie did not thins tie present the proper
time for agitaIiug this question. But they had been
tcrcstcd i'm its immediate settlement to the amount
O ,f, Il IL