Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-01-02


then, must be thought Of the official
candor and honor of the Secretary of
the Treasury, who has endeavorcd to
palm upon Congress and the country,
the authority of Mr.. Crawford for the
enormous power which the Secretary
assumes under the charter, when Mr..
= Crawfordwas acting under resolution,
which having produced its object, has
long since expiredl
The object Of the first resolution
submitted by him (Mr. CO. yesterday,
is to obtain an entire copy Of the cor
respondence of Mr.. Crawford. The
second resolution carries its own ex.
PLANTATION.
Mr.. CLAY begged permission to tres.
pass few moments longer on the Sc
nate to make a statement concerning
himselfpersonally. He had heard that
one high in Office (Mr. c. had allow.
cd himselfto assert that a dishonorabe
connexion had subsisted between him
(Mr. G. and the Bank of the United
States. When the present charter was
granted, he voted for it; and having
done SO, he did not feel himself at Ii.
berty to subscribe, and he did not sub
scribe for single share in the stock of
the bank, although he confidently an
ticipated great rise in the value Of
the stock. A few years afterwards,
during the Presidency of Mr.. Jones, it
was thought by some Of his friends at
Philadelphia expedient to make him
(Mr. c. a director of the Bank Of the
United States; and he was made a di.
rector without any consultation with
him. For that purpose, five shares
were purchased for him, by a friend,
for which he (Mr. c.. afterwards paid.
When he ceased to be director,
short time subsequently,, he disposed
of those shares. He does not now own,
and has not for many years been the
proprietor, of single share.
When Mr.. Chevcs was appointed
President Of the Bank, its affairs in the
States of Kentucky and Ohio were in
great disorder; and his (Mr. Clay's)
professional services were engaged du.
ring years for the Bank in those
States. He brought vast number of
suites, and transacted a great amount
Of professional business for the Bank.
Among other suits, was that for the re-
coyery of the 100000 dollars, seized
under the authority Of law of Ohio,
which he carried through the inferior
and Supreme Court. He was paid by |
the Bank the usual compensation for
these services, and no more. And he |
ventured to assert, that no professional
fees were ever more honestly and fair
ly earned. He had not, however,
been the Counsel for the Bank for up.
wards of eight years past. He does
not owe the Bank, or any one of its
Branches, solitary cent. About
twelve or fifteen years ago, owing to
the failure of highly estimable, now
deceased friend, large amount ofdebt
had been, as his endorser, thrown upon |
him, (Mr. c. and it was principally
due to the Bank of the United States.
He (Mr. c. established for himself
rigid economy, a sinking fund, and
worked hard, and paid off the debt long
since, without receiving from the Bank
the slightest favor. Whilst others a.
round him were discharging their debts
in property, at high valuations, he Pc
rlodically renewed his note, paying the
discount, until it was wholly extin.
guished. 1t has been said of profess
sional men Of the greatest eminence,
that their fate is to work hard, live
well, and die poor.
Such was true account of his con-
nexion with that Institution; and he
defed its disproof in any particular.
He hoped that the resolution would
be adopted.
Mr.. FORSYTH then reminded the
Senator from Kentucky that the letter
of February, 1917, which was called
for by his resolution, was already a
mong the public documents of the Sc
nate.
Mr.. CLAY then stated his desire to
have the whole of the correspondence
at one view.
Mr.. FORSYTH then briefly de.
Tended the Secretary Of the Treasury
from what he conceived premature
sentence pronounced upon him by the
Senator from Kentucky.
Mr.. CLAY explained what he had
said.
The resolution was then agreed to.