The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1838-04-27
Speech of Wr. CLAY.

'toh W " Cdiboun OF his seat, dnd addressed the
Senate follows:
lndlsposllion, Mr. President, under which ain
labofing. would have prevented my attendance in
the Senate Today upon any less interesting occa.
sion than that OF listening to the promised reply
81 the Senator from South Carolina, Mr.. Caihoun.)
Having done so, respectfully and attentively,
shall not ask Tor two or three weeks to prepare and
digest shai have 10 say. Ihvulnerable to any
attack from any quarter, seli-cased and self poised
| feel perfectly ready 10 respond to such parts OF
the speech OF the honorable Senator US appear to
require sny notice from me.
The Senator conn enced by complaint Of the
omissions in my speech. presume be means my
speech as published.
7 Here Mr.. Calhoun rose, and said that his dllu.
! u vas to the omissions Of the Senator from Ken.
lucky as NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 10 answer parts OF
his Argument.
Mr. Clay continued. | have given way once
for an expla alton | shall permit 40 other inter
ruption. did not Interfere with The Senator from
South Carolina during the delivery OF his speech,
aud ho viii have ample opportunity 10 reply when
| have done.
Sir, the Senator from South Carolina habitually
complains OF omissions and nlisrepfese tatious OF
hts speeches whenever his argument happens to
be teiuted. Nov, clearly understood man, and
think so did he whole Senate. to assert IN tie
I
single alternative, the bill VI The substitu e.
And supposed his object u be 10 dive my friends
and q ysel 70 The acceptance u one or The other
branch Of II. BY way Of excluding any other
course, he assumed at We had abandoned all
thought Of siabl!shug Bank otthe United States.
Siuce, have shown that there Vas another course,
"bieh Is, to do nothing, far preferable TO the bill,
The Senator says that 1t was very obvious
Another allegation vi the s. uatof is, that have
miercpTesened him tth espect to The power Of
lie General Government 10 contract willI State
banks. 1t seems that he id But intend 10 assert
broadly that there existed ats inability the part
Of this Government TO make any such contract
whatever, but II Is the particular contract con.
famed N the substitute which, he thinks, cannoi
BE- constituloualty made. fine contract proposed
10 the bill With the Stale banks, beng approved
BY the Senator, is oil perfectly constitutional aud
night. The Senator goes for hls own thunder,
aud agalrst that OF every body else There
yCt another contract With The State banks which
had commanded the cordial appreciation OF the
Senator, and that contained la The deposile act
ot 1886 thtuk, Nj. President, ii will be 9th.
colt iOf the ingenuity esen Of the Senator from
South Cafollra 10 maintain compet,n cy TO make
those two contracts, and inability 10 authorize
ha winch is provided tor ia tho substitute.
am also sccesed Of msrepresehung the Sena-
ts9 "a Twp ~ tat pun VI bauh
notes or tie term Of SIX years, as pfovded Tor in
tie bill. lie thlnks IT entirely constitutional to
make such limited arrangement whilst II would
BE-, IN hIs uF!uou, holly IHadnIesihle 10 continue
Tor any iBdt flute tune to receive such notes The
complaint OF the saastor /, that did not state the
circumstances conditions, and qualifications uu-
der which lie proposes this Temporary reception Ut
bank notes. | do not think, Mr. President that
they can VARY, 20 The smalies, degree, the question
Of paatr. j., as commended for bs tie Syuatsr, the
Constitution ptohiblts the reception ot bank notes
"a dues 10 The Government, the prohibition extends
as vel 70 a term Of Fix 10 any indt finite
trur. The INSTRUMENT ~ his hands Is perfectly
4 4tslc aud perpetuaiiy ,ap.pg. lie cououuds
exPedteneg aud coustltutionaty, and blends them
together, that II is difficult % discriminate the
ole from the other. lie argues that
connected with the banks that must of
gradually, aGd not suddenly discontinue the use
Of their paper
Now sir lf my memory serves me, the Senator
commenced hls speech at The extra session BY
nuuuclng that there was total rupture between
the Government aud the banks by the suspension
specie payments Tho dfse onnt xiGn stlit exists
"a tact anJ IN Law The bti, "a kich The Senator
20 warmly tspouses, makes conu1gent revival
Ut IL. In Is!6 also. the connection had aitogeih-
CT ceased IN point OF Law. Then the Senator pro-
posed Bank OF the'uried States. la both
e., Il understand hun. he proceeds on the ground
Of ptaeileal Inconvenience. Now, sir | cannot
tor my htc concur IA making thu Constitution this
nose OF wax. 1t docs or does mol authorize Bauk
of the Unpsd States. Ii does OF docs not autho-
lizc the reception OF tic notes OF local banks. II
the defect OF authority ioT The one or the other
ii. II applies to all times ard under all elreuW-
stances. No considerations OF nuhiy or present
convenience Cnn possibly put in the Constitution
- L.. L.. 4
truc OF the Senator in lol6 VAS, as he now states
It, that bank notes being IN fact received by the
Executive, although contrary To law, ii was con,
shtulional To create Bank of the United States.
And III 1884, finding the bank, which was eonst!-
tutlunal III It's inception, but had become uHcon-
slutlonal IN ITS prog ress, yet IN existence, ii was
quite constitutional 10 propose as the Senator dld,
TO continue il twelve years longer That Is, 1t is
not unconstitutional TO proeng the existence OF
an unconstitutional bank twelve years, but would
be very unconstitutional To create new bank -
Let US suppose thatpriaf TO tho expiration o. tho
twelve Years, state OF things should arise when
would require further continuance OF the oank
for another term OF twelve years, might ii not ea
done upon the principles of the Senator And
thus continued indefinitely Bat, Nh President,
| viii not dwell longer on the alleged mi>eoneep-
4 lions, on my part, or Interpretations OF tue
speech of the Senator. The Senate heard Us both,
and our speeches are both Published to the world.
Niue has been prepared under my snpefysaL 1
recognise and sm willing 10 abide by II, Just as II
is aud acquesce most cheefiuIly IN whatever
Judgment the Senate and the Public may pro-
nuunce
As TO the personal par, Of the speech OF the Sena-
/ tor from South Carolina, must take the occasion
10 say that no man is more sincerely ANXIOUS 70
avoid all personal controversy than myself AND
I tI,. In he
NV Inf. for The confirmation of that disposition -
/ M man eherishes less than | do fssllngs OF re.