Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-24

ANShNN~"J
delivered omissions to answer parts Of his agument]
Mr.. Clay continued have given way once Tor an
explanation; shall permit no other interruption. i od
rot interfere with the Senator from South Carolina dur
ing The delivery of his speech, and he will have ample
opportunity to reply when have done.
Sir, the Senator from South Carolina habualiy com
plins of omissions and Of misrepresentation vi his
speeches whenever his argument happens be refutd
Now, clearly understood him, and think so did the
whole Senate 10 assert in the outset OF his former speech,
that there but single alternative, the bill or The
substitute And supposed bis object 10 be to dr:Ve my
friends and myself the plance OF the other
branch fit By wdy of excluding any other course he
assumed that had abandoned all thought of establish
ing Bank of The U. s. Since have shown that there
was another course which Tn do nothing, far prefer.
able to the BILL the Senator says tat very obvious!
Another allegation Of the Senator u.s. that have mis-.
represented him with respect 10 the power Of the Cope
rul Government to contract with Stne Banks. lseens
that he did not intend assert broadly that there existed
an inability on the part Of this Government TO make
any such contract whatever but il is the particular
contained in the substitute which, he Thinks
not be consuiionally made The contract proposed IN
the bill with The Slate Banks being approved by The Sc.
naor, is ali perfectly constitutional and right The Sc.
nlor goes for his hunde and against that OF every
body else There yet another contract with The
State Banks which had commanded the cordial approba
ton of the Senator and that contained IN the depose
of 1896 think, MIR. President, it will be difficult
for the ingenuity Of the Senator from South Caro-
linn to maintain competency to make those two con.
tracts, and inability 10 authorize that which is pro.
am also accused Of disappearing the Senator in
respect to the reception Of edeemabe bank notes for the
term Of six years, provided for in The bill tie thinks
entirely constitutional TO make such Limited arrange
mrnt, whilst il would be- in his opinion wholly inadns
sibe 10 continue for any indefinite time 10 receive such
The complaint Of the Senator is, that did not
state the circumstances, conditions, and quahcatlons
under which he proposes this temporary reception oil bank
notes. do not think, Mr.. President, that they can
vary in the smallest degree, the question Of power If,
commended for by the Senator the Constitution pro.
hb;ts the reception Of bank notes in dues 10 the Govern
nen the prohibition extends well 10 term OF SIX years
rs any indefinite time The Senator seems 10 ne 10
have some peculiar constitutional notions The lns'tu'
nen in his hands is perfectly flexible and perpelunliy
varying Ee confounds xpsdiency and constitutional
ty and blends them together that 1t IS ditncul 70 DIS
crninatc the from the other. lie argues that we
are 50 connected with The banks that we must ease OFT
gradually and suddenly discontinue the use OF their
paper.
Now Sir, If my memory serves me, the Senator COM.
menced his speech at the extra session by announcing
that there a total rupture between the Government
and the banks by the suspension Of specie payments
The disconnec!on still exists in fact and in law The
bill, which the Senator so warmly esPonses, makes con-
tingen revival Of it, In 1916, also, the connection had
altogether ceased in point Of law. Then The Senator
proposed Bank Of the U. S. In both cases, il IN.
dersand him, he proceeds on The ground OF practlcal
Inconvenience. Now, Sir, cannot Tor my lie concur
in making the Constitution this OF wax. IL does
or does not authorize Bnnk of the U. S. II does or
does not authorize The reception Of the notes Of local
banks. II the defect of authority for the one or The
other exist it applies to all times and under all crcum
slances No corsde nf utility or present conve
nieuce cun possibly put in the Constitution power
which we do not find there The doctrine Of The Senator
in 1916 was, he poH states IT, that bank notes being
in fact received ny the Executive, although contrary 10
law it wns constitutional 10 Bank OF the U. s.
