The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-08-08
A SCENE IN THE SENATE.

er published IN the New York American, and
partly from the United States Gazette. Among
he tactiGS at Westinghouse the editor of the
asst mentioned paper very justly remarks,-be
sides that of attacking with sword and pistol
my Of those who doubt the purity and suprem-
icy of the " llero'-is to aegravate respecla-
Die members, by insulting language, and es-
pccially Ia take advantage of the peculiar stu
alton of MIR. Clay. and provoke him to wrath.
This Benton is the man that wrote the hand
bill about Mr.. Jackson's attack upon him; and
his brother, Jesse Benton, observed, that if he
Senator Benton) had not been an Grant cow
ard, he would have settled the dispute IN DIFF
ferent way.
Extract of letter from Washington, dated
Monday last day of the session.
UNITED STATES BANK.
The Senate resumed the consideration of
the unfinished business, being the bill to
modify and continue the act to incorporate
the subscribers 10 the Bank of The United
States
Mr.. Benton then resumed his ohserva-
tons, charging the Bank with having ap-
piled its means for the purpose of operating
on public opinion, and influencing the votes
of the people against Gen. Jackson; and
reiteratng the arguments against the Bank
which he had used during the progress of
the bill. He denied that the disasters Of the
of the late war were justly attributable 20
the want of Bank, such as the present:
and asserted that the Slate Banks had i'm
poverlshed themselves by their efforts 10
please the army He expressed his hopes
that the friends of Gen. Jackson who had
supported the Bank would he convinced, by
TO Vt nl,ar
that 1t was merely II political engine, en-
ployed for the purpose Of destroying the
election of Gen. Jackson. He invited the
members to read the phamphlet of Sir Hen
ry Parnell, against the Bank of England
and recommending its subdivision. He as
serted that the United States Bank had
uniformly refused 10 establish a branch in
Missouri, although repeatedly solicited by
the merchants, until he had unmasked his
opposition TO the Bank He then went to
quote the language of Sir William Pultney
against the Bank of England, in order to
justify. by his example, the use Of the word
monopoly" by the President. The policy
of permitting foreigners 20 hold stock in the
United States Bank, he asserted to be dis
tinct from that of obtaining loans from for
eigners for internal improvements; and de-
clared it to be extremely dangerous for for
eigners to be the brokers' Of the United
States.
He considered that the parties having
charge of this Bank measure had acted
most disrespectfuly to the Chief Magis-
irate. in not ascertaining his views and sub
hitting the matter to the Secretary OF
the Treasury, within whose province the
subject more peculiarly lay, as it was the
hight arm of Government. What else
could the country expect, but that the Chic
Magistrate would veto bill, forced in such
manner, and most prematurely, upon the
business of nation. He had hoped, how
ever, that the Chief Magistrate, whose
conduct he maintained, had been only inhu.
enced by conscientious constitutional scru.
Piles, would have been spared the comments
which had been made by honorable Sena-
tors-most lndecorous comments-particu
larry from the honorable Senator from Ken
lucky. Had the Bank project been submit
ted to the proper department. as the bill tc
regulate the Tariff had been, there nigh
have deem bill framed 10 meet the views
Of the Executive, &c.
Mr.. Clay said that he had stated the fac
that the resolutions, introduced at an early
period of the session on the subject of thu
Tariff, were in the handwriting of the
Secretary of the Treasury. That fact hac
now been admitted by the Senator from
Missouri. He had scarcely expected sucl
an admission. If the Senator from Nilsson
ri believed that his explanation had placet
the secretary rectuS in cur1a, he was very
willing to let him lest there.
But the Senator from Missouri had charg
ed him with treating the President with in
decorum. He begged leave to deny tn,
charge. Whatever reasons he might hav,
had some years since for entertaining feel
ings of an unfriendly character toward
that officer, arising out OF circumstance
which had now gone by, ever since hi
election, in all his official course toward
the President, he had av oided every thing
like indecorum. He did not, therefore
feel himself open 10 the charge which thu
Senator from Missouri had now preferred
against him. In his remarks on the mes
sage accompanying the Bill, be had indulg
ed that freedom which should always char
acterlze the discussion of important ques
tons in this body. He had commented
upon 1t as sense of duty required him t,
tant principles which it embodied. Blu
there was no indecorum in his observations
or in the tone in which they were delivered
But II he were even to be satisfied that he
was ignorant of the rules of decorum, the
Senator from Missouri was the last source
to which he would apply for lessons. He
would never 60 to the Senator, and ask
him to throw off his Indian blankets, ALI,
take him with him to Boon's Lick to give
him instructions on points of decorum, good
breeding, and etiquette. He could moi
Danish from his memory certain recollec.
tions which assured him, that, in reference
TO want OF decorum TO the President, that
Senator was at least as vulnerable as him.
self. He could not forget the circumstances
Of u certain fray in which the Senator took
part against Gen. Jackson; neither could
he forget the bulletin which that Senator
had subsequently published descriptive Of
the fray. As related 10 himself, he had
never had any personal encounter with
Gen. Jackson he bad never complained Of
any outrage offered 10 him by the Presi-
dent, because none such had ever been per-
petrated. Never had he seen II brother
stretched on the earth, wounded and near
ly dying by the hand of Gen. Jackson. and
that hand raised to give another blow,
No outrage had he of his character TO COM
plain Of The Senator from Missouri mus,
have lost sight Of his own rule of decorum.
also, when he proclaimed Il certain prophe.
cy, which had been generally circulated,
and which the Senator would recollect
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