Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-03-28

Wien the question came up in the
IIous Of Representatives towards the
clos, Of the last session, on the resolution
decarng the public derostes safe in the
Ih,taa States Bank, Mr.. McDurpiE
made spirited reply TO Mr.. Polk, OF
Tennessee, who, in order to ingratiate
himself with the President, has been the
bitter and uncompromising enemy Of the
bank We subjoin part Of Mr.. Nc
DUFrE's remarks.
Who had brought this question before
Congress- Was it the bank; No. it
was the President Of the United States
it wasthe Secretary of the Treasury and
they had presented the subject in form
which made it the solemn duty of the
House to pronounce its opinion on the
grave and weighty matter submitted to it,
But the gentleman from Tennesse had
asked the House very gravely, whether
they were prepared TO pronounce judy
ment against the administration, and "a
gainst all who voted with him on this
ubect. All! Was the administration
then on its trial before that House, and
the country? so that if the House should
declare that the National Bank is safe
place Of deposte for the funds of the
Government, il was TO be viewed as a
condemnation of the President and his
Secretary? Mr.. Med. knew of no prin-
ciple on which such conclusion rested
than this, that the greater the truth, the
greater the libel. When the House de-
clared that the bank was safe place OF
, deposite for those funds, it spoke the
truth. None dare to say that it was not
the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth. And had Congress come
TO that pass, that they dare not tell the
truth to the American people because the
President and his Secretary had expires
!, sed different opinion, and that wlthou
!, the shadow Of foundation? Mr.. McDu!
fie had been utterly astonished that an.
department Of this government shoul'
have expressed so extraordinary an opin
} ion as that the national deposies were
not safe in the bank ofthe United States
: lie solemnly declared that through every
; period of the investigation which had ia.
ken place he had but one opinion, which
,. was, that in the whole civilized worl.
y there did not exist bank more perfect
, ly competent to meet all its engagements
b and which better fulfilled all the ends 70
which it had been created. lie woul'
go further, and declare it his opinion tha
there was no such bank in the world AN
no such currency in existence any where
No government had received such facil
tiles from any bank whatever as the A
, mericsn government had constantly re
ceived, and was still receiving from tn
bank of the United States. While tn
bank had funds in its possession to pa
all its debts, meet its whole circulation
and all its other engagements Of ever
kind, and had moreover AZ millions {
;. dollars for its stockholders, that govern
ment should tell the people that their de
posites were not safe there-and thf
Congress must not have the frmness an
d Justice to declare to the contrary?
" was most extraordinary Were they
q make every question party question:
! Must every man be exactly in the vel
= Of the President and his Secretary
WAS :, the House to be held as making a
!, ;, attempt upon the President because
q told the truth? truth which the gentle
V man from Tennessee would not himse
d deny? Did the gentleman himself bC
e lieve, on bis conscience, that the go,
ernmant depostes were not safe in tn
bank' He did not. There was not
man in the United States capable Of con
pretending the subject, who could hol'
u or would avow such an opinion.
MIR. McDuflie would not speak win
he thought about this proceeding. II
- would not say that it was persecution; b'
'e he would say that the opinion expresse
: , by the President Of the United State
rs and the Secretary of the Treasury, Wa
IS under all the circumstances, the mo
e. pernicious and the most unwarrantab
tx ever put forth by public men. What,
e. fact, had saved the whole communi
- - from one universal wreck? Nothing b
n, the fact that our commercial communal
possessed too much intelligence to b
iieve what had been told them by the a.
S. minstration. In any other country, sue
declaration would have produced
panic which, however unfounded, mu
. have brought the bank to ruin. Than
- be to God, and to our commercial COT
n munity, the thing had been but a fl
f. days. wonder, md had passed away;a
n such declaration, il put forth nov frc
ir the same source, would have not mo
O. influence in the community than il'it pi
a. ccedcd from the most Insignificant i'm