Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-17
Twemty-sccond Congrcss.--scss. n.
[Sketch Of the Debate coatinmed.1
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

W0nddy, Jdnttdlv 9fI

Monday, January 9Th.
MEMORIAL OF THE BANK OF THE n
MIR. Archer, after some preliminary remarks said that
In the event of the gentleman from Georgia. fNr Woyn. \
or any omer member of the House, moving to lay the
"omoriai on the table, he should certainly record his vote
IN iavor oil the proposition. He did not think the subject
vi oe memorial prematurely brought forward, CONSIDERING
me vast interests involved, and the great influences OF the
institutions; but still he must ask whether tho d;roc,ors of
oil the bank were TO choose their own time 10 brine IL into
mat house Tor discussion. The question that arose was as
o"e manner oi disposing OF the memorial. What had
been the mode heretoforey Certainly il had not bccn the
practice to refer it to the Committee of WAYS and Means.
which usually had its hands too full of its own nroror In.
siness to allow OF its dcvoting due attention TO a subject of
such magnitude and Importance subject which. con-
side1ng II in any point of view, was well worthy of the
consideration OF n special committee. Another reason ex-
listed, why 1t should not go before the Committee of WAYS
and Means, and that was, that the COMMITTEES two sessions
aso, composed oil almost the same materials as now, had
presented a report corresponding in substance with the
memorial beforc'the House. He certainly was not ds.
posed TO use the allusion of the gentleman from Penn
sylVania, Mr.. Coulter, TO send it to a nurse who would
strangle 1t, but at the same time, he was equally ayerse to
sending it for an opinion TO those whose opinions were not
only made up respecting it, but also we'll known. send
II toa select ommittee, observed Mr.. Archer, even if
you have a majority of the members Of that committee
friendly TO the object of the memorial, and place in addi-
ton IL you choose, the Chairman of the Committee Of
Ways and Means at its head.
MIR. Mercer said it had been conceded by all. that n
was necessary a majority of the committee should be in
favor oil The measure referred, all that was contended for
was, a minority averse TO it. He thought their object as
hkely TO be gained in the Committee of WAYS and Means.
as by the appointment of a select committee. The fact
nat TWO or three sessions ago, a report favorable to the
measure had been made by that committee he looked up-
on as nothing. He wished it to go to the Committee of
!" avs and Means, and he had looked pretty deeply into
tue subject. He thought it should go 10 that Committee
because the terms on which the charter sbould be renew.
cd, IL 1t were renewed, should accord with those matters
ana measures OF revenue, which that Committee had I'M
der consideration. Whatever might be his opinion peno-
rally as to the present administration, he could safely saw.
ne had as little TO do with party politics as anv member in
that House but when he saw this measure ob,r,,dcd nm
on them, as it had been by the Chief Magistrate. he must
condemn him as he had done his predecessors the Chief
Nla0lStrltG OUGHT NO IA fnaGo pnII:o =
favorable to a subject, till brought before him as n matter
OF legislation. He regarded the bank as a public institu-
ton, and not in reference TO its stockholders: the matter
haa been thrice discussed by men of a%bility-in times of
peril, and in time OF peace, aud we did not now reuuire
any additional illumination onthe subject of the researches
OF a select committee.
MI. Davis, OF 5. Carolina, moved to refer the memorial
10 committee OF the Whole on the state of the Union.
~ nr' nngeTsol said that the course which the debate had
taken, would, he thought, warrant hirnrirt .paahHrtbem.
With regard TO the quesd6h OF referring them to the Com
mittee of Ways and Means, he must observe that both the
gentleman from Georgia, Mr Wayne1 and the gentle
mtn from Virginia, (Mr. Archery appeared to have little
objection to the Chairman of the Finance Committee, (Mr.
being the Chairman OF the Select Committee
proposed TO be appointed, so it seemed then they were
willing TO retain the head of the Committee of Ways and
Means, and anxious only TO get rid of the rank and file.
