The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-02-27
Wushinnton. Feb. is.

and uncntor,aining speech This speech was tho
siuy doubtless, of all tho interval snce ,Ae CLOSE
Of the late oxun session; ana IL auoldoo "a 49,
specimen Of tina, metal hysicnl, TECHNICAL tahScsI
doutal style Of treating subject, ioi wH'ch MI
Calhoun is distinguished Like most performances
of ho, kind, i! not in all It's paris very
ent within itself; and its fine spun specuialohs
threatened, in some places, 10 p'eaR WIN 'no'' o
weight. 49,, I.
rvis,inO circumstances that the choice was between
thu nrcsent bill aud Mr. Rives substitute for it, The
yVhiss would support the substitute, II not as their
first choice, Cs their second g.,
The object of tho bill was, to dissolve forever all
connection between government aud bonksj me
object of the substitute was, to re'ostabl!sh con,
ncction which now broken up. lie allowed
that Mr Rivcs himself was consistent IA bringing
forward this project Ii had formerly been, and j!
now was his choice, The experiment had falIed
once bat he nedged that it thon was not fairly
;ried that adverse circumstances and accidental
causes had ,intatfered with the trial. That might
be- Nevertheless Mr. Rives ought not to DO sur
pr;sed that those who operated with him IN the
first experiment. had no relish for second trial
6Ir Calhoun denied that, under the constitution,
tho government had any ght or power TO make
auy such bargain with the banks to be selected, as
Rlyos substitute proposed They had no power
to deposit thoir money with banker or any o0uy
else. except special deposit.
Ho declared also that there was no consututlnal
right in the government to receive bank notes IN
payment OF the public dues.
These great constitutional discoveries, now maze
for the fret time, after malt century OF contrary
nractica, Calhoun urged with his usual vehemenco
and with great appearance Of self satisfaction,
bu. suspect they will meet but cold reception
from this fnithless and incredulous generation.
Having thus established The unconstitutionalty OF
ar Rives project, he proceeded to con9lder IT'S
practical results lie acknowledged that II Woua
produoe q resumption Of specie payments; but that
resumption if brought about at present. he regarded
es u very great evil, to be by all means avoided
The country was not yet prepared for resumption;
aud before could take place, years Of preparation
yoould be necessary, a resumption brought about
BY Eir Jtivos' bill would break down all the weak
banks, and pros,rae the business OF the country.
Next he considered what would DO the character
of this league Of banks and he argued that united
thus as they would be-, they would form great
National Bank with Biddles Bank (as he choose 10
call i.) at its head and q capital OF more thah
hundred millions Of dollars; and the dangers 10 DO
spprehended from this result he painted in the most
alarming colors.
Cd 20 vast Increase of executive power; It would
constantly keep the currency redundant; and would
amount 20 an organized eystom Of plumber against
tho industry Of the country. 40
In the House, Immediately after the Journal had
been read MIR Howard sent to the Chair two letters
which he desired to have read,
These letters contained information of the new
expedition got up against Upper Canada, by the
former adventurous of Navy Island, who were on
the move through the northwestern part of Ohio,
In force with arms, ammu niion, and other military
supplies intending to concentrate somewhere in the
vicinity Of Detroit, and thence to operate against
Upper Canada.
The letters being read, he expressed his appre-
that we might become Involved in q war
with Great Britain, and he moved to take up the
bill known as1 Buchanan's Neutrality Bill, which
has passed the Senate and been reported to the
House, with amendment.
The amendment reported to the House prohibits
the neutral trade in arms with cotermlnous nations,
whether by sas or land The bill, as it passed the
Senate, merely prohibited the trade by land
Mr Howard made brief statement of the con-
tsnts and intent of the bill, and expressed hope
- "a llnop ENr fhufh
Mr Holsey, of Georgia, objected to the general
principle of the bill. He was willing to restrain
she citizens of the United States by any law adapted
that end from stirring up rebeions or reVolss in
foreign States from assisting or aiding in stirring
up such revolts;-but he never would consent to go
any further. After a civil war was once begun, by
The law of nations, citizens had right to trade
in arms with either party, or to leave their own
country and Join either party and he would never
give his consent to any law that impaired that right
II was to vipdcate our right to this same neutral
trade, THAI waged the war of 1912; and he
would consent TO the surrender of that trade
Mr. Loomis, of New York, examined the particu
lar provisions of the bill and showed, in the frs
place that in several particulars il was entirely de
iective, and would not accomplish the object a
which it aimed; that in others, it violated the con
stu!on of the United States, and the dearest rights
Of tho citizens, authorizing the most summary ant
violent proceedings, totally hostile to the spirit
all our institutions.
Shields of Tennessee, proposed posponemen
of the bill to Tuesday next; but after some con
versation upon this point it was finally agreed tc
proceed in the discussion of the bill.
Mr. Fillmore of New York, expressed his opinion
that the existing laws were amply sufficient for The
emergency. Ii not the want of law 1t was
because the existing law was not executed tina
military expeditions were undertaken within the
limits Of the United States against foreign powers
However, if additional laws were necessary he was
ready TO vote for them but law in all its provs
ions go arbitrary and tyrannical as this, he nevc
would vote for.
This law bore a strong resemblance in its feature
10 the old alien and sedton act and perhaps it hat
similar paternity. Buchanan was formerly a vi
client federast.] The bill in fact gave the power
at his discretion to disarm the whole frontier popu
la.ion without any judicial proceeding whatever
and to employ the military and naval force of The
United States, for that purpose He had looked ii
vain for any report from the committee of the Sen
ate who reported this bill, in which its provision.
were defended he had found no such report, ant
he had found no argument any where, upon which
such monstrous provisions could be sustained.
Mfr Smith, of Maine, denounced the law odiou
md he INC Iemsrkahla insta