Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1837-02-11

Of The South, and an enemy 10 the Union.
Rcsolccd, That the Hon. J. q. Adams having solemn
ly disclaimed all design Of doing any thing disrcspecltul
10 the House, in the inquiry he made OF lie Speaker as
to the petition supporting to be from slaves, aud having
avowed his intention not 10 Offer to present the petition
II the House was of opinion that 1t ought not I" be pre-
sen,ed, therefore all further proceedings in regard to his
conduct nnw cease.
/ The debate was continued by MesSrs. w. Thompson.
Adams, lin explaraliun;) Calhoon Of Kentucky: aud
Gushing.
Mr.. French attained the 4 rr and intinateI his Dr..
sire TO address tile llous"; bu. not feeling himself capl
BILE, al this late hour o! submitting his rcrnnrks, lie would,
he said, be glad if the House would indulge him with
an adjournment; and nc made that motion.
MIR. Cambrcleng called Tor the yeas and nays, which
were refused.
Aud, the question being taken, the motion to adjourn
was decided IN the atirmutive-Ayes l0l, noes 81.
So, att o'clock, the House Adjourned.
Wednesday, ftd Z, 1857.
IN SENATE.
The Chair presented n communication from the War
Department 'r!al,ng to the compensation of Indian
agents. Ordered 10 be printed, and referred.
Also, the rrpnr: OF the Second Auditor respecting
trade and intercourse with the Indians. Ordered TO be
printed.
MIR. Webster addressed the Chair nearly as follows:
| rise: MIR. President, for the purpose OF presenting 10
the Senate 4 petition signed by iourt. EN- or fifteen hun.
bred mercantile houses in the city of New York, pray.
inv the establishment Of a National Bank in that ci-
ty. These petitioners, sir, set forth that, in their OPT
mon, a National Bank is The only remedy, of 4 perma-
nent character, for the correction of The evils now al
fccting the currency Of the county, and the CONNER
cal exchanges. The petition is accompanied by a short
communication from the committee raised for the pur.
nose of preparing the petition, in which they state what
hel;cvc 10 be true, from some knowledge ur my own,
,ba, the pe,iiion is subscribed wllhou! reference tn po-
luical distinctions; and they INFORM US, OIL the authority
of their own observation and knowledge, that, IN their
opinjou. Oh no subject did the mercantile community ol
New York ever address Congress with more entire una
nimi,y than they now approach II, IN favor oil Il Nat'oii-
al Bank. -
Mr.. President, (said Mr.. W. my own opinions on
his subject, have long been known; and they remain
now as they always have been. The constitutional power
! of ConprrSs 20 create u bank is made more apparent by
The acknowledged necessity which the Government Is
under to use some sort OF banks as fiscal agents. Tie
argument stated The other day ty the member from
Otto, opposite to me, (Mr. MorrsJ and which | have
suggested often, heretofore, appears 10 me unanswera.
bic; and that is, that, If the Government has The power
10 use corporations in the fiscal concerns OF the country.
II, must have the power to create such corporations
| have always thought that, when, BY law, both Houses
Of Congress declared the use Of State Banks necessa-
~ 10 the administration of the revenue, every argu-
ment against the constitutional power ut Congress to
create u Bank Of the United Stales was thereby surren- ,
dcred; that il is plain that, if Congress has the power }
to adopt banks ior, the particular USE VI the Government,
it has the power to create such institutions also, II It
deem that mode the best. No Government creates cor
po-ations for the mere purpose OF giving capacity 10 an !
artificial body. II is the end designed, the use to which
il is to be applied, that decides the question, in general, !
whether the power exists to create such bodies. If such
a corporation as j bank be necessary 10 Government, it
It's use be indispensable, and il, on that ground, Congress
NAV take into It's service banks created by States, over
which it has no control, and which are but poorly fitted
for its purposes, how can it be maintained that Congress
may not create a bank, by its own authority, responsible
10 itself, and well suited 10 promote the ends designed
by ~
MIR. President, when the subject was last before the Sc
nate, expressed my own resolution not 10 make any
Increment towards the establishment Of a National
Bank, till public opinion should call for it. In that re-
solution | still remain. But II gives me pleasure to
have the opportunity of presenting this petition, out OF
respec, 10 the signers; and | have no objection certainly
to meet with a proper opportunity OF renewing The eS,
preston OF my opinions on the subject, although !
know that so general has become the impression hos
tile to such an institutions, that any movement here
would be vain ill there is a change in public opinion.
