The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-09-21

or NORTH CAROLINA.

NEMAHkS Ut NH bhOWNs
or NORTH cAKoLSA.
In Senate, Friday September i5 is37-On the Bill 10
postpone the payment Of the fourth nstalment 10 the
States, under The Dcposte Act Of 1895.
Mr.. BROWN said. he had not intended Of that stage
Of the bill 10 delay s early passage by any remarks OF
his but in consequence Of the Observations which had
fallen from the two gentlemen, who ~ the course o. that
morning, had addressed the Senate, he would take the
occasion to make few remarks in reply, and in just-
cation Of the which Il Was his purpose 70 give ON
the measure then before them.
In addition 70 the arguments which bad already been
urged and which his mind were conclusive, IN favor
Of withholding the fourth instament, payable TO the se-
vers States on the frat Of October. under the depose
ACT another argument entitled 10 st more weghty con-
sderaton had decided his mind in favor Of that course
we refuse pass the bill having that object in view,
the obigaron win unsvodably devove on Congress 70
provide tho mesns 10 meet the payment Of the install
pent, which will otherwise become due 10 the States,
the available Of tho Treasury being inadequate
for that purpose. Now he (Mr. b. could not see N
any part Of the Constitution the power 10 raise money
and Of necessity the power to tax our constuents TO
pay the money thus ised for the mere purpose Of de-
posting il in the treasures Of the several States The
power 10 raise money limited TO the objects and du-
ties with which the General Government was charged
by the Constitution, and in no part Of that instrument
the power to be found, either by express grant o.
implication raise il for any such purpose IL could
to carry into effect any power belonging to the 1e
neral Government. To his mind, therefore, It was .
pspable violation nf the Constitution to exercise such
power which they would unquesonably have 70 do, in
providing the TO meet the remaining nsialment,
il its payment should not be postponed. He drew
distinction between the power Of Congress to authorize
the deposte Of surplus in the State treasures which
already existed and the power TO raise money for the
sole purpose Of thus depos,ng it. Il was in that point
fvew, that he deemed the depostc act OF last year JUS
ti6able; that act had. in the course Of its execution
exhausted the surplus, which the true object Con-
gress had in view in psssng il. and having fulfilled its
great end, he Of opinion its further operation should
now cease.
He though, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr
Preston) would have much difficulty in reconcing tho
vote which he had announced his intention to give on
this question. with the doctrines Of strict construction
othe Constitution, Of which he had heretofore protested
himself jealous advocate. He called on that gentle-
to show what constitutional authority Congress had
to pass law raising money not in execution OF any Of
its conceded powers, but for the svowed purpose OF be-
ing deposited with the States IL had been argued by
tho gentleman that strong expectations had been
created among the States that the nsslment which it
is proposed TO withhold, would be paid over TO
them, and that equitable obligation was imposed on
Congress not to disappoint those expectations. He
contended that the idea of equitable obligation ON
Congress pay the money utterly destroyed,
by the power given the Secretary Of the Treasury in
the deposite to call the States under certain re-
strctions for the repayment. Of tho sums deposited
with them, The power thus given to that officer by
the act in question, was in effect notice TO the States
that the Government Of the United States might want
the money deposited with them; and, in that event,
would require ito repayment He considered the same
notice substantially applicable regarded the install
ment yet unpaid, and was, in ITSELF very significant in
dcaton that Congress would withhold any part Of the
money unpaid, should contingency arise making it
necessary to do so. That contingency had arisen,
making proper in his opinion withhold that which
remained unpaid but he trusted that none would arise
making necessary TO call the States for that por-
ton Of the surplus revenue already deposited with
them.
Besides the constitutional objection to raising money
for the purpose Of depositing it with the States, the
avodable consequence OF providing for the payment OF
the remaining instalment to them would be TO lay tho
foundation Of national debit than which nothing,
in his opinion would be more preposterous when re-
sorted for the unauthorized purpose Of dividing money
among the States He would in event vote for any
leading TO the creation Of national debt, un-
less 'coud be made TO appear to be indispensable to
aid the Government In the performance Of its legitimate
functions.
Il had not been without some surprise, that he had
heard the charge Of harsh and unjust treatment towards
the States, reference 10 the proposed espe
cally, brought against the General Government. Was
il nothing, that it had the space of few months past
divided among the States near thirty millions of dollars
Was the distribution Of this immense amount among
the States or he regarded it, practically and in point
of fact distIibuon) to be considered nothing Or
it, in this act, that gentlemen found reasons to com
plain Of oppression the part Of the General Govern
meut, against the States He really thought, gentle
would take dispassionate review Of the conduct
Of the General Government towards the States, in its
pccunary transactions with the II they did not find all
their most extravagan expectations realized they would
at least find enough in the magnitude OF the distribution
which had been made, to exempt the General Govern
ment from the harsh which they had cast on it.
The gentleman from Kentucky, (Mr Crittcnden) has
taken strong exceptions to what he has been pleased to
term the paternal advice given by the President in
his message against the increasing luxury and extrava-
gance in the mode Of living which are rapidly dlnslng
themselves throughout country and thinks that It
would have been becoming him 10 have set
ample Of economy and retrenchment by the introduce
ton of those principles into his administration, before he
ventured his advice such subjects II true (said
Mr. b. that the President had, not in the way OF adj
vice, had been suggested by the gentleman, but in
tracing the which had led to the present cnbar
raised condition Of the country, enumerated that among
many others, in connection with the inflated paper sys-
TEN existing IN this country and IN England, which
acting and reacting each other have, in conjunction
with the cause first mentioned, mainly contributed TO
produce the existing evs-evils which all experience,
in both countries proves, belong TO the paper system and
periodically recur under it, matter in what form it
exists, whether in the shape of National Bank Of
State institutions He would, however before finishing
his reply to the censnre which had been on tho
President for his remark take the occasion say the
gentleman from Kentucky il he would unite in carrying
out the recommendation Of the President to withhold
the fourth instamen Of the States, that 1t would be
taking step Of no little importance towards bringing
the Government back to economy and retrenchment
Tho state Of the between the views Of the Presi
dent and the gentleman from Kentucky, in relation to
the measure alluded to by him, simply this the
President recommends The passage Of law postponing
the payment Of the fourth instalment to the States
amounting to nine ten millions, aud which the
Government, not having the satisfy owing to
the default Of tho deposte banks will necessarily, If
paid have to provide the by going in debt for
that sum- while the gentleman from Kentucky insists on
the payment Of the nstalment the States the effect
Of which would DO to compel the Government TO raise
the necessary means, either by an issue OF Treasury
notes n Oth manner he ,could spbtnt