Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1836-06-25


committed to the talents and integ-
rity of Mr.. Cheves. From that peri
Cd to its final dissolution, (although !
must confess am not a very com
petent judge of such matters.) | have
no idea that an institution could have
been conducted with more ability.
integrity, aud public advantage, than
it has been.
Under these impressions, | agree
with General Jackson, in the opinion
expressed in one of his messages to
Congress, from which | make the
following extract: THAT a Bank of
the United States, competent to ali
the duties which may be required by
the Government, might be SO organ
lied as not to infringe on our delega-
ted powers, or the reserved rights OF
the States. l do not entertain a
doubt But the period for re-char-
tering the old institution has passed.
as Pennsylvania has wisely taken
care to appropriate to herself the
henefitsof its large capital.
The question, then, for me to an
swer, is, whether, under the Giro UNI
stances you state, if elected to the
office Of President, l would sign an
act to charter another bank? ]
answer, l would, if it were clear
liz ascertai,scd that the. public in
terest in relation TO the collection
and disbursement of the revenue
would materially suffer without one,
and there were unequivocal manites-
tations in its favor. l think, how
ever, the experiment should be fairly
tried. to ascertain whether the finan-
cial operations of the Government
cannot be as well carried on without
the aid of a national bank. If it is
mot necessary Tor that purpose, it
does not appear to me that one can
be constitutionally chartered. There
is no construc ton which | can give
the Constitution which would autho-
rize it, on the ground of atfording IA
c:!ities to commerce. The measure,
if adopted, must have for its object
the carrying into effect facilitating
at least the exercise of some one Of
the powers positively granted to the
General Government. If others flow
from it, producing equal or greater
advantages to the nation, SO much the
better; but these cannot be made the
ground for justifying recourse to it.
The excitement which has been
produced by the Bank question. the
number and responsibility of those
who deny the right to Congress to
charter one, strongly recommend the
course above suggested.
5th. distinctly answer to this
question, that in my opinion,no House
of Congress can constitut!onally ex-
punge the Record of the proceedings
of their predecessors. The power
to rescind certainly belongs to them;
and for every public legitimate pur-
pose, is all that is necessary. The at
tempt to expunge part of their Jour
nal, now making in the senate of the
United States, am satisfied could
never have been made but in peri
Cd of the highest party excitement.
when the voice Of reason and gener-
ous feeling is stitied by long protrac-
ted and bitter controversy.
In relation to the exercise of the
veto power of the President, there is,
think, an important difference IN O.
pinion between the present Chief
Magistrate and myself. | express
: this opinion with less diffidence, be-
cause | believe mine is in strict accor
dance with those OF all the prevIou:
/ Presidents to Gen. Jackson.
The veto power, or the control Of
! the executive over the enactment O
laws by the legislative body. was
not unknown in the United State.
! previous to the formation of the pres.
ent Federal Constitution. 1t doe:
not appear, however. to have been il
much favor. The principle was te
be found in bat three of the State
i Constitutions; and in but one of then
! Massachusetts, was the Executive
|, power lodged Ia the hands of q single
:, Chief Magistrate. One other State
South Carolina) had. indeed, not on
~ adopted this principle. but hae
| given its single Executive Magistrate
an absolute negative, like that of thu
United States. The people of SoutE
j Carolina seem. however, not to have
! been long pleased with this invest
liment Of power in their Governor,as i
J, lasted but two years; having beer
n