Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-07-01
Twemty-third Congress. --ist scss,
IN SEN ATE.

Substance OF Mr. Eenton's remarks ON the passage of MIR
Gays resolution TO direct the public moneys to be re-
stored 10 the keeping OF the Bank OF the United States
from and alter the LIST day of July.
MIR Benton thought due the ASTON 10 reply par
cusry 10 the defiance, o.ten;siousiy thrown out by
me senators, VINO so warmly defended the the
bank In resisting the inquiry ordered bv the Honse Of
representatives The United States were invited de fed
anu dared, 10 out scire focias against the B nix
anu peuSes were given Tor prompt trial aud victorious
Issue, Tor the Bank MIR. b. declined TO accept these
d.hances and would no, examine into the authority upon
wn'ch taese pledges for prompt trial given
grounds ON which these confident calculations OF Bank
victory were predicsted He meant o stand upon the
WORDS OF e charter ard the rights OF Congress- to try
Issues with the Bank upon inspection of It's own books
"hon' being put oil TO the law delay the eoiious @
eer'anies OF forensic issues. time of granting the
te,ne government had reserved the right searching
Tor violations OF charter in the books OF the Bank itself
mo was not TO be tolerated now, hat these books should
De closed upon her. and challenge thro " n down TO n
OIL 10 law, and Try issues before Judges and uries Mr.
~ would not inquire into the which might make
prefsra 10 10 the Bank issues before and
Jurles instead OF trying them by her books Spd the
oa's oil her own directors There might be reasons for
such preference there doubtless were re, ons for IL
ne would not inquire into them; he upon the posi-
lion that Congress had right ascertain the conduct of
TIE Bank by looking into the Books OF the Bank and ex
faeug testimony from the bosoms Of the directors; and
~, ee'isen' 70 compromise or abandon, that
right Neither the special pleading or stern refusal oil
the directors the lofty victory and defiance as
sunei here, could draw him of hon position He.
stood upon the charter; and would descend from thai,
h,gh emnence 10 pursue The Bank into court however
claoro or nportunate that Bank might be- until an in
speei,on OF the books, and examination of the ,rec
tors, had first heen obtained
IL was in vain said Mr.. Il for the United States Rank
TO challenge the United States Government into cor, of
law. III was fght-an absolute hegira-from all real
all pacuc', all useful invests aton Tor facias
nothing could be tried but mere technical violations of
charter eliered by rules OF evidence, cramped with
iawyer-hke distinctions between she ntractons which
amount to forfeiture, and those which dono between the
n'rac"ons which result from abuser user, mis-
user. Abuses, malPracces. conupcns expressions "a
vorsm, could not be examined under scire Jdeias The
great inquiry, standing the head of all The subjects of
examination prescribed by the House OF RepcseH,atves
thai OF the commercial en'6Grr0ssents and he banks
snare th producing theHl-woul be shut out rom nv cs
ugailon on the trial of ascire acds So would all the
political loans all the ring expenditures au ali
the exclude the Coyernuen M Ii,ec,ors %
ness OF The bank. None Of these things could he
smned in court because they are obwtr. Of has.
