The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-01-06

;,.,,fy sbat they did on tho ground Of usage,
Al 10 that matter said nothing At any tune am
informed by gentlemen ofesperence in the House, up
on whose statements place full reliance, that such
Usage as the COMMITTEE SET up existed The fact
Of any such usage has been strongly denied upon tho
door Of the House during the present sess:oa aud The
assertions Of the majority Of the commee respecting
this matter remain as yet unsupported BY any addition
s evidence.
But whether this orignaton with the Executive OF
important bills OF general interest, and this obtaining
them ready drawn IRON tho Secretary OF the Treasury,
bean old practice OF new one, IA Tho view look OF
the matter made difference at all rather 4 made
only this difference that the older the practice the
more alarming i, was because the older il was the
stronger prool furnished that The spirit oil THIS con-
siu,ioa svaporaling and HAT all power tendedto
concentration in tho hands Of the Executive
The majority OF the committee alege ~ the thlFi
place, that they duly considered the measures re-
rec ommeuded ia the Treasury Report but that not
Of the bills reported correspoaded III form VITA any
proposed BY the Secretary Of the Treasury, and most OF
iheia essentially different in principle from The sngges-
tions Of that officer"
TaachnI this paragraph il is to he observed IN the
first plase that the committee do not pretend 70 have
held any deliberations which not expressly founded
upon Executive Suggestions. The Treasury report,
aud the hills prepared BY the Secretary OF the Treasury
formed BY their confession. tbs sole subject OF
their consultations They claim 10 have modihed bur
they do not pretend TO have originated
la the second place, there certain undenabe
facts, which viii enable the country TO Judge what due
delboraion the committee gave TO the measures they
undertook consider and how extensive were the al.
teratons which they had opportunity or time to make
in the drafts furnished them BY the Secretary OF the
Treasury
Itappcars by the Journal OF the House tina, the com
miee was appointed on Monday the llth OF September
Fhey met for the first time tho next day and that
day. reported to the House. the journal shows,
the bill postpone tire folrh inslalment oil deositcs
with the States On "Wednesday they reported the
Treasury note bill; Thursday, the bill posiponng
tho merchants bonds; and Friday, the Sub-1reasn-
nv BILL and the bill for the settlement with the late De-
posite Banks All these five bills the great measures
Of the session, and the only great measures OF the ses-
sion, bills involving questions OF revenue TO The amount
Of upwards Of twenty millions Of doars,-one OF which
proposed 10 refuse the performance ola pledge soemnly
made To the several States Of the unon, and by them
solcmny accepted; another saddlng the country with
national debt TO the amount Of ten millions; and
third proposing introduce entire new system for
keeping the public moneys, and designed IN fact 10 re-
yolutonzc the currency of the country these great
duly dcitberafea, the principles of the
bills settled and the form Of the bills determined upon,
aud the bills themselves ordered be reported 10 the
House, all in four stngs of the committee, held on
four days. aud which could not think, have
exceeded the average, two hours each they were
all held believe the mornings previous 10 the meet,
ings Of the House.
A committee Of nine members, in which any real de-
liberation takes place, is not body capable OF acting
with much rapidly. From the above statement any
person may easily calculate how much dae dcbcratoa,
the committee could have bestowed upon the matters
entrusted 10 il and how many could have been the al
terations whether in principle or form, which could
have been discussed and agreed upon and how far
the committee must havo relied upon work ready pre-
pared It's hand And from these facts may also be
judged, how much injustice is done to the committee,
by The expression in the printed report that they APP
proved the bills without any examination.
In the discussion in the House, IL was asked whether
il had been incumbent upon me TO suggest any fault
had 10 fnd with the proceeding in the committee, at the
time the lmpropriety occurred.
7, may be that was in fault for doing II so,
do wish myself from any deserved
sure. But il should be remembered that my position
was wholly new and strange 10 me. was entirely IN
experienced in the forms of Legislative proceedings.
For time, III least il seemed reasonable and decor
| Gus that should be learner and iii four days the
principal business Of the committee accomplished.
| II Is now apparent that lcmonstranco from me
would have been OF any avail The majority OF the
committee hold that their proper and jnsti-
fed BY usage and holding these views, the practice
i will Of course be continued
1t is highly proper therefore that the people should
know the facts that they may Judge OF the fitness and
/ safety Of such practice.
Lei us nov consider for moment the resolution
concerning National Bank the substance Of my
statement respecting that matter was, that the resou
ton was hastily agreed upon, the petitions OH the sub
lec not having any of them, been read aud that no
doubt IL also came IRON the ENecntlVc. Du TINS INST
was matter Of suggestion. did not state it fact
/ within my knowledge
spoke of the resolution having been but once be-
fore The Committee. The majority assert that the
question: not the resolution, but the question"
meaning / suppose, the question Of National Bank,
was three times before the committee 1t is very true,
as | mentioned in my statement TO the House, that
touching I" the question of National Dank, my
self observed early session OF the committee, that
it might be well to let the matter rest Ill, all the I'll
tons were presented
Here was mere postponement of the subject; as
vet the resolution had not been offered As to the
second tme which it is alleged that the question
was before the committee, had no knowledge Of il
whatever Since the publication by the majority OF the
committee ! have ascertaincd that the resolution in
question brought forward for the first time when
not present, and that il was then postponed,
The tine it brought forward, came to the
committee late and the proceedings took place Of which
gave relation in my speech.
Tho essential point, that the petitions not read,
is expressly admitted BIZ the majority Of the committee.
This fact stands out without contradiction.
The majority of the committee fell into error when
they assert that the resolution was drawn up by the
chairman Of the committee in my presence. For as |
have before stated, have asceraincd that when ii
first brought forward, was not present
did not undertake 10 state, matter within my
knowledge, where the resolution in fact originated.
only expressed my belief | only made suggestion
to It's origin and that suggestion may well DO true,
Notwithstanding tue resoiuuoh was "Tilen uoWh in tc
committee room for as il consisted of only nine words,
It might easily have been brought from the Executive
without having been put upon paper.
The absolute necessity Of correcting at once the
fortunate msappehcnsions respecting this affair into
which Unexpectedly find that many persons have
fallen prevents from going fully into the subject
at present time could have desired trust,
however with all who know me, and cannot but hope
that with all candid minds, what have said will
prove perfectly satisfactory upon the two great points
First--That the statements made in Faneuil Hall
| never rctracted, thought Of re;racting.