The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-09-16
SPEECH OF MIR. PATTON
ov vIsoINIA.

money Of the United States in certain local banks In
the House Of Representatives Of the United States
February II. 1895
Mr.. PATTON said he was in favor Of the principle
Of the bill At the same time he willing and de-
tenined, so Ear il depended on him, that every
ting any amendment which he might deem calculated
TO perfect the details Of the bill whether these propo
sitions OF amendment from those who were hos
Tile or those who were friendly TO the principle For
this purpose no willing to sit as late every day as
possible with the physical capacity Of
members remain in session. until the bill was fnaily
disposed Of by tho House; and II was with this view
he had that day demanded call Of the House when the
previous question moved in order to defeat that
motion. Mr. r. took it for granted that such amend
ments only would be proposed were bona tds, and
for no indirect and unavowed purpose twas probable
that he would agree Of the amendments which
might be offered by others. and he had in view 10 pro-
pose one or himself, which, however, not Of so
material character TO induce him 10 vote against
the bill in OF their failure. Mr. p. proceeded TO
say that he did feel so well informed the princi-
Piles OF the banking system The course Of trade
connected with The general question OF currency to
enable him now to speak upon the subject Of the par
tcular amendments offered by the gentleman from Penn
sylvana, lMr BINSsyl and which doubtless had been
offered by him under full convection that they
proper and necessary for the perfection Of the system Of
the bill the principles OF its friends Nor is my
intention. said Mr.. P to enter into elaborate Discus
Of the comparative advantages disadvantages Of
carrying the fiscal operations OF the Government
through the instrumen,aity Of Bank Of the United
States by the employment Of banks chartered by the
States. The time for that discussion has gone by.
agree in the opinion Just Expressed by the gentleman
from with his usual candor that the gues-
ton OF the renewal Of the charter Of the Bank Of the
United States is settled That battle has been fought
and won MIR BINNEY here said, In under tone,
fought and lostl Ay sir fought and lost the bank.
and fought and won to the country. But though it has
been thus decided and acknowledged be by the
distinguished gentleman from Pennsy yet could
not listen TO the speech just delivered by him, without
being struck with the resemblance which existed be-
tween the Bank Of tho United States, the rcdoubtabe
champion in the contest, and another champion whose
exploits recorded in Hudbras, and Of whom it is
said that, a
"He fighting fell, and falling fought,
And being down. still laid about" s
" was impossible to see that while was confessed
that the question settled the honorable genemans
argument mainly intended to show that there could
not be any safe reliance upon any OF conducting
the financial concerns Of the Government without the
aid of Bank Of the United States. This doubtless
the conscientious conviction Of that gentleman and now
formerly, avowed with his usual frankness, and
tanned with his accustomed ability. But why discuss
that proposition II is decided by that tribunal which
has jurisdiction decide it, (he of the
peope) and the decision has been sustained and more
than sustained by the only earthly tribunal TO which
they responsibilities constituents, the people
themselves. The inquiry now presented, and which
must be decided, is, what is DO done that Bank
Of the United States is out Of the question: To that
wish to speak; but before do SO, may be proper to
devote few remarks to other topics which have
been introduced into this debate, and to which
slider it proper that some reply should be made.
Another great battle, Mr.. Speaker, connected with
or growing out Of this bank struggle has been fought
fought and for us-and fought and lost for OPP
ponents: to which, some Of the combaants
willing to admit that they beaten Some gentlemen
not to be satisfied with the triumphs they have
celebrated, and the jublatons they have enjoyed You
Of course understand, Mr. Speaker that allude to the
questions arising and discussed here last winter upon
the removal Of the public money from the Bank Of the
United States. The clamor and cutlery then made
against the Executive. for having committed fragrant
encroachments the legislative department. it seems
to be the desire Of again to revive, and again to
bring into discussion ."b ,
Imputations upon the independence and integrity Of
judgment by which this House governed in its de-
cisons upon these questions however common. and
however much be expected and little be regarded
elsewhere, it TO be hoped would not have been in
dulged in here do not mean to enter upon the field
OF argument to yndicate myself, and those who agree
with me on those questions, from such mputations.
cannot however, reconcile 1t to my feelings to pass
them in silence, and l will say, that whenever,
wheresoever, and by whomsoever, the issue may be
made upon the propety ofhose decisions of the House.
ready to meet it. Whenever that glove is thrown
down. and the lists regularly open for the trial Of
conclusions, am ready ADLER and more skiful ad
yocate Of the constitution will not do it, to take it up
and armed with the panoply Of truth and reason with
out any vain and weak reliance upon my own powers,
do not fear the conflict am ready to maintain that
the proceedings Of the executive department of the Co
yernment, in relation to the removal Of the deposites
not encroachments the legislative department
Of the Government, usurpatons Of power in violation
of the limitations Of the constitution and the prescrp
tons OF law. defy any to show, by any fair
sonng, that those proceedings in opposition to the
principles of civil freedom, that they placed the pub
lie under the control Of the Executive any
other FORM or to any greater extent than they have been
placed under the uniform Interpretation of and unver
sal practice under the constitution and laws from 1889
to the LIST day of October 1888; and that amy intma
tons that the decisions Of this House these questions
justify the reflection that the representatives Of the peo
pie Frustrated at the feet Of the Executive by the
influence Of the power and patronage of the Govern
ment is wholly unauthorized, and cannot be sustained.
/ have already shown, and can show more fully and
concluslvey hereafter, whenever it may be proper and
necessary for to do that the principles maintained
here last winter, by myself and others who agreed with
me, and which understood have received the
ton Of majority Of this body are in conformity with
those recognised at the foundation Of the government
admitted ever since, and acted by all parties, and
were by many Of the enlightened statesmen who were
instrumental in establishing the constitution then and
since deemed consistent with, and essential
to, the preservation Of liberty and the public good
Ihave no more to say these topics recur to the
question The Bank Of the United States having ceased
to be the depository Of the public money, and this House
having decided that they shall be restored to that
institution, what shall do! Is it necessary and
pedent that the present condition Of the public money,
deposited in the State banks should be permitted to
remain! Whether we shall define precisely the
extent Of the executive authority in relation it, and
limit and restrain the discretion confded to that
department. under the existing laws and the long
tied Interpretation Of those laws And by what provi.
sons, and under what conditions, the public money may
be deposited in certain State banks Or whether we
dispense with the Of the State banks and resort
some other expedientl
The employment Of the State banks as repositories
Of the public money is called experiment, and
little ingenuity has been dispayed in ringing tho