Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-02-20

The SPEAKER laid before the House me-
and other inhabitants of Richmond, praying for
the restoration of the deposites to the United
States Bank
Mr.. PATTON said the accidental connection
which he had with the memorial which had just
been read-a connection growing entirely out
of the necesSty-that some one, according to
the usual custom of the House, should call for
the reading ofmemorials on this subject-made
it proper and perhaps necessary that he should
state, without entering upon any discussion OF
the questions of constitutional law or national
policy, which constituted the topics OF the me-
mortal that from most of the propositions and
differences contained in 1t he wholly dlsSented.
Ishall not (sad Mr.. P.) at this late period of
the day. avail myself of the example which has
been so frequently set in the House lately, to
enter upon an elaborate exposition of my Opin-
ions. and the reasons which have induced me
to adopt them. hope to have an opportunity
of doing so at large, before the discussion in the
regular form, and on the direct question, shall
be terminated For the present, beg leave to
saw that do not agree with the memorialists,
that the Chief Magistrate, ia the course pursued
by him to procure the removal of the deposites
by the Secretary of the Treasury, viz: by the
removal of Mr.. Duane, has been guilty of any
unconstitutional assumption of power. | con-
cur with the memorialists that theQuesta ms which
have arisen out of this matter, do Involve an in
ouiry as to the proper line of distinction and
separation between the Executive, Legislative,
and Judicial departments OF the Government, as
secured by the Constitution, and the separation
of which, and restriction of each of (which, with
i'm its own orbit are essential to the preservation
of the public liberty, according to one OF the re-
ceived maXims of free government But it
seems to me that if the principles asserted in
the memorial of the citizens of Richmond, be
adopted and carried out to their legitimate con-
sequences there will be accomplished an utter
subversion of the barriers erected by the Consti
tuition for the protection of the Executive branch
the Government, in the administration of the
functions devolved upon it, and very rapid
stride will be made towards the contamination,
so much dreaded by the Fathers Of the Repub
lic-the consolidation of all the powers Of Gov
eminent, in the engulphing vortex of the legis-
lative department.
l think with the memoriasts, Mr. Speaker,
that the proceedings of the Executive, in this
matter, were unwise ineXpedient, and ill-timed;
but, at the same time, supposing that the Pres-
dent honestly believed that the law justified. and
the public interests required, the removal of the
deposites (and we have no right from anv evil
dence before us to say that he did not then it
seems to me that it was his constitutional right
and official duty, to displace the recusant Sec
rotary of the Treasury
In relation to another proposition maintained
bv the memorialists, differ with them. | do
not admit that the removal of the deposites in
volved any violation of public faith, or that any
obligations of contract require them to be resto-
red | regard the question, whether they ought
to be restored, as question, OF pohtlcal eXpedi-
ency. 1t is not, agree, question OF Bank
or no Bank" That's, what you, or |, or any