Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-09-09
POLITICAL.
| From the Petersburg Con.icllation i

Nothing can be dsingepous and unisir than the
conduc, OF many OF MIR. Leigh's devoted friends, whose
exuoerant zeal and generous warmth far exceed their abb
NY ana skl In his defence. They steadily charging
that his political opponents dng as to assert
hatu Is his Intention to support e-charier OF the u s.
Bank in despite OF the pubic sentiment In Virginia TO
the contrary III the candor OF such pit rsons was half
equal 10 their prureD confue The self assum.
ed charge, they would desisi from their abors and at.
tempt combustion OF the actual charge the point Of
which they are not wanting in sagacy di.cein The
caution with which they artlully avoid il, proof Of
their penetration.
II these jealous fiiends Of Mr. Leigh disposed to
meet the charge with honest and manly caDdor, shall
DE set forth IN the pianes' terms can employ ehai-
fenge candid and dispossionafs sontTorersy.
This then, is the charge which the vigorous
erions that have been made and which will be
toasuccessul termination, itindeed the major party the
constituent body does TO prevent MIR Leighs
election TO The Senate OF The u States. While he pyo
esses hostility TO renewal OF the Banks charter as
as TO the incorporation OF any other similar Institution he
declares ihai the people OF Virginia entertain the opi-
nion, aud have uniformly maintained it, and, he thinks
upon just grounds, that the Federal Government has no
consiitu onal authority TO charter national Bank and
yet he asseverses that he of the present
year, (March ls3i) in rapid progress may serve TO
convnce the people OF Virginia, that the renewal Of
tile charter OF the present Bank, with such modifica.
tons aud Tor such term, experience has shown
or shall dictate 10 be proper, may he the ouly
which human wisdom devise, to avert or to
correct measures lar more unconstitutional, alb
horent in principle from their opinions and danger.
Gus and 6aieiul in their consequences and that he will
follow the desnies OF Virginia, and stand by her i'm all
evensof course, in the OF a change OF public op
Mon in iavor OF renewal OF the Banks charter These
reservations were uttered end published by him in
speech in the Senate the obvious design direct ten.
dency OF which, 10 produce the change of public
opinion which he predicted while, subsequently he re.
fused his assent 10 The BILL orig mated aud passed in the
House Of Representatives 10 regulate the deposit the
public money in the State Banks; failed to make one single
serious effort TO perfect that scheme, or TO devise anu
other, by the fundamentally OF which, the fiscal opera
lions oil the government might be effected; persisted with
strenuous exeriions TO procure restoration OF The
TO the u States Bank after il had set AT naueh The an
lice iiua
that he will continue 10 advocate the restoration until the
termination OF The Banks corporate existence, or at least
until lie is forced 10 surrender his senatorial trust
The shallow cunning of these devoted adherens OF Mr.
Leigh, in evadng the actual charge is rdiculousIy in
compatible with their professions OF honorable dispualion
II 6o Denied nor has been denied by The opponents
OF MI. Leigh, that = he coneurs ia the opinion of his
constituents on The constitutional question: and that en-
firely and erdctly" But while he cannot see ho. Con
gress can consliiulonaly incorporate aonal Bank
he "can easily unders and that National Bank may be-
and has bee" made an agent Tor saekecpng dsrri
bu ing the public revenue:" -" But, the question >" he
continues "wh me, is whether it is necessary and pro-
per, or at all appropriate, for The pupose And when
he had asked The question, he did ALL but
reverted quickly TO the point OF constitutional law Did the
equvocal question and the evasion comport with his
usual rankness, suit the occasion Of lis uerance II
certainly did not all candid men must gree and vel
such were the ambiguous terms employed by MIR. Leigh
with reference 10 the expediency OF the Bank when he
had asked the Senae Ioindulge him, ION The 18Th March0
while he took that early opportunity indicate |rankIy
and DISTINCTLY the opinion he eneraned on his impori.
ant sjec and the course be should pursue in regard TO
~. IhlS speech was made while MIR. Webster Bill 10
extend the charter Of the Bank under and
Mr. Leigh, opposed its passage with declaration which
clearly reveals the secret OF his opposition. He says
4" 1t is known TO the StnaIe that, among the re.
