Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1838-02-22


give them. Still. could not discou-
they rage the eGoFis Of the Banks. trust
viii resume a. the earliest 5rseiiesbis
msments but II -. AZ the same time, my
full conviction, that By another and =
better course Of public policy. the Co
vernunent might most materially assist
The Banks 10 bring about resS enp;ioo;
and that By Government aid il might
be brought about with infinitely less OF
public Inconvenience add individual
distress.
Mr.. President, you aud I were in
Congress. in lslG. duriug The time OF
suspension OF specie payments by the
Banks. Whs, was the spirit OF tie Co
vernment at that time, sir' Was it
hostile, acrimonious. belliserant. to-
wards the State instiiuiions' Did i,
look on them only To iro~nI Did IL
touch them only To disIessl Did IL
put them all nndcs the secerges You
know, slr. II was lsr Otherwise. You
Know. that the Secretary Of that day
entered into friendly correspondence
with them, and assured them that he
would second their Efforts. for rcsump-
ton, by all the means m his powell
You know, sir. tina: in tact. he did rem
der most essential AID. And do you
see, s'r, any similar effort nog2 Do
you behold in the bill before us. any
thing OF the spirit, OF the policy Of MIR.
Madison, on any occasion, very like
the present. Mr.. Madison was a man
o: such subdued sel(-respect, that he
was willing 20 yield to experience and
to the opinion OF this country: a man
too, Of so much wisdom and true pa.
iriotism, tina: nothing was allowed to
stand between him aud his clear per-
cePtlon Of the public good. Do YOU
see, sir, any thing of this spirit. the
wisdom. OF the mild, and healing, and
restoring policy OF Madison in :his
measured Another illusirious man.
now numbered with the dead. was then
with rs, and was actin: an important
Fart IN the councils OF the country.
mean Mr.. Lowndes. man not def.
Gent IN force and genius, but still more
distinguished for large and comprehen.
sIve view Of things which is more ne.
cessary TO make great men, and is also
much rarer than mere positive talent,
and for an impartial and we'll balanc-
ed Judgment. which kept him free from
prejudice aud error, and which gave
great and just influence 10 all his opin.
IONS. Do you see, sir, any thing of
the spirit, the temper, the cool iudg.
ment. the ng-sighted policy OF Mr..
Lowndes, in all that is now before us !.
And MIR. Crawford. then at the head
OF the Treasury, aFduously striving TO
restore the finances. tore-establish both
public and private credit, and to place
the currency once more upon its safe
and proper foundation, do YOU sec. sir.
the marks Of Mr.. Crawlord's hand in
the measure now presented for our ap.
probation'
MIR. President, ! have little 20 say Of
the subordinate provisions Of this bill,
OF the Receivers General, or Of the
dangerous power given TO the Sccrela-
ry, of investing the public money in
State stock OF his own selection. NV
opposition to the bill, is to the whole
OF IT. 1t is general, Incorporating
and decided. | oppose all its ends,
objects and purposes. oppose all its
means, ITS inventions and its contrivan-
ces. am opposed to the separation OF
the Government and the People; | am
opposed now and at all times, TO a ex.
elusive metallic currency; am oppos.
ed 10 the spirit in which the measure
originates, and TO all and every emana-
ton and ebullition Of that spirit. So
lemnly declare, that in thus studying
our own safety, and reOouncing ell
care over the general currency, we are d,
IN my opinion, abandoning one Of the
plalnest and most important Of our con-
stItutional duties.
Ii sir, we were, at this moment. al
war with a powerful enemy, and IL his
fleets and armies were now ravagiDo
our shores, and il were proposed in
Congress to take care of ourselves, 10
defend The Capitol and abandon the
country TO its fate. it would be Ger.
taInly, more striking, a more fragrant
and daring. but. in my judgment, not
more clear and manifest dereliction of
duty. than we commit in this open and
prolessed Abandonment Of our consti.
tuiional power and constitutional duty,
over the great interests Of the nation
al currency. l mean to maintain
that constitutional power, and that
constitutional duty. TO the last. II
shall not be with my consent, that our
ancient policy shall DC overturned. II
shall not be with my consent, that ibe
country shall be plunged, deeper and
dedPer, into the unfathomed depth, Of
new expedieBts.
II shall not be. without a voice OF re-
rhonstTanco from me, that one great and
Important purpose for which the Co
vernment was framed. shall now be
pTostTaied
ma. CAs.BsOUN's ssEFCu
oS THE sUB.TREAsURY BILL.
Washington CoyvuPoadsnss Il Ne Bsiiims,,