And what, he would ask, was the amount of this, For his
own part, he, Mr.. Ingersoll, as a member of that commit
tee, should be extremely glad if the subject were to go in
to other hands; but let them understand the facts in rela-
ton TO that committee. What was there obnoxious i'm the
construction OF the committee 1t was true that two wears
ago, they had reported on the subject, and that tho distin-
gulSncu gentleman from -. Carolina, MIR. McDufIc. was
then as now, atits head, but since then, il had undergone
an entirely new organization. 1t consisted ofscven mera-
bers; take away its chairman, and there were three men,
hers friendly it might be supposed, 10 the re-chartering of
the Bank. The other three were new members of the
House and of the committee, and there was no possibility
of knowing their sentiments i'm relation toit AT least. sneak
ing for himself, he could solcmnly declare his total igno-
rance OF their opinions. Thus, then, there were three for,
and perhaps three against the proposition. Where, then,
would he the utility of referring the matter TO a select COM
mittee! They might as well let the memorial sleep Oh the
table, for ii would be doing soindirectly, to refer it TO a Sc
lect committee, with a majority against it. If the object
OF those who advocated its reference TO a select committee
was to have a minority, for the purpose OF giving express
sion TO their views, they had it already in the Committee
of Ways and Means. They had conceded the chairman
the gentleman frcm S. c., Mr.. M'Duiie.
Mr.. Wayne-That was the argument of The gentleman
from Virginia, Mr.. Archer.
Mr.. ingersoll resumed. He had understood il, he con-
coded by all those who wished for the appointment of a
select committee. He did not care TO what committee
the memorial was sent, it ought certainly to go to one
where it would be speedily acted on.
Mr.. Carson said he had before attempted to get the floor
on this question, with the object ofaPpealing 10 his friend
from Georgia, Mr.. Wayne, not 10 move TO lay the memo
rial on the table. He trusted that course would not he
taken with it, but that il would meet the respect which
the importance oft subject deserved at their hands. He
wished TO know, he observed, what had been the former
course in relation 10 the matters connected with the char
tering of the Bank. Did the bill which granted the char
ter emanate from the Finance Committees IL so, there
surely could be no improperly in referring tho memorial
10 that committee; he (N1r. Carson) was perfectly disposed
TO let the matter pursue the customary order, and send the
memorial TO a select committees, in which case the speaker
would be fully warranted in placing il in the hands of its
friends. Mr.. c. wenton to say, that he also disclaimed intro
ducing party politics i'm this discussion. He was disp scd nci-
Their TO put down one man, or elevate another, in reference
TO such a matter. The member from Va. (Mr. NJ bad said,
that he was one OF the last persons in that house who could
be justly charged with ~mingling party politics with sub
jects OF national Importance, and yet he regretted to say
that that gentleman had been imperceptbly drawn into
expressions ola strong party nature. Whilst he discIaimcd
all party spirit, he expressly condemned The Executive fm
having recommended to their attention in his message, the
subject Of the approaching expiration Of the bank charter
and the question of its proposed extension or renewal. 81
far from this being matter for censure or condemnation, II
bis Mr.. Co opinion, il formed cause for condemnation. III
had a few remarks further to offer and would not detaii
them long. He hoped his friend from Georgia would no
move TO lay the memorial on the table. Let the memoria
be referred, and a bill, if the committed thought proper, re
ported on the subject, and then it might be discussed in
spirit Of manlincss and frankness. He could not but OK
press his regret at some of the observations which hai
been made, but he would only so far allude to them, les
il might be thought the friends Of the Executive were ap
prehcnsivc on the subject Of the recent occurrences a
Baltimore advertcd to by the gentleman from Georgia, Mr.
Wayne.
Mr.. Wilde said, that IL seemed TO lin, great inconveni
cnce would result from referring the memorial TO a Com
mittce Of the Whole on the state of the Union, as PROPOSED
by his friend from South Carolina, (Mr Davis) After
full discussion Of the question in all its bearings, it woul
have 20 be referred to a committee before they could arriy
at a final action uponit. A bill would have 10 be reporte
10 and another discussion would necessarily arise. VIII