bhd not violations oil the chSreI; that dis challenge To
go ino court Is in reality, absolute flight from, ali M
pdr' OF The nvesg alton in witch The country most ir-
teresied, ana which IL most loudly demands
Mr. b. said that lac had been one of The first 10 come
forward wha public opposition 70 the renewal Of The
United States Bank charter lie came for ard upon ge
hel al principles, applicable TO all federal Bks and with
out the slightest reference the good or bad copsuct of
Tins institution HIS first speeches still extan, and
would warrant hin In saying hat ias opposition was ge-
neral, not parcsordirect,d against The nature of he
institution not it's sctsand tree every innua.ion TO
the prejudice OF its directors knew notlng IN ,ho
prejudice OF these innc'ionarcs at that time: and
forward his whole oPpoi ion upon The that The snrs
oil the oank bad been airly and prudeny managed; bot
that the Institution o nature that ought not ia b,
toleraiedin republic in a iuted monarchv-
that ii had Too much power The property OF the PEG
10 some good was nmeasurahy ovebaanced lay It's inbe-
rent endeLcy and pTocviy 10 ne rpe,
great mischief These were hs original grounds OF oppO-
siioD to this instuion aHd lie referred TO them 10 show
that his feelings national, not personal; thai ne
was acting as Senator and indiyIual and ts
IN subsequently afTaIgnng the conduc Of the institution
he was acting upon Development of facts which " as
not ioreseen, aud awaiting himself OF arguments " bcb
the misconduct OF the directors had pvt inio his bsnds
Mr. b said shat in all the allie gaions OF misconduct
which he had brought against this Bank he had avoided
gener1ues ald.coihned himself TO particulars; giving
the allegation rested. lie meant to pursue the same
course IN future, end would point out some additional
reasons for Withholding all confidence and favor from t
Bank, and showing that this resolution ought not be
adopted What he should say, was bot,oped unon tho
mshoiiA addressed TO Congress by HE iae government
directors, aud he would confne himself IN ,e roi,,s
- not been dilsted upon before not Ia, he I
these points, but that had not entered into his
head suppose that the Bank would refuse TO pst, h
Issues be tried by its books and its ow oahs which
had been ma e up between The OF directors
those OF The Government, and those Of the Stockholders
upon these issues he meant to rest the acqua or con-
domination Of the Bank. The Senate v Guild tecollec,
Mr. j said, that The late Government Directors under
the sanction OF their names, upon their respunsblt
as geenen and rs Officers, had made many and grave
charges against tie Bank and offered TO more Then,
by NE books Of Ge insfitwti0n iseD-lhat neir inc
mortal contradicted by formal and elaborate nun
tcaiion, under the authority OF The Board aud thar
he himself, at an early period OF The session. had nov
ed resolution Tor the purpose OF irving the ruu, nj
the issues thus made up between the two SETS If a;
TecicFs. The Senate did agree TO lhat mode Of
irving these issues; nor was onv ,,I If ,t, az, "
adopted by the Senate which ionl,sJ ,i,e |
charges OF the Government Directors 10 be fse or fivo
ious; for these Directors rejected aud denonc
spies aud resolutions OF honor confidence ,vee i,
10 reference TO the Bank. Mr. b. thought doc ~ d.
Government Directors, that the truth OF their eh,,s
should have been tried before they were rejected sf
so 'hought ~ due 10 the country that the Bank should bc
cieared o. these charges before IL received new preoI h
honor ana confidence The Senate did lhhk SO ard
now, that was proposed actually TO give back the pub
moneys to be keepng Of this institution when IL had re-
iused TO submit 10 The nyesg alton ordered y the Uouse
OF Representatives., lac must be excused for de,,uicg lie
senate wme lie went over Me heads of those cbaroes
wncD, u true, dePfiycs tie institution Of all claims ia Coz,
hdence, End shews II 10 be mere engine If ,ol,,,cs
iaVoriusm, and oppression worked by single hand l.,
violation ni rs charter, aud ia Contempt oits esyo Red -
passive Directors, as well OF the Government ,yLich
created II. ""'eh
The hrst point 10 which Mr. H. invoked the oten,io,
the Senate, was the in which the late reduction
tie business Of the bank conducted and Ee read ~
ssges from the memorial Of The Government J);rectos IN
show that the reduction conducted with o anon ar
nahly and open breach OF the charter that II az corr
coed 10 Dsfiiculsr portions Of The country: fss, 3; ,s
cried Of particular dmes f8vofng soue cisses Of debtor
and expressing others; 5nd hst the whole business was
sven UP TO the Committee on the OfHces-a committee
appointed by Tie President, aud Of which he mem
ber-snd which was specially exempted rem reporting
their proceedings 10 The Board Of Directors II appeared
from these readings that the Government Directors had en-
dosv0fed 10 mitigate the severity aud Injustice Of Inc eur
talweG by Offering revolution TO have Il conducted on
pnncipies % eqUsly, and Uniformity which would moi
Only Deke reduction gradual aud gentle bot make IL ose
rae larly ond equally al parts OF the country and on
~ classes o ds6ors. The the board utterly refused t
90 end boldly perseyered 10 lie wsnton, partial and OPP
NJ glay 'peseay u'os 9s vora e6vro