That there will BE- such i change | fully believe: 1t Will
be brought about. | think, by experience, and sober re-
lection among the People; and when It shall come,
then will be The propet time for a movement on the sub
ject in the public councils. Not only in New York,
but from here to Maine, | believe it Is now the opinion
of five. sixths of the whole mercantile community, that
i National Bank is Indispensable TO the steady regu!a.
ton Of The currency, and the facility aud ~chenpness of
exchanges. Tie board of trade at New York presented
4 memorial in favor ot the same object some time ago.
The Committed, on Finance reported against the prayer
Of the petitioners, rs was to have been expected from
the known sentiments of 4 MINORITY OF that committee
In presenting this petition now to the consideration of
the Senate, | have done all that | purpose on this occa-
sion, except 10 move that the petition be laid on The table
and printed.
Sir, on the subjects Of the currency and Of the OK
changes of commerce experience is likely to make us
wiser than we now are. These highly interesting sub
jects-inlercsling 10 the property, the business, and the
means Of support Of all classes-ought not to be con
nected with mere party questions and temporary poilcs'
In The business and transactions Of life men need secu.
rity, ~steadiness, and a permanent system. This Is the
very last field for the exhibition of experiments, and l
frrvently hope thatintell!gentmen in and out OF Congress,
will cooperate in measures which may oe reasonably
expected to accomplish these desirable objects deslra.
BILE and important alike TO all classes and descriptions vi
people.
The petition and accompanying letter were then or
deTed 10 be printed. i
The bill to amend the act establishing branch minis of
the United States was read u third time, and passed.
a message was received from the HOUSE Of Represen.
la,ives, through Mr.. franklin, their Clerk, informing
the Senate that the House were ready TO proceed To
count the votes for President, aud Vice President ol the
United States.
The Senate accordingly adjourned to the Hall Of the
House.
The Senate having returned 10 their chamber and the
President resumed the Chair, !
On motion Of MIR. GIundy, a resolution was adopted
for The appointment of 4 joint committee 10 wait on Mar,
tin Van Guren, and inform him of his election. And
Mr.. Grundy was appointed by The Chalr 10 act o Il Tue
part OF The Senate.
MIR. Gruudy then, from the joint committee on the
election, reported preamble and resolution, stating that
no election Of Vice President OF the United States, had
been made by The College of Electors that Richard NJ.
Johnson, Of Kentucky, and Francis Granger, Of New
York, were the highest on the list of persons voted Tor;
and resolving that the Senate do now proceed to elect
one of these gentlemen Vice President of the United
States; and that Senators give their votes, Utra r0ec, ia
their places on the call Of The Secretary.
The resolution was agreed to, and the Senate proceed
cd to vote accordingly, the resul, of which was as io-
lows:
For Richard N. JOhnson.-Mcssrs Benton, OF Mis-
sour; Black, of Mississippi; Brown, of North Carolina; I
of Pennsylvania; Cuthbert, of Georgia; Da-
na, of Maine; Ewing, of Illinois; Fulton, of Arkansas;
GIundy, of Tennessee; Hendricks, Of Indiana; huoc
bard OF New Hau,pshite3 King, OF Alabamu; hlng CT
KeanI, Of Pennsylvania. Moore, of Alabama; Morris, OF
Ohio; Mouton, of Louisiana; Nicholas, of LOUISIANA
Niles, of Connecticut: Norvell, of Michigan; raSc,oi