Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-02-03
DEBATE IN TIE SENATE.


of whose speech appeared in Saturdays Ga
zette,
Mr.. WEBSTER rose, and expressed a wish
70 cav = few words The observations of the
gentleman from New FORK he considered as
full of the most portentous import. He consi-
dered the declarations which had been made
this morning, as sconveying the settled purpose
of the Administration, on the great questions
which now agitate the public mind
Mr. WRIGHT rose to explain that ne had
given his opinions, as an individual, and that ne
had no authority to express theSvlews OF Inc.
Administrations.
Mr. WEBSTER said he perfectly well I'M
derstood all the gentlemap's disclaimers ana de-
murrers But was from the station OF the gem
tleman. and from his relations, that he had
adopted the conclusion, that every word spoken
by the gentleman had been well considered, and
the subject of deberation with himself and with
Others.
Here then was an annunciaton TO the whole
country in which two things were plainly set
forth list, that the present system--if system
it was to be called or state OF things was to
remain under the present disposition otNthe
Treasury. and the whole of the public revenue
to be hereafter collected by the fiscal agency of
the Banks selected by the Secretary That was
the first point The gentleman had submitted
it to the Senate as his exploitation, and had de-
clared his determination to support the Admit
nistration in carrying it through; and the gen,
tleman would not have adopted the exploitation
without knowing the sentiments of the Adml-
nistratons concerning it. There was no plan
for the reference of the whole matter TO Con-
gress. There seemed to be no Intention to
adoptsaly system underline prescription of law.
The effect of legal provision would be to
place the public deposites beyond the power OF
daily change according TO the caprice OF an
Executive officer, by directing and fixing the
place where they should remain. But it was
now announced that an experiment was to be
tried, and nothing was to be done until the TALL
ure of thatsexperlment.
There was another thing which he had learn
ed, because it was the gentleman's opinion, and
he had the means Of enforcing his opinion, and
they with whom he had conferred, and with
whom he acted, have the means to enfo4 ee their
opinions,s that they intend to direct against the
Bank the faults which-are now every where as
-cribed to the Government. 1t was to be as
serted here, and made the topic of defamation
every where that notwithstanding the removal
of the deposites, if the Bankshad not acted bad
ly, there would have been no pressure on the
country. The object was to divert the COM
plant from the Government and to fix it upon
the Bank He saw this intention with great
pain, and he felt himself urged to make one or
two remarks.
The gentleman had said, that new honors
were TO be gained by the President, from the
act which he was about to accomplish. That
limits, and that Congress had no power to Gre
ate National Bank. He would not stop to in-
quire whether Congress could not charter a
Bank in this little District, which should operate
every where throughout the UnlonF Not the
constitutional power to create a Bank! On
what did this power rest2 twas merely e pow
erwhich was granted and exercised for the pur-
pose of carrying its other powers into effect.
A fiscal agent was necessary for the purposes
of the Government and Congress, under the
general authority conferred upon it, could Gre
ate that fiscal agentin a Bank. This the gem
tleman had denied, and had said that it was
not competent to Congress to create fiscal
agent for ITSELF but that it might employ, as
fiscal agents, institutions not created by itself,
but by Others and which were without the con-
troll Of Congress- 1t was admitted that the ifs
cal agent was necessary, and that Congress
had the power to employ il, but Congress could
not create it, but must take such agents as
were already created He did not know where
the gentleman could find his authority for plac-
ing the public money in the State Banks. But,
if there were no State Banks. as the gentleman
admitted the necessity of Bank, the gentleman
could mot hold such diScordant opinions as to
assert that Congress should, in that case, create
a Bank For himself he confessed he was too
obtuse to See the distinction between creating a
Bank for the use of the Government and taking
institutions which were already created To
make and to use, to make and to hire, could Gre
ate no differences, except that every conSdera-
ton of proprety, and expediency, and conve-
nience, would require that Congress should
make a Bank which would suit its own purposes
and answer its own ends, and not use other
Banks which were not created with any such
views and over which it could exercise no con
troll.
On two or three other points be wished to say
word. The gentleman differed from him as
to the degree of pressure on the country. He
had admitted, that in some parts there was
some pressure. In large cities, he admitted
there might be some, but that every where else
the pressure was limited, would soon be over,
and was greatly exaggerated. This was all
matter of opinion. 1t was capable of no proof
or disproof The avenues of knowledge were
open to all. He could only say that he differed
from the gentleman on this point For the last
few weeks, as he had inferred from the letters he
daily received, the pressure had been gradually
increasing and he saw no chance of its dirni
mutton, if no measures of relief were adopted
by the Government.
But the gentleman had ascribed motives. A
political crime, it seems, had been committed
The gentleman was mistaken! 1t was to bring