Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-02-22
Virginia Legislature.
DEFERRED DEB.77E.-I Continucd.l

DEFERRED DEB.7TE.-l Coatnucd.]
IN SENATE OF VIRGINIA. Tuesday, January 49,
REMOVAL TIE DEPosITEs.
MIR. Atkinson said he should strike out the 4h
resolution but not Tor the which had prompted the
gentleman from Louisa 10 submit the motion. He (Nir.
believed the Bank TO be tonal-He cou,
where find in The Constitution The power granted to Con.
gress to create corporation OF any kind lie approved
the course OF President Jackson in placing his the
act 10 extend the charter Of that institution, while he felt
disguised with some oil the reasons assigned for it,
lie should vote 10 strike out, because he wished 10
Parae the two subjects, between which he thought there
was no necessary connexion. There nothing in the
present condition oil the Bank, PROSTATE the teet
Of the Executive which calls for expression OF the OPT
mon OF this Legislature in relation TO its
y' Such an expression might have been very proper
years ago, when the question OF its charter before
Congress. That the occasion on which gentlemen
might more properly have manifested their zeal for the
Constitution their hoy horror at an sion of its prn
cPes The hour OF danger is the hour Of need; and
gentlemen have failed rush the defence Of Con-
s,ituon when the enemy was in tire 6eId he hoped he
would be excused II he refused TO march with en- now
mat he lies crushed beneath the exercise Of the Presden
tial Veto
Mr. A. said, that while he could perceive reason for
expressing an opinion TO the constutionaity uncon
sfituiionay OF the Bank at the present time he thought
we were called upon by sacred regard for the ins
tons oil our country TO condemn the awess course OF the
Executive, by which he has assumed himself the con.
troll oil the public revenues for, let gentlemen disguise
as hey may the President and not the Secretary OF the
treasury Is The remover OF the dcposes, and the author
the community.
TIC was, therefore, IN favor OF concentrating the
sure OF the Legislature upon this OF the Executive,
anu ne would vote for resolution, which, whether il
han been offered with that Intention not would have the
eHec' OF impairing the force OF that censure.
Mr. Cooke rose to oppose the motion OF the geuuema
from Louisa as he (air CO. believed il carried, would
have the effect TO place The opinions and intentions of the
Legislature in an entirely false point of view. There
were two classes OF arguments reserted against the
adoption Of the 4h resoluonone of which was address
ed 10 those who believed the Bank consttuonal the
other, TO those who believe it but who
doubt me proprey OF making the declaration now, OF
connecting with the expression OF the of the lie.
glsaure in regard to the removal Of the Deposites
10 those who believed in the consituionaii,y of the
Bank oil the United States, Mr. c. had 10 say
Tie could not consent 10 engage in the discussion of ques
lion which had been handled by the abest ers the
country mas ever seen, until il is thread bare
that he doubted whether a sing lie new idea could be ad.
vanced either SIDE Mr. c. could easily Gull from The
speeches OF those who have gone before him, ample ma
eras Tor satisfactory answer; but he thought super
huous 10 make The attempt. He presumed there was
no gentleman present whose mind not made up on
the subect and he shoad couine him to a remark or
Two IN reply TO the gentleman from Louisa. He thought
IL would be easy to shew that the gentleman had resolv
ed all his constitutional reasoning into the single point Of
exPedieocy-or, his principal argument was, that the
siiuonal question had been settled by the ac
quiescence OF the several of the
founded upon the idea the necessity the Bank as s
cal agent the government, and its efficacy in regulating
the currency OF the country. IL might be sotbe question
might formerly have been settled this view of The sub
ject But Mr. C. did not ink himself authorized TO act up
on the opinions OF his predecessors upon his own; nor
was he disposed yield TO the doctrine preceden which
country.
The argument mainly relied by the gentleman from
Louisa and indeed by most of the advocates the Bank
is founded upon false reading rather an Interpolation
OF the Constitution. He claims the right 10 incorporate
the Bank, under supposed clause authorizing Congress
TO regulate The currency Of the couniry The Const
tnton contains no such provison-it says word
ABOUT regulating the currency" The gentleman must
have msread currency, for ''conmerce and the pow
er "to regulate commerce with foreign nations and
among the several States, aud with the Indian ,rbcs
Mr. " need hardly say, cannot give the power to incor
PoTate pr,uGfe company The Constitution has con.
ferred on Congress many tights and assigned 10 them
many dues but he had before heard that Congress
could delegate their powers or transfer their duties 10
others These duties have been imposed on Congress ss
the responsible agents OF the people, TO whom they
TO account or the in which they are discharged
and they cannot shake off this responsibility BY
their powers and duties deputy chosen by themseves
and In no way amenable 10 the people To admit this
woud oe' 10 admit that corporations might be established
Tor the performance OF the mulliiarous duties OF Congress-
and to lead to conclusion absurd would be PERM.
cious.
But, admitting for argument sake, that the Constitution
auhonses Congress TO regulate the currency" will
sun remain 70 De proven, that they have the power
render this right and TO transfer the duty and
irresponsible corporation If they authorised "to regu.
late the currency and if that currency only be re-
gu'sed by substituting paper, for metallic circulating
medium, then would be true that Congress would have
the power to furnish this medum-but still untrue that
,ney couu authorize private corporation, private in.
dVuus 10 furnish It, IL Congress have the power of trans
ferr0g TO an irresponsible agent (hc Bank of the Unied
StaesO one OF the highest functions assigned to them bv
the Constitution, them might they have sIoved Stenbo
Grard, the Bank OF England 10 nerfar, ,bs.a To-
tions-to regulate The currency Of the United Ststes
Then, may they transfer 10 corporations or 10 indvia
their whole legislative trust!
Agsn-he Constitution declares that Congress shall
have power to coin money, TO regulate the value thereof
and OF foreign CON- This duty they have performed by
the establishment OF mint and assay Office, conducted
by inc ofncers Of the goyernmen and Mr. e. nsgined II
wouIn hardy be conended, by the thorough.
gong lautudnaran, that these words give 10 Csngress
the power OF Incorporating a eoDpanu nj brokers' or
Jeoenes 20 com money aud regulate the caIue at our
metdWc currency! The fact that these powers and du.
es are assigned 10 Congress, shews that they were in
tended 10 be coDhded 10 no less responsible BODY
Mr. c. said, the committee would observe tbs, a. hal
oeen arguing lhs point as u The Constitution had given 10
utterly denied that there any such power conferred
by mat instrument. There possible source IN
when such claim Of power be Traced, except the
sFeomprehendng doctrine Of "lhe general weIfare"a
nocWne based upon wanon and wuI perversion Of the
erns OF me Constitution, and which Is utterly at war
WIN me whole spirit OF our political Institutions
Mt " would now proceed 10 notice the reason aven
by The gentleman fiom Halifax mn AtkosonJ 10, The