Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-04-04

the Legislatures of the States are to be cor
rupted and driven into base surrender of
the political powers of the country, its lib
critics and Independence into the hands of
irresponsible banks? Sir, he must have
closed his eyes to passing transactions, who
has not lately Witnessed the fearful strides
OF this moneyed power to dominion over the
whole Legislation of the country. He must
have been. purposely blind, who has not
seen its disastrous influence in obtaining le-
gislative instructions 10 honorable Senators
here, to vote against measure intended to
effect a separation of bank and state, and
essential 10 the protection of American le-
gislation from the communicating Impurities
of bank operations. | deeply regret, sir, 10
find the honorable Senator from Virginia,
Of whose purity and patriotism have never
doubted, drawn into an apparent support 0!
bank interests, at the expense, as think, OF
the Republican institutions of the nation.-
The Senator, four years ago, had the firm.
ness to stand up against all the bank clamor
aud mcnaces Of the day, sand TO regard the
cause of the Constitution and public liberty
as dearer 10 the American people than the
transient State OF the money market" Sir,
quote the honorable Senator on that try
ing occasion, when express the hope that
we may follow his noble example then. of
we yield to the panic with which we are now
assaied, and restore to the banks the depos-
ties which they have justly forfeited" the
triumph of these institutions will be com.
plete, and their domination in the politics Of
the country virtually established. They
will alike, "overshadow the Government
and the people," | thank the honorable
Senator for teaching me that phrase. These
corporations penetrate every part OF the
Union, and act in solid phaanx to sustain
themselves and each other, and TO break
down the Government to their purposes
Restrained within their proper bounds per-
united TO exercise no influence in the poll.
tics and measures Of the Government the
connection with them dissolved, they will
attend to their appropriate banking duties !;
they will keep their issues within the posi-
bty OF redemption; they will afford mod
crate facilities and accommodations to their
itllow-cltzens their paper will have val.
ue corresponding with that which it profess.
es to represent, and the country, and the
institutions of the country, will not find in
them an interest adverse and hostile TO them.
'Slr," said the Senator, on former &C.
casion. "of all the forms, social, political, or
economical, required by the great interests
of the country, that which is most urgently
demanded, and which promises, in Its ac.
conpllshment, the largest results OF utility,
security, and public benefit, is beyond Il
comparison, the restoration of the Govern.
ment to what it was intended by the fra
mers OF the Constitution to be, hard mon
ey government." 1t is, Mr., President, this
reform which we are now striving, TO Ger.
tain degree to accomplish; and am sorry
that the honorable Senator from Virginia
has SO far changed his views, as that we
have lost his co.operatien towards its ac-
complishment. That which the Senator
then thought more deeply interesting than
any other reform to the safety and prosper.
OF the country, the requirement OF the pub
lie dues in specie, he now unfortunately for
his friends considers Utopian and mposs-
bic. That which he thoaght San object
worthy 10 engage the most anxious labors
of the patriot and statesman he now de-
nounces as pefnicious and fatal to the pub
lie interests. He then conlured honorable
Senators, with whom he is now cooperating
against the hard money system, to leave
the Bank OF thu United States, to its fate,
and to bring forward their powerful aid in
an effort 10 restore the government to It's
rue constitutional character and destination
-'tth of a simple, solid, hard money gor-
ernment." Now, when we are making the
effort 10 restore the government to its true
constitutional character and destination, the
Senator has volunteered against us, has
withdrawn from us the aid Of his powerful
talents has lent them to the enemies of the
enemies of the ''simple, solid, hard money
government" and charges us with "foster-
ing popular prejudice against banks, as a
fund for political speculation, at the expense
Of the sober realities of life, and the practi-
cal, pervading, and home-bred interests of
the country" Sir, invite the Senator from
Virginia to reperusaI of his speech on the
removal of the deposes. appeal from
the Senator as he now is, TO the Senator as
he then was. | regret that the Senator has
so oiton produced the authority of Edmund
Burke in support of his views. The name
and fate of that talented man are Of evil o.
men. He commenced his public career as
a patriot, Of free, liberal, firm, Wing prin-
ciples. He ended an apostate, a champion
Of the divine right of kings and queens, and
a pcnsioner upon the administration of his
enemies. Sir, the pure mind of the Virgil
MA Senator, educated, as he was, at the feet
of the great Gamale of Republican learn.
ing aud liberty, should revolt from deriving
is supports, its principles or illustrations, on
any occasion, from such source as Ed.
mund Burke. Another passage of British
lislory is worthy of his profound conside.
ration. Need | name the coalition between
Charles James Fox aud Lord North, which
fixed lasting stigma upon the character of
the iustrioas English cornmoncr? Let the
honorable Senator ponder on what may be
recorded of these our times by the future
historian.
Mr.. Presdentthe honorable Senator from
Kentucky [ Mr.. Clayl has lately taken occa.
sion to remind the majority Of this body OF
their obedience to Executive commands,
Of their being the household troops, and OF
prostratiug themselves at the feