Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-06-19
CONGRESSIONAL.
In SENATE-MAy %

RESTORATION OFsDEPOSlTES.
MIR. CLAY rose and said, that, as the
morning business seemed to have been
gone through, he should move the senat.
for leave to introduce two joint resolutions
lie had given notice of one resolution, but,
on reflection, he had thought it best to pre-
pare separate resolutions, which as they
were short he would read in his place:
RESOLVED by the Senate and House of
Representatives Of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That the
reasons communicated by the secretary of
the treasury, in his report to congress of the
9TH of December, 1888, for the removal of
the deposites of the money Of The United
States, from the bank Of the United States
and its branches, are insufficient and un
satisfactory:
Resolred, Therefore, That all deposites
OF the money of the United States, which
may accrue or be received, on or after the
Isl Of July, 1884, shall he made with the
bank of the United States and its branches,
in conformity with the provisions of the
oct, entitled Gan act to incorporate the,sub-
scribers to the bank of the United States
approved the 10Th April, 1916. :
The first resolution, Mr.. C. said, it would
be perceived, was mere reaffirmation of
one which the senate had already passed,
declaring the insufficiency of the reasons
assigned by the secretary of the treasury
for the removal of the public deposites from
the bank Of the United States and its
branches, and their unsatisfactory nature
That resolution was separate one, and
was not intended for the action of the 9th
er house; but only to constitute the basis
oflegislation, if Legislation should be found
necessary; and to produce the effect which,
in his humble opinion, it ought long since
to have produced, in the restoration Of these
deposites to the vaults of the United States
bank, by the secretary Of the treasury,
without any further action on the part Of
congress. He would not again state the
reasons which had brought him to this con-
cluslon, as he had SO recently laid them at
length before the senate.
But that was separate resolution of this
body, and this was joint one. To the
: former it had been objected on this floor,
and also in the country, and, as he believ
ed, BY the president OF the United States
also, in his protest, that it was a mere alb
stract proposition, not necessary TO be in
troduced, and which would not lead to any
particular measure Of legislation. He
thought there was nothing at all in that
objection; but, in order to prevent any per.
son from being misled by it, he had deem
ed it proper to submit the first Of these
resolutions.
The second resolution states, that all
depositcs Of the money Of the United States,
which may he received on and after the LIST
day OF July, 1884, shall bc made with the
bank of the United States and its branches,
in conformity with the provisions Of the
act entitled 'an act to incorporate the sub
scribers 10 the bank of the United States
approved the 10th April, 1916.
The effect OF the second resolution, il
would be perceived, if adopted, would be
to leave the treasury department al full
liberty to continue its experiment until the
first day OF July next. 1t would leave the
public deposiles already placed in the local
banks, subject to the regular disburse-
men,s, according to the provisions Of law
II provides prnspectively for the lawful re
sumption Of those relations which had here
tofore existed between the treasury Of the
United States and the bank Of the United
States, which relations had been provided
for by law, and which had only been inter-
Yupted by q violation Of law and Of the
constitution. 1t may be said that the senate
had no right to usurp the action Of the 9TH
or house, or to originate what would never
obtain the sanction Of the executive branch.
Whatever might be the fate Of these res
.olufions, at the other end Of the capitol, or
in another building, that consideration
ought to have no influence on the course Of
this body. The senate owed it to its own
character, and to the country, to proceed
in the discharge Of its duties, and to leave
IL to others, whether at the other end of the
capitol or in another building, to perform
their own obligations to the country, &C.
cording to their own sense Of their duty,
aud their own convictions Of responsibility.
To them it ought to be left 10 determine
what was their duty, and to discharge that
duty as they might think best. For him
self. he should be ashamed to return to his
constituents without having made every
lawful effort in his power to cause the res
tora.ion Of the public deposites to the U.
s. bank. While chance yet remained Vi
efiec,ing the restoration Of the reign Of the