Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-02-08
[ Remainder ia our nert.l
Tuesday, February 1.
NJ $40.

ted States was received by Mr. Donelson his Private Sc
cretary:
TO the Senate and House Of Representatives.:
deem IN, duty to communicate TO Congress the re-
cent conduct OF the Bank OF the United States in re- using
!" "ehVer oe book- papers aud funds, In possession,
relating to the execution the act OF Congress of June
nh 1852 entitled, an act supplementary the "Act for
e re.i certain surviving officers and soldiers the
eVouuoh Ihe correspondence reported by the Set re.
'ary oil war, aud herewith transmitted will shew the
grounds assumed by the Bank justify refusal to make
the transfer directed by the War Department IL doc
not profess to claim the privilege Of this agency right
secured to by contract benefit conferred by the
Government bur burthen from which il s willing to
be relieved IL places its refusal upon the
ground mat the corporation has in
upon the legality of the acts OF the constituted
IN matter in which the Stockholders admitted to have
no INTEREST," and impedes and defeats far as it's
WI, permit the execution OF measure Of the Admins
anon because the opinion OF the corpora on upon the
construction OF Of Cong esq., differs from that of the
proper officers oil the United States.
Tue claim OF this corporation, thus usurp the func-
Uons OF the judicial power and prescribe
cuive Department the in which il shall execute
the trust conhded to it by law is without example in the
history oil our country Ii the OF the public servants
who are responsible TO the people for in which
they execute their duty, may thus be checked and
troed by irresponsible money corporation then in
deed, the whole frame Of Government changed and
we nave established power the Bank Of the u States
above what we derive from the people.
Ii will be seen, from the ACCOMPANYING statement.
marked A. that, according TO the latest accounts
OF the War Department, the Bank of the United States
and Its branches have in their possession half mil
non OF me public money, received by them under the
law OF 1882 which they have not yet accounted for and
whc tey refuse To pay over to the proper agents. for
use oil those persons Tor whose benefit il wtdra WIN
from the Treasury 1t is TO be regretted that this attempt
on the part oil the Bank guide aud direc,
upon the construction aud act OF Congress
should have been put forward and insisted on in case
where the immediate sufferers from conduct will be
the surviving the Revolutionary war for this
ev tails exclusively upon the gallant defenders OF their
country, and delays and embaases the payment of the
debt which the gratitude Of the nation has awarded to
Them and which, in many instances necessary for their
subsistence and comfort in their declining years.
The character OF the claim up by the Bank and the
interest oil the parties to be Immediately affected by it,,
make my duty 20 submit the whole subject the con-
sderaion OF Congress- and leave il TO their wisdom to
adopt such measures the honor of the Government and
the just claims OF the individuals inared by the proceed
ings, may be deemed to RI quire.
Having called for the opinion Of the Attorney General
upon ,hs OCCASION with view to thorough investga
ION oil the question which has thus been ned for
my consideration, enclose copy Of the report OF that
oeer aud add my entire concurrence in the views he
has iaken.'9r ANDREW JACKSON.
February 4, 1894
The message having been read
Mr. Clay and said, that had heard early the
last month"; that whilst the conduct Of the Executive in
relation TO the seizure OF the public money under
cusson and before decision OF Congress the subject
the Executive not choosing walt for any EXPIRE ssion OF
the legislative WILL proceeding in the execution of
his design OF September last; and that attempt
or would be- made 10 take away fiom the United States
Bank the agency which had been conded by to that
institution in relation to the payment Of the
pensions He would say that he was al this
He surprized at nothing which had been or might
be, attempted by those who had obtained the practical
possession Of the Executive power Of the Governmen
He had, he said looked into the question the
payment oil the PENSIONS and it his opinion that this
agency had been conhded to the Bank OF the United
States by law; that the Executive no right TO take
away this agency from the institution, that The doing
so could only be regarded continuance that
Resumption and usurpation which had been
during the last year against the Bank
lie was glad that the Bank had now resisted. We had
heard nothing of this subject until yesterday, when my
friend from Mississippi, (NIr Poindexter) made motion
to call for copy OF this cspondence The resolution
proposing this CALL TO have been again called up TO-
day and this may account for the communication being
hta AZ n
peated, had been confided TO the Bank by law; and
this fact was acknowledged by the Executive, when
taken to remove at Albany. Thus appeared tina, the
agency had been conhded to the Bank, and that
ecunve had recognized the fact that conided.
And now, what had been done! message had been
sent TO the Senate by the Executive in pursuance of his
plans for The humiliation OF the Bank denouncing the in.
situton because II had not violated which wa,
imposed upon il by an act of Congressl
Mr. C. said he had considered to be his duty to make
these remarks He hoped that the message would he re-
ferred TO committee which would enter int an examina
tion Tor the purpose Of discovering whether there had
been any violation Of duty the part Of the Bank. II it
should appear that there had been any such violation Of
duty on the part Of that institution, would be more
ready than himself TO apply proper and prompt correc
ton oil The evil But, 10 the committee should find that
the Executive aud not The Bank, had violated its obga
lions and its duty he hoped that there still be found
determination in the Sehae to apply corrective.
lie moved that the message be referred to the Com.
mittee on The Judiciary.
Mr.. Grundy had not very closely examined the cues.
on but he rather thought the Bank was moi be e
gal agent for paying the pensions under the law of 1882
upon which the opinion expressed in the of the
President, just read, had been predcaied Mr. g. went
on TO express his disSpprobaon Of the Senate giving
opinion, the other on The subec
at ibis time. The President had laid The whole
lore both Houses oil Congress- and until action be their
Committee was had in relation TO it, seemed TO him nre
mature TO express any opinion upon IL. He concurred
with the Senator from Kentucky, (Mr Cay) that the
message ought TO be committed TO the Judiciary Commit
tee and 10 addition 10 the motion Of that gentleman he
moved that The papers be printed.
MIR. Clay stated that IL was not his ntepon NJ ,bis
time, to ener into any arguments on this question He
had explicitly avowed this beore therefore IL was NOT ne.
cessay Tor him to insist upon H. In reference 10 the
ophIon OF the Attorney General accompanying the Mes.
sage (which bad been alluded 10 by Mr.. Grupdy) Mr. G.
ad lie Had long ceased TO respect the acts or opinions Of
the dferen Departments OF the Government being well
aware mat The Executive was, he called hiu,sef a
uhlt, ahd would InstsDtaneously dismiss any officer bo
d'u not al once obey his behests. Sir said he when w.
KNOW" from experience, that dislnsson Office il The
consequence Of difference OF opinion between any Head
have st all confidence in opinions from those sources
one can no longer respect the opinions an Attorney
Henerdl or any oiler executive officer when such doc.
Hines were ayowed as had been maiDsned on is n
nocuines belonging not 10 this Government nor even to
Hs sge-dOcfDes Of passive obedience and
ance, NC Mr.. G. passed high euogium on the pee.
sonaI character Of the present Attorney General Had
ne remained at Albany, he would have paid az much re.
spect 10 any opinion Of his question Of law deliver
eu rom bs private Office any man But, broueh hi with
10 Tie pesiendi atmosphere Washing he must e
excused IL he could not accord foil credit 10 his nnIie
opinions Mr.. &. hoped that the reference would take
places and was satisfied that the report resulting from, II
would show that the usurpaon Of which the presiJe,
complained had been here, and in PhiIadeIpha and