Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-27
Twenty-Hfth tonsress---2d Sess
M SENATE-Snturdau. .Nnrch 10. 1885.

TWcEsey-faffh aOnSress--.Sa Sees.
IN SENATE-Suturduy, yIarch 10, 1855
SPEECH OF MIR. CLAY, OF K.
Is REPLY TO Mr.. CALHOUN, on MIR WRIGHT BILL
(Ia continuation
The Senator from South Carolina thinks II is my ms
fortune he always riding some hobby und that stct
to it till ride it down think it is his never to SUCH
to one long enough. He ia like courier, who riding
from post to post with relays Of fresh horses, when hi
changes his steed, to forget altogether the la
which he had mounted Now, it is a part OF my pId'
and pleasure to say, that never in my lite changed my
deliberate opinion upon any great measure OF natona
policy but once and that y years ngo on the cues
ton OF the power tn establish Bank of the u States
The change wrought by the sad and disastrous e1
perence Of the such an institution growing out
the cala,nites of war. II change which made IN
common with MIR. Madison, two Governors OF Virginia
and the gea, body OF that Republican party to which
have ever belonged.
No Sir the Senator from South Carolina is free from
oil re proach of sticking hobbies. He for Bank
of the U. S in 1876 he proposed supported, and with
his accustomed ability carried through The charter lie
sustained it upon the admitted grounds OF It's cons''n
tionay, Of which he never once breathed the expires
sion of doubt. During the twenty years OF its CONT
nuance no scruple escaped from him 10 the pow
er create it, And in 1884, when 1t was about TO ex
pire he deliberately advocated the renewal OF lis char
ter for term Of IL years more However profound he
may suppose the power of analysis be, and whatever
opinion he may entertain OF his metaphysical Ia
Guilty. can he inngine that any plain practical, c"imn
man ever comprehend how II Is constitutional
years? He may surround such proposition with as
many circumstances and conditions he pieases he
may dress il up and decorate il with as much drapeIy,
and enccmpass il with many distinctions and qnai
cations as his ina mat ion invent; 1t comes at last
to this Bank of the u. S. is constitutional or il is
not Ii it is unconstitutional in lis origin, II is uncon.
suonaI throughout every subsequent stage Of lis ex'
iseuce. And if it bp admissible To continue such an
unconstitutional institution for term OF IL years. 1t
may be continued ano.hsr and another 10 the end OF
time.
The distinguished Senator sticks long to M hobby
He gaily uurn,r GA THAI o! Internal Improve
nents We rode thai double, the Senator sitting before,
and behind him He quietly slipped off. leaving me 10
hold the bride, He introduced and carried through
Congress in 1916 The bill setting apart The large bonus
of;he Bank oflEe States for internal improvements
His speech delivered that occasion dues not n'ina''
the smallest question as to the constitutional power o TIT
Government but proceeds upon the assumption OF ITS
being incontestab.e When he subsequently IN the
Department Of War he made to Congress brilliant re
port Switching splcnGid and magnificent scheme o.
internal mprov fn the entire nation as ever wa:
presented 10 the admiration aud wonder OF mankind
Where is he nov For myself, am just where wa
then, 10 the existence of the power, although MI
willing 10 admit that the altered condition Of the coun
try has essened The degree Of necessity for its
else During the progress of the Land bill, It may Dr.
remembered that saiJ "Pass this BILL and you will tor
settle the puwer Of the Government over Internal
improvements. Although that measure unfortunately
failed fol already stated, there is now little
occasion for the aid and nlerposon Of the General
Government But the power reula!ns IN the Consu.
ton and If it be not practically exercised, II will bt
like other dormant powers contained III The same inslri
ment Aud in respect 10 the power to protect American
industry il l. Just as much in the Constitution nsi
was in 1916, when The Senator from South Carolina es
poused the policy with :uch zsa and ability; just As
fixed there il regarded from hr c"Inne ncenen
Of the government down To lS2 or lS22 when tor tn
first time it wus controversial Urder lis heneEcent ope
ration thousands have been enabled tn obtain compr
tency, many TO acquire wealth, who otherwise wnnic
have known either n" patriot heart can uil to
expand with exuaiinn al the blessings which II has dill
fused. 1t has psced US in equal competition with
Of the Powers advanced in civilization and in
spite Of all that has been nsidously done against The
interest, and which is still doing, our cherished manu-
features WILL trust stand up and maintain themse YES
against the unnatural hostility at home, and all Jealous
rivalry abroad
The Senator from South Carolina gets tired of his
hobbies loo Soon The whole country was filled with
JUS, alarm the fearful strides OF Executive power and
Judging from the tone Of the Senator'S speeches, and The
sirtnuuusness Of his exerons. was more ANXIOUS
than he but few short months ago, to reduce within
safe and constitutional limits. But he suddenly gnes
over to party which maintains TO The very letter The
whole extent Of the power claimed by the EGecu-
tive Observation-Disclosures that in Free intelligent
and responsible Government, every subordinate Execu.
tive officer is bound implicitly to obey the will OF The
President and that he exercise at his discretion the
tremendous power Of dsmssion, not only wthou, us
signing reasons but without the smallest practical or
available responsibility for its exercise! His efforts have
not only ceased 10 restrain and crcumscrbe the power
but he supports measure which will give TO it vast
augenation repeat what have often said, that il
this Executive bank is to be sanctioned by Congress, il
will be the utter destruction Of all other banks in The
county. We shall have. IN fact, ultimately but one bank
and that Treasury bank exclusively controlled by the
Executive emitting all The paper medium in circulation,
aud amassng and boarding the greater part OF the specie
Of the country. We shall have, in short, that priec
union Of the sword and the purse, which all real patriots
have 80 much dreaded think, when the honorn
Bile Senator undertakes 10 establish his consistency.
he assumes Heculean task beyond his poWeis great
and gigantic as he believes them 10 be. He may have
all the speeches he has delivered read TO in
audible voice. by the Secretary, and call upon the Senate
a,tentiyey to hear lhem beginning with his speech it,
favor of Bank of the United States in 1916, down
ed the other day, aud he will have made progress il
his task do mol spenk this in any unknd spirit; but
will tell the honorable Seuator when he will be consist
emit He will be so, when he resolves henceforward
during the residue of his life; never to pronounce 'ht
word again. We began public career nearly to
geher; we remained together tiEnnghou the war and
down 10 the peace. We agreed as 10 Bank OF the
United States-as to protective tarif-as to internal
impruvemeBts-and ate to those arbitrary and vlo
lent measures which characterized the Administration
of Gen. Jackson. No two prominent public men ever
agreed better together in respect to important measures
of national policy We concur in nothing. We
separate forever. The Senator sometimes says that he
is going 10 fall back upon the Republican party of 1927
Then it the entire South which he would unite Then
il is the Republican party Of 9S He processes 10 rally
on MIR. Madson's resolutions; but he and Mr. Madison
never could agree about their true import The Senator
deduced Notification from those resolutions But Multi
6cation never entered into the head of Mr.. Madison
That oure and enlightened patriot never could compre
bend how ConSederacy of 20 States could gel along at
all if any of lis members could al It's PLEASURE sci
aside and nulhiy The will Of the whole The Senator,
too professes 10 belong The Republican party Of 49,
L 'ypprh lis