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

lions, IN different modes, of a CORES.
p~ondence of the general will OF the ma
ton the proposed bank does not ap-
pear to be calculated TO answer the par.
poses OF revlving the public credit, of
proviuing a national medium of circu.
lation, and Of aiding the Treasury by
facilitating the indispensable anticipa-
tons OF revenue, and by aifording to
the public more durable loans"
10 ali the considerations upon which
ne then relied, in treating il as a settled
question, are now to be added two dis.
tinct and distant subsequent expressions
oil the deliberate opinion of u Republi.
can Congress, two solemn decisions Of
the Supreme Court ofthe United States,
twenty years of successful experience,
and b disastrous consequences quick.
ly following the disconiinuance of the
bank.
nave beer present, as a member Of
Congress, on the occasion of the ter.
mlnation of the charters of both the
Banks of the United States took part
IN the discussion to which they gave
rise, and had an opportunity Of exten.
sively knowing tho opinions of mem.
bers and | declare my deliberate con-
viction that, upon neither was there
one-thlrd OF the members in either
House who entertained the opinion tina,
Congress did not possess the constitu.
iional power to charter a bank.
But 1T Is contended that however in.
d~ispensable a Bank of the u. States
may be to the restoration of the pros
perity OF the country. the Presidents
OPINION against il opposes an i%nsupera.
bic obstacle 10 the establishment ofsuch
an institution. 1t will indeed be un.
fortunate 1.-THE only measure which can
bring reiiefto the people should be pre-.
vented by the Magistrate, whose ele.
waited station should render him the
most anxious man in the nation to re.
dress existing grievances.
The opinion of the President which
is relied upon is that contained in his
celebrated letter to the Hon. S. WEI.
llams, and that which is expressed in
the Message before us. | must say,
with all proper Difference, that no man,
prior to or after his election TO the
Chief Maglstracy, has a right 10 say,
in advance, that he would not approve
of a particular bill, iii were passed by
Congress. An annunciation of such a
purpose is premature, and contrary to
the spirit, if not the express provision
of the Constitution. According TO TINT
instrument, the participation ofthe Pre-.
sldent in the legislative power-Iis
right TO pass upon a bills subsequnt
and not previous to the deliberations of
Congress. The constitutional proyis
ion is that, when a bill shall have pas.
sed both Houses, it shall be presented
TO the President for his approval or re.
His right 10 pass upon it re-
suits from the presentation of the bill,
and is not acquired until it is present
ed. What would be thought of the
Judge, who, before a cause was brought
before the court, should wi his
intention to decide in favor Of a named
party? Or of the Senate, which shares |
the appointing power, iii should, be.
fore a nomination Of u particular indi.
vidual is made for an Office, pass a re-
solution that it would not approve the
nomination Of that individual
1t is clear hat the President places
his repugnance to "a Bank OF the Uni. !
ted States mainly upon the ground that
the popular will has been twice $50.
lemnly and u~nequivocally expressed"
against it. In this | think the Presi.
dent is mistaken. The Two occasions
TO which he is understood to refer are,
the election of Gen. Andrew Jackson
in 1882, and his own election in 1886.
Now, as to the first, there was not, be.
fore it took place, any unequivocal ex-
preston OF the opinion Of the late Pre-
sident against a National Bank. There
was, in fact, a contrary expression.-
In the veto message, President Jackson
admitted the public convenience of a
bank stated hat he did not find in the
renewed charter such notifications as
could secure his appreciation, and add.
ed that, if he had been applied to, he
could have furnished the model Of a
bank that would answer the purposes
Of such an institution. Ia supporting
his reelection, therefore, the People
did no intend, by the exercise Of their
suffrage, to deprive themselves of a ma
tional bank. On the contrary, it is
within my own knowledge, that many
voted for him who believed in The nc
cessity of a bank quite as much as !
do. And am perfectly persuaded that
thousands and tens of thousands sus-
tanned his reelection under the full ex-
pectation that q National Bank would
be established during bis second term.
Nor, sir, can | think that the elec-
ton Of the present Chief Magistrate
| ought to be taken as evidence that the