The North-Carolina standard., 1837-11-01
SPEECH
MIR. BROWN, of North Carolina.

MT. 0NON WIN, OI NOrtM C0fO1lm0.
In SENATE, SEPTEMBER 80, 1897
he bill imposing additional duties, deposito-
ries In certain cases, on public officers, being
under consideration.
Mr.. BROWN said In rising to address the
nate, after the rerv able and luminous inves
ration which the subject then before them had
ldergone, he did SO from no vain expectation
al he should be able, by any thing he nigh,
v to impart any new interest to the debate,
1ich had been listened to so attentively, or to
danv thing OF force to the argument by which
had been sustained. The acknowledged i'm.
,,,nee OF the question they were called on to
,;4a the powerful influence which it would
~, ~ The future destinies of the country, eth
for ID or evil and the deep interest felt in
,,;,n n !, nv the citizens of the State which
n mart. represented, would, he trusted, ex-
him tor presenting some of the leading
;lera,ions which would govern his course
i occasion.
.orp however, he entered into an exami
a -, of the merits of the proposed measure,
.- WOULD notice very briefly some observations
a. had fallen from several Senators who had
.eded him in the debate. The honorable
- ,tleman from South Carolina. (Mr. Preston,)
10 has lust taken his seat, in the commence
,ent of bis remarks, had alledged that the
,te Bank Of the United States, had been con-
'ntIy the subject OF reference, by those who
ID spoken in this body in defence of the mea-
of the administration. and had deprecated
us introduction in,o this debate, as tending to
make up an erroneous issue before the coun-
'. 1t surely could not have escaped the OBJ
0gation of that gentleman, that the course of
TpTCyrr-f L
on, had been severely arraigned BY MANY of
.Ose who were politically associated with him,
the progress ofthe present discussion. Thus
" tied by the political friends of tha, gentleman
some measure, to bring into review the cha
1,ter and conduct of that institution, it could
=, be justly complained of. either by them or
lseif, that the invitation had been accepted
that some "reminiscences had been called up
-? perhaps, the most gratifying to its friends
and but liltle calculated TO recommend it to the
nbic favor. =
While. said Mr. B. the gentleman cvinces so
"uch anxiety that we should avoid making
hlse issues before the coun:ry.is he quite GER
tain that he is not himself obnoxious to the
same charged When he imputes to the ad-
mins,ration and It's supporters, the design OF at
tempting TO establish an exclusive metallic cur
reucy throughout the country, is he certain that
h. presents the question fairly2 Does he,
VIXEN he represents them, as entering on cru
s2de to annihilate the State banks, and destroy
The paper system. make up an impartial issue2
He was well aware that many of the oppo-
nents of the Administrations had used no ord-
nary industry. for some time past, to produce
impression on the public mind, that it was
,rt of its system of policy to attempt the
htroductien Of an exclusive metallic currency.
he friends of national bank, had beer espe-
lily distinguished for their untiring zeal. in
IN avoring to create this impression, no doubt
hoping to profit by the apprehensons and dis
trusts which they expected to engender in the
public mind, by the use of it against those in
pow er. Neither the late administration, nor
The present, had, on any occasion, promulgated
Ehls as part of its policy. Neither. he was en-.
tirely confident, had this administration at any
lime entertained design so utterly visionary s.
lmpracticablei in thep-esent condition of thecoun
'ry How, he would ask, could any we'll inform
1person believe for single moment, that such
vas the design Of those now in authority, when
ne Federal Government was entirely powerless
TO accomplish, by legislation any such purpose?
The States had been in the undisturbed exercise
OF the right to incorporate banking institutions,
from the adoption of the Federal Constitution
down to the present time. A right now uni
versally conceded by all parties, and which
none were disposed to call into question. Con-
gress could not therefore, interpose its authori-
ty either to suppress existing institutions, or to
prevent the establishment of new ones, and
could onfy exercise some indirect control over
Them through its revenue laws Notwithstand
ing the insuperable difficulties which stood in
the way of such an attempt, as we'll from the
want of constitutional power in Congress to eff
feet it, as its own absolute inexpediency, ye
we daily heard attributed to the administration
as a part of its policy, the intention to destroy
the banking institutions OF the country. and tc
substitute in their stead an entire metallic cur
rency. Although the power of Congress was
lmpotent for such purposes Of destruction as
We're imputed, yet apprehensions were gravely
expressed, here an elsewhere, that some such
aeep design was in agitation against the entire
hper system, and that the country was to be
VISITED with ruin and deso!ation, in all its branch
Is N business and industry.
M B. said he thought gentlemen might
we meli dlsmlssall apprehensions which they seem
Gu % enlertaansfor the safety of that system as
u fIse< 80 - 3