The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-01-18

twenty -eight men "Congress, whenever
two thirds of both Houses shall deem it ne
ccssary, shall propose amendments to this
constitution or, on the application Of The
Lsgisidfues of fuo-fhirds of the scre,ai
States, shall call convention for proposing
amendments" &c. / would say, sir. to
those honorable men, why is not the good
work begnn at hnmel Do not yet call on
Hercules, for you have not yet shown that
you have done all you were able to do.
lmay be told that the Legislature Of
Pennsylvania is incorrupt, and an appeal to
that body would be an iueffectnal one.
Then would say, appeal to the ballot box
aud #, perchancc, | should be told that
even there the proper relief could not be
had, would say to the people of PennsyI-
vania, adopt aud carry into operation on
the Suggestions of AT least two of her Gov
urnors, Wolfe and Ritner; establish free
schools, and extend the diffusion Of light
md scieLce; apply all that will to you be-
long, under our Late distribution act, for the
purpose of enlightening the using genera
ton. repeat, sir, let the men of Pennsyl-
vann gin their good work at home, for,
in my opinion, il does not become them To
put upon record their own infamy, their
corruption, and the inf .ence Of Mr. Biddie
and his bank over them.
Sir, am sorry that the coruplng in
flIehces of the man or his bank are brought
to our view; let every man have his due.
Mr.. B. says tla, ho was quite Indifferent
ab.ut recharer, by the Legislature Of
'Pcnnsylyania, of the Bank of the Unitea
States. Tie made no application for re-
charter; be neither corrupted nor seducrd
any one (; that II any rnpacions act WAS
COMMITTED, IL was ny the Legislature upon
him. and not by him upon them; aud one
would suppose from his frs, letter addressed
I, my venerable friend from Massachusetts,
that there would not have been any violence
of any kind, but inr the proceedings of the
Pennsylvania Legislature. Surely, sir,
these lwenty-eight men do not wish us To
save them from their own worst enemies,
themselves.
It is, has long been, a mooted point, and
thi it will long remain SO whether Con-
gress, under the constitution, can in any
way restrain or restrict the issues of bank
paper by local banks. Deposite ..banks Gun
be compelled to perform what they are
bound by contract with the Treasury De-
partment to do, and here | think the mat.
ter must end. | am not now e,:ared to
say that Congress eau, as the constitution
now Is. say TO any State in this Union,
You shall Incorporate so many and no
mere banking institutions, and the issues Of
those Incorporated shall be to such All ey-
tent rs we may prescribe, and not beyond.
Sir, l am no, n very great s,ickler for State
rights: at any rate l have not said 30 much
in favor of them rs many Others have said,
but this do say, that I am rendy, and as
well prepared MS any man can he, To resist
all encro,chments upon State sovereisnties
let them come from whatever quarter they
may; and act, when there shall be an AT
tempt here to restrain the Legislature Of the
State from which come, in what We deem
to be the lawful exercise Of its powers,
whether in Incorporating banking insriiu-
tious, or any other institutions, that altenp,
will be fairly met. not by me alone, and
will be properly resisted. We are Not yc,
driven to the necessary Of declaring To the
ayoriJ our own infumy, and begging Con-
gress, because we are corrupt, to take us
under It's protection, to act for us and pass
avs 10 restrain us in our infamous aud cor
rupt course.
Sir, let it not he Inferred from what
have said thnt | am in favor of the moneys ed
incorp orutions Of the country. No, sir
am opposed To them, and MI other incor-
eorations; and as ] now am, always hav,
been, and verify believe I shall continu,
to be. What are they but additional ficill-
ties for the rich to opprrss the poor, and, il,
their march to do it, ts travel with steam
.p,werl for an irresponsible body, wiihou,
soul, To do what no man, as an individual,
with heart or soul. ever did, or ever will do
---to steal power from the many, to whom
it belongs, aud confer it upon the few, who
never ought to have it, and clothe that few
with the full poss ,sson and exercise of it :
Sir, upon this subject have nothing To dis
< 'ise. here avow my sentiments as have
av wed them elsewhere, and I stand or
tall by them here and everywhere.
Sir, i, may he very questionable whether
power can be met by, or resisted by. any
thing but power; and whether there Is
strength enough, if there he virtue and in.
tegriy sufficient, in the people of this coun-
try To meet or pat down wha, may be cal
I'D the major vis-the money power, and
the corporation power-cxccpt by meeting
IL with its own weapons, and opposing To il
n force not unlike that which it wiclds
Tile people of my own State, (said Mr.. P.)
,"nc would suppose, have gone upon tins
principle; that Is to say, to meet power of
"A certain kind, by the exercise against it of
a power of the like kind. Finding them
selves in the incorporation of bank insiitu-
tions. stepped in so far, that returning
wonld be ms bad as to GO Ger" they are
now. from necessity, to keep in a sound,
healthy, state, institutions, created obliged