Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-01-01
CONGRESS.
Mr.. POLK's SPEECH.
On the RemoUal Of the Dsposites.

on the discussion Of this great subject, ne beg
oed To he permitted to remind the House OF the
Mt state Of the question, and OF the manner
in which it's consideration had, in his Judgment,
been thus prematurely forced upon this House
The Secretary Of the Treasury, said Mr.. T.,
has removed the public depostes In the ietter
new before US, he has communicated ms reasons
far the act. The Bank of the United States has
sent to this House its memorial, complaining OF
the act Of the Secretary, and asking restora-
ZION of the deposites. That memorial, ny .ne
vote of majority of this House, has, upon Iui'
consideration, been committed to a Committee
of this House for investigation and report. The
Government Directors Of the Bank OF the UNI
ted Shareholders placed in the Bank as the
public sentinels of the public interests-haVe
also sent here their memorial, making grave
charges against the Bank; charges OF maprac-
tices in the administration OF the Bank; charges
of the corrupt use of the public moneys entrus-
ted to its keeping; and charges, 1t true, amount
ing 10 clear forfeiture, not only OF the pubic
confidence, but of the charter ITSELF This me
mortal, too, has, upon full consideration, been
committed, BY large majority OF this House'
to the same Committee for investigation. -
The letter of the Secretary OF the Treasury,
now before us. was by misapprehenslon OF the
object Of the mover, permitted, IN the nrst 10,
stance, to 90 TO the Committee OF the Whole
House on the state of the Union; but 80 soon as
it was understood to be the intention of the
friends Of the Bank to discuss the subject at
once ia Committee of the Whole. the effect OF
which must necessarily have been to stife all
enquiry by an investigating committee OF tbs
House both into the truth of the facts stated by
the Secretary of the Treasury, and also into the
truth of the charges made against the Bank oy
the Government Directors, a majority OF this
House upon full discussion and consideration,
by their votes determined to take the subject out
of the Committee Of The Whole on the state OF
the Union, and bring it into the House, Tor the
ayowed purpose Of committing 1t also TO the
same investigating committee OF the House, TO
which the two memorials of the Bank and the
Government Directors had been committed. A
motion to that effect is made, and though the
sense of the House had been thrice expressed,
the gentleman from South Carolina submits, las
he is permitted to do by the rules OF the. House,
and Parliamentary usage, his proposition OF In
structions to the Committee, to report Dill to
restore the deposites; which, if carried, precludes
all investigation, by a Committee, and thus
against the expressed wiu OF majority OF the
House-soemnly pronOunced-opens the whole
discussion
The gentleman proposes. by peremptory or
der. in the face of the charges brought against
the Bank, to instruct a committee OF THIS mouse
to bring in bill to restore the deposltes, and
thus to pre- Judge the question, and prevent all
examination into their truth or falsehood.
must be permitted TO say. sir, TO use the
language of a distinguished gentleman in the
other end of the CapitoD that consider this as
flight on the part of the Bank and its friends
from the light of truth. The differ ence between
us is this: the Secretary of the Treasury, and
those who sustain him here, shrink from no scru-
tiny, however severe. but, on the contrary, In
yite it; they invite 1t with perfect confidence
tina. every fact stated by him will be sustained
by proofs incontestbe. What we want is a
tho ough sitting investigation of committee OF
this House.
The friends of the Bank say no; oh! no! We
cannot have a committee to investage and report
the facts; we choose to force this discussion on
now, when each gentleman may, By bold asser-
ton, assume such facts as may suit his state, or
answer his purpose BEST am not at liberty to
attribute motive for his extraordinary pro-
ceedng. do not do so; but, 1t Is easy to con.
ceive that it NAV be deemed important to send
out speeches to the country. charging the Sec
rotary with misrepresentation and falsehood, IN
order to break the force of the Secretarys let
ter upon the public mind. 1t may be deemed
important 10 iniueuce, ny uisCussiou hcte' '"0
public mind, and add TO that panic which has
been described to US as extensively prevailing In
the commercial cities, and thus TO aid the tre-
mendous power OF the Bank of the United States
in making the State Banks in its vicinity, the
commercial community, and all under its con-
troll, petition Congress for a restoration OF the
deposites. with the hope to alarm the Represen.
tatives of the People, and. if possible, induce
them, in the panic of the moment. to do that
which their sober judgments would not approve.
Are eve children. Sir? Do we not all ander.
stand what is going on out Of this House to pro-
duce alarm within its But it is said we must
have speedy action, and therefore, we must have
immediate discussion. And is this the mode of
arriving either at the satisfactory or speedy de-
csion Of the question: Itis contrary TO our whole
experience in the proceedings of this body. 10
come to satisfactory and speedy result,a commit.
tee should present all the facts and present some
tangible and definite proposition. But no, nothing
but discussion, and discussion now, will do.
One other preliminary remark, Mr.. P. said. he
would make before proceeding to the main ques-
ton. When the Previous Question was demand
ed, the other day, gentlemen asked, do YOU wish