solutions adopted by the General Assembly OF Vir-
ginis during its last session. which have heretofore
been laid before both Houses OF Congress, there was
one declaring the opinion, that the Federal Govern.
ment had constitutional authority 10 incorporate
National Bank it contains, indeed, positive in
srucou TO the Senators rep esening the State in this
House; but it is deliberate, solemn expression Of
the sense of the Legislature, and, have no doubt
oil the general sense Of the people of Virginia The Ssh
Jec; and this with reference 10 the question of the re-
newal OF the charter Of The present Bank OF the United
States Ii is known 10 the Senate, too that mus have
accepted the trust which a place in this body imposes
with iu knowledge OF the resolution to which have adj
vered. Under these circumstances, knowing what was
expected OF me wheu elected representing the sove.
reigniy OF tie Stale, and informed, am OF her opi-
Mon and her will even il entertained different opinion
should b. incapable of far her as TO
vote Tor recharer OF the Bauk OF the United States for
any length OF time, however short, with any modlca.
tons whatever"
Thus is clear. the inference strengthened by other
incidents, that in his opposition to Mr. Wcbsiers bill TO
eongae the Banks charter, MI Leigh acted not from
his own voiion, but under the sauary restraint which
the deliberate and solemn expression OF the sense of the
Virginia Legislature imposed. Indeed, that his concur.
renee in the opinion OF his constituents with reference TO
the question OF expediency, not aud not as cordial
and exact as his concurrence with reference The cons
tuional question, is evidenced beyond dispute and the
reach Of soPhsty, by The explanations OF his meaning
in reply TO Mr.. Wright OF New Yok tDhich ieaye no
room JoT Misunderstanding In his rel Iy, he says:
am as fixed in the opinion, that the present Bank or
any other DaIiona Bank unconstitutional az the emile.
man from N. Y possibly be But sir there il wide
and obvious difference between the question: whether an
act shall be done, whether particular system shall be
adopted; aud the question: after the has been done aer
the system has been adopted, whether il shall be unone
or reversed, and this, though the question both
alike, may involve pou. OF conslitu Ona law The first
act does no, operate, merely by the force Of its authority
as precedent; IL is act done which cannot be ecalle
which has produced effects that be anniidateJ;
slate OF facts that human power wisdom can alter:
and The actual state of affairs may refdtT IL difficult
and hazardous 10 AT ALL the sys EN- of mea
sures ou OF which II has grown aud impossible 10 reverse
abruptly, without subveTng the very frame Of Govern
ment rom lis foundations, making vital change in its
Constitution"
Here, then, is explicit al that the continued ex
isence ct The Bank is Identified with the public interest
that it has produced effects which be snnhilseJ
aud that IL has so eXefded its diversified influence and
produced such slate OF affairs, that will be hazardous
al dH MAT 49, IN any t0iSe, or at any Time suspend or
TO annu H. This avowa is uttered, too after an efppha
tic disclaimer by Mr. Leigh. that in his previous speech
he he'd designed 10 say hoo the people IF Vrginia to
decide, befceen the alternatives that may and he had
no DOUBT tCH be presented 10 Me when The question
Tor their decision shall be, "wheher vital and perma-
neo' change shall he wrought upon the fundamental prp-
cples OF their Institutions that IT, when they shall de.
eide rs "tley must decide" the vital question Of Bank
Bank.
j is fairly inlefible from this svowal that Mr. Leieh
"a willing TO waive the iluonsl question, and that he
- not disposed to this settled system Of measures
although 1t was Illegal in s orginsion. That he desires
the people Of Virginia 70 and prolong this system
IN preference TO any Of al the alternatives Hkely 10
be presented to them; and that 1t has been his disguls-
cd design 10 create change Of their opinion favor Of
another sacrifice 10 expedeucy, The decorated altar Of
Tie Constitutions Is clearly discernibe in he following
Chronological fecsl, extracted from his speech on
The BSuk Bill, ia reply 70 Mr.. Wright, Of New York,