Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-03-28

lot have been party vote--iOr, Ill SO, II would
iot have hecn So clos.. Had all the Republicans
voted for it, the bill would have been rejected two to
one. Some few may have voted against il, from party
considerations. and lave no doubt many voted ior
upon the same considerations. Sir, great moncycd
institution can and will always obtain friends mat
Ter TO what party they belong, or whether they be-
long to any, Such an institution always dies hard. |
Having insinuaed itself into all the relations Of life,
its death struggles will for time conyulse society it
SELF You have been told, that Congress did not re-
fuse the renewal of the charter upon constitutional
grounds. From whom, or i'm what manner the gen.
ueinan has obtained his information, l know not
But this do know, that every member i'm either
House who opposed the Bill, objected to the cons,i-
tutional power OF Congress To pass il. think that
it may confidently be said, ,ha, Congress i'm 1911,
decided that they possessed no power to incorporate
Bank. do not think l should venture luuch,
were To assert, that had the Bank expired in 1906
IL would not have Obtained half the votes that il did
III ioli. Ii cannot he denied, that Ina,ly who went
INTO Office in favor of strict construction of the
Constitution on this subject came over their oppo
hehts. 1t IS truth greatly TO be amened, that
most men obtain office by great professions Of devo-
ton 10 the Constitutions and the liberties of the peo
pie; but they sooner safely seated, than their
imaginations dazzled by the splendor of power
their Judgments seduced by its bewitchng smiles
they no longer speak of liberty blood bought IL
berry, or II they do 1t is only for the purpose Of up
holding the powers and prerogatives of government
nat man who comes out OF office as pure as he
went IN, is jewel beyond all price. In 1876 per-
maps, II was somewhat party question The country
was filled with notes issued by individuals and char
tered aud unchartered Banks; all however without
suihcient capital. The people had lost confidence
in this currency, and every remedy that could be in
vented was applied. The republicans declared the
war, which had given occasion to the issue of this
vast quantity OF paper and they felt responsible for
the correction of the evil. Under the rnisapprehen-
sion that Bank would correct it, they were induced
to grant the charter, expressly against the wishes of
The principal Federalists, who had attributed all the
mischief to the measures of the Republicans. /
therefore thnk, decision made under such circun-
stances ought not to be considered conclusive
But the gentleman has said that the Supreme
Court has settled the question: and that is the final
arblier--that every department of the Government.
the States and the People, must bow to its mandate
do not intend to enter into this question: have
upon former occasion given my opinions fully up
ON the powers of the Supreme Court The gentle
man, TO make us willing to acquiesce in its opinions
has pronounced a hgh-wrought eulogy on the Chief
1nstice. do not intend 10 detract from the merits
OF mat venerable man--hat he is man of Splendid
talents, none will deny-that he is patriot. few will
question: In deciding controversies between indi-
viduais no man decides more ably or eauitably and
no one defines the power of the government better
where 1t is intended to operate upon indiydunj
Hgn's BUT, In acontest for power between State
anu the United States cannot RELY upou him with
Inc same confidence, not Cor want OF belief in his
ehtre honesty, but because at an early period he
connected himself with a party which has tIro,,gh
he had the effect of Weakening his ofi;c,;ors G.
the reserved rights of the States This State bas
ueciueu over and over again, that the Supreme
Nourt Is not Tie final arbiter questions of contest
ell power but that the States the SOVEREIGN nor,;as
10 le compact constitute the final arbiter upon all
such questions. The gentleman saws that Vironi,
Is generally correct in her political noons-that the
lew alterations of which she is sometimes guilty. is
occusioheu oy an evil genius prevailing in her coun-
CHS, put that the good sense of her sons soon
brings her back to the path of wisdom VIRGINIA
IN 1852, solemnly declared that the Supreme
Court was not the arbiier. She has from time IN
tme considered the subject and re-afirmed the
sumo u1clfInes. IL is true in I9O9-10 her Legsla-
lure did resolve that the Supreme Court was the f.
n'' yidee In controversy between the State and
Federal judiciaries. This was IA time when an evil
genius presided in her councils 1t was at a time
oDiaf"cd possession of the citadel but the wisdom
ct her sons soon aroused her slumberng genius and
Drought the good old Commonwealth back TO the
principles Of 1889.
The gentleman argues that VIRGINS, bos Jec;ia
IN favour OF the constilItionaty of the Bank win
ask hn-when? He may answer as he has already
saul that she failed to protest against the charter of
ioio' lhis may prove that she concurred i'm the
usefulness OF The Bank, but not that she acknow
lodged the constitutional power of Congress TO cre
",e IL. lac gentleman has told us thai Virginia is
always resolving and rc-rcsOving until her resoIu
uohs nave lost all their effect. So it seems there is
one class OF politicians she cannot please If she
protests, they complain-if she be silent thew saw
she has acquiesced.
The gentleman contends Virginia has acknow-
lodged the conslitutionaity of the Bank. because
The Legislature has passed laws to punish for conn
eieing ITS notes. No such inference can ne drawn
from uie act. virginia, under the circumstances
hau determined not to consider it such violation
as 10 require withdrawal from the Union. and She
toresaw mat the notes would circulate over her fer
ritory, and he received by her citizens and thu,
many spurious notes would also be put in circmIo, |
uoh ana therefore, in order to protect her own -;
"Hehs, shc passed the laws in question She d;d
not thereby admit that Congress had n rigbt 70
charter the Bank. She did not admit thar rio
source 1rom which the paper emanated was nure
- "p"d dTaW drechy opposite conclusion from |
iHese laws. TO that drawn 10y the gentleman yo,iJ
say, that Virginia seemed to think Congress did nor
possess the power TO incorporate Bank, and there
ore no right to punish for countcreitine its
ma, siie loresaw her territory would be inundated
win spurious paper, and that her Judges would he
;onipened 10 release every person apprebended nm
eeF me act OF Congress prescribing punishment
iot t"o oHence. Hence the necessity of PASSING
! !e Jaws. Otherwise why the necessity OF PASS.
ne any Jaw, or why The necessity of prescribing |
PreciseIy the same punishment that CONGRESS- Ind |
already fixed? go 'i"u
Inc gentleman has said, that the Courts of Viz
5ihia nave decided in favour of the power of Con.
,ress 10 charter Il Bank. lle agrees that t,cre hoe
,een no particular case in which that ouestion ,vo
distinctly decided but that it results from thcir
eaVihg sent to the Penitentiary persons for counter
eiubS tie notes of The Bank Every cen,lor,n,,
must Know, that the trial of man for co,utarc,;
nc ho'es OF INC Bnnk, under an act of Assemble
ouid raise no other question of power Than ,bat =
he Legislature to pass tho act The cons,; ",
NY OF The charter could not be reached becn,,so
nc Legislature OF the State, possessing origno and
'ehary power, could make any Thing n EIonv 7, !
somewhat curious 10 observe The course ~ e. !