Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-11-01

MIR. CLAWS


The following is the concluding part
Of Mr.. Clay's Speech in the Senate up
on the Sub Treasury Bill.
Having think, Mr.. President, shown
that the project oil the administration is
neither desirable, nor practicable, nor
within the constitutional power of the
General Government, o Just and
that il is contrary TO the habits Of the
People Of the United States, and is dan.
gerous to their liberties, | might here
close my remarks but ! conceive it
to be the duty of a patriotic opposition
not to confine itself merely to urging
objections against measures to promote
the general prosperity, brought forward
by those IN power. 1t has further and
higher duties TO perform. There may
be circumstances in which the Oppose.
ton is bound formally to present such
measures as, in its Judgment, are de-
manded by the exigency of the times
but if ii has just reason to believe that
they would be unacceptable to those
who alone can adopt them, and give
them effect, the Opposition will dis.
charge lis duty by suggesting what it
believes ought to be done for the pub.
lie good.
know, sir, hat | have friends whose
partlality has induced them TO hope
that would be able to bring forward
some healing Measure for the disorders
which u%nhapply prevail, that might
prove acceptable. ! wish to God that
| could realize this hope; but | cannot.
The disease is of such an alarming cha.
racter as to require more skill than |
possess and ! regret to be compelled
TO fear that there is no eflectual rene.
dy but that which is in the hands of
the patient himself.
Still, under a deep sense of the obli-
CATION to which | have referred, | de-
clare that after the most deliberate and
anxious consideration Of which | am
capable, | can conceive of no adequate
remedy which does not comprehend a
National Bank as an essential part. 1t
appears to me, that a National Bank,
with such notifications as experience
has pointed out, and particularly such
as would limit its profits, exclude for.
eign influence in the government Of il,
and give publicity to its transactions,
is the only safe and certain remedy
that can be adopted. The great want
OF the country is a general and uniform
currency, and a point Of union, a sen.
tinel, a regulator of the issues Of the
local banks and that would be sup.
piled by such al institution.
ara not going now to discuss, as an
original question, the question of the
constitutional power Of Congress TO es.
tablish a National Bank. In human
affairs there are some questions, and |
think this is one, that ought to lie held
as terminated. -Four several decisions
of Congress affirming the power, the
concurrence o fevery department ofthe
Government, the appreciation of the
People, the concurrence of both the
great parties into which the country
has been divided, and forty years OF
prosperous experience with such a bank
appear to me TO settle the controversy,
if any controversy is ever to be settled.
Twenty-Five years ago, Mr.. Madison,
whose opposition TO the first Bank o.
the United States, is we'll known, in q
message to Congress, said:
!, "Waiving the question of the con.
stitutional authority of the Legislature
{, to establish an Incorporated bank, as
; being precluded, in my judgment, by