Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-02-06

olation of duty on the part of that institution,
no one would be more ready than hlmseI 10 ap-
ply proper and prompt correction OF the evil,
But, if the commttee sn0uio Iilo .lla. INC "a GA
ecntiye and not the Bank, had violated its OBJ
legations and its duty he hoped that there would
sfill be found determination id the Senate to
apply corrective N
He moved that the message be referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. GRUMPY had not very closely exami-
ned the question, but he rather thought that the
Bank was not the legal agent for paying the
pensions under the law Of 1882; upon which the
opinion expressed in the Message OF the Presi-
dent, Just read, had been predicated. Mr.. u
went on to express his disapprObation OF the
Senate's giving any expression OF ITS opinion,
one way or other, on the subject at this ume.-
The President had laid the whole matter before
both Houses of Congress; and until an acton
bv their Committee was had in relation to 1t, 1t
seemed to him premature to express any opln-
ion upon if. He concurred with the Senator
from Kentucky (Mr. CLAY,) that the message
ouuht to be committed to the Judiciary Commit
tee; and, in addition to the motion OF that gen
teman. he moved that the papers be printed.
Mr.. CLAY stated that it was not his intention,
at this time to enter into any arguments on this
question He had explicitly avowed this be-
fore; therefore it was not necessary tor him 10
insist upon it. In reference to the opinion OF the
Attorney General, accompanying the Message
(Which had been alluded to by Mr.. GRUNDY)
Mr. c.. said he had long ceased to respect the
acts or opinions of the different Departments of
the Government being well aware that the Elk
ecutive was, as he had called HIMSELF unit
and would instantaneously dismiss any officer
who did not at once obey his behests. Sir, said
he, when we know, from experience, that dis
mission from office is the consequence of diff
ference of opinion between any Head ola De-
partment and the Executive acknowledge that
have lost all confidence in opinions from those
sources |. for one, can no longer respect the
opinions of an Attorney General, or any other
executive officer, when such doctrines were
avowed as had been maintained on this tloor-
doctrines belonging not to this Government, nor
even to this age--doctrines OF passive obedience
and non-resstance, &c. Mr.. e. passed high
eulogium on the personal character of the pre-
sent Attorney General. Had he remained at
Albany, he would have paid as much respect
to any opinion ofhis on question of law, de-
livered from his private office, as any man.
But brought within the peStilential atmosphere
of w ashington. he must be excused if he could
not accord full credit to his public opinions
Mr.. c.. hoped that the reference would take
place; and was satisfied that the report resulting
from it would show that the usurpation, of which
the President complained, had been here, and
not in Philadelphia, and that the Bank, after
full inquiry, be acquitted from this, as well as
ali other serious charges that had been brought
against it.
MIR. WRIGHT said, he thought he wasin pos
session of fact which would enable the Senate
to decide on this subject He would state that
the gentleman from Kentucky was mistaken in
what he said in relation to the powers given to
the War Department on this subject He (Mr
W. would merely say that the power claimed
by that Department as to the pension law was
different; by that it has no reference whatever
either to the law of 1928, which is commonly de-
nominated the pension law" or the law of
1892 The officer at present at the head of the
War Department, is the same officer who cor
rected the decision of his predecessor in that
respect, having thought it was wrong that any
payments should be made in virtue of the pro
visions of the last act by the Bank of the United
States, but that the payments should be made
elsewhere than by the Bank. He (Mr W. was
sure that the gentleman from Kentucky would
not 90 so far as to say that the officer would
thus reverse his own opinion SO palpably. He
thought the Senator had not thoroughly exami-
ned the subject, or he would have found a very
marked difference between what he supposed
to be the facts in relation to this subject, and
the real state of the case. When the gen.
teman should have examined the matter, he
was of opinion that he would be satisfied.
Mr.. w. said that his feelings compelled him
to make few remarks in reference to what had
been said by the gentleman from Kentucky in
relation TO the Attorney General whom he had
stated as having been affected by the pestilen-
tial atmosphere in which he was at present mo-
wing. He (Mr w. would say, that the Attor-
ney General was not to be affected by any such
influence, for he was man of integrity, truth,
& candor and would not give an opinion which
he did not in his conscience believe to be right
The motion was agreed to.
Mr.. WRIGHT rose to present the memorial
of a large number of merchants and other Citi-
zens ofthe city ofNew York, on the subject Of
the condition of the financial operations of the
country, and expressive of their opinions Of the
necessity of a National Bank He held it to be
an act Of Justice to admit that he had received
this memorial from most respectable commit
tee of gentlemen the city of New York, who
had been sent hither for the purpose Of present
ing it. He was informed by this committee that
the memorial bears the signatures of 5000 per-
sons, great portion of them merchants and
traders in the city of New York, and the eX-
preston of whose opinion was entitled to very
great weight in this body. He knew some Of
the members the committee personally, and
all Of them were well known to him by reputa-
ton; and it gave him great pleasure to bear his
testimony to their high responsibility. He CON