And in 1884 finding that bank which was constitutional
in its ncep ;ion but had become unconstitutional IN It's
progress yet in existence quite constitutional to
propose az The Senator did connns t"rire Josro
lam kaie [ lie nUt
the existence Of unconstitutional bank twelve years,
but would be unconstitutional TO creHte new oank
Let suppose that, prior TO the expiration OF the twelve
years state Of things should arise which would require
further continuance Of the Bank for another term OF
twelve years, might not be done upon the principles
of the Senator: And thus continued indefinitely: But,
Mr. President, will moi dwell longer on The alleged ms
conceptinis my part, or misrepresentation Of Inc
speech Of the Senator The Senate heard Us boh and our
speeches are both published 10 the world Mine has
been prepared under my supervisal recognise, ana
am willing to abide by it, Just as 1t is; and acquIesce
most cheerfully in whatever judgment the Senate and
the Public may pronounce.
As 10 the personal part OF the speech of the Senator
from South Carolina, must take the occasion to say,
that is more sincerely ANXIOUS 10 AVOID an per-
sonal controversy than myself And may confidently
appea to the whole of my life for The conhrma-
ton of that disposition. No chershes less Than
DO feelings Of sentiment none 'rges or 9Eg'ves an
injury sounrr Than do The duty which had to per.
fnIn in animadvcrting upon the public conduct and
course of the Senator from S Carolina was painful in
the extreme; but was, nevertheless public duty, ana
shrink from the performance OF no GUY required at
nv hands BY nv country. II was painful, because had
onp served in the public councils with the Senator from
S. Carolina admired his genius, and for great while
had been upon terms Of intimacy with him. through
OH, nv whole acquaintance with him, have constantly
strurGed 10 think well Of him. and to nscbe TO him pub
lie virtues Even after his famous sumnerset at the ex
ira session, more than one oceasion ! deienoea
his motives when he was assaeo ana INSISTED tnat II
wss uncarilabIe to attribute 10 him others than lbose
which he himself avawrd This continued To do un.
I'll read this extraordinary and rxceptlonabe let
ter: There Mr. Clay held mp and exhibited to the Senate
the Edgefeld letter, dated Mt Fort ti'i November 5,
1871 letter of which cannot speak IN mered terms,
without departure from the respect which owe to the
Senate and to myself. When read that letter. Sir, its
unbusng avowas and ills unjust reProaches cast upon
nv friends and myself wns most reluctantly compel
led 10 change ny opinion Of the honorable Senator from
South Carolina One so distinguished as lie is cannot
exnect 10 be INDUCED with speaking as he peases Of
others without recprncu privilege lie cannot sup,
pose that he may ret to Ight or TO me e cut 10 ohd
out and CHASER among principles and parties as often US
he pIeases without anmadversnn. ! did, indeed, on.
derstand the Senator 10 in his former speech that
ve The Wings were unwise and unpariotic in not unit
nu with him in supporting the bill under consideration
But in that Edgpfed letter, among The motives which be
ASSIGNS for leaving understand him 10 declare that
he coud not "back and sustain lhnse in such opposition
in whose wisdom, frmness and PATRIOTISM have 10
reason 10 conhde
letter as that and after what has fallen from the Sena
tor in the progress of this debate towards my political
friends, does he imagine that he can persuade himself
and the country that he really occupies on nS
defensive attitude? In thai letter he says:
81 clearly that our bold and vigorous attacks had
made deep and successful impression State interpo
slion had overthrown The Protective Tar and win 1t
the American System, and put stop 10 The Congress
s;onsl usnrpnlio and the joint attacks OF our party,
and ,ha of our old opponents National Republicans,
had esc,uay brought down the power of the Esecq
tive and arrested its Entertainments for the present It
was for that purpose had united True to our p'ln incl
nile of opnoslion to the encroachment OF power rom
bn,ever quarter nigh coIne did not hesitate, al
Ter overhrnwing the proec.iv system, and arres'ing
legislative usurvaon 10 Join The authors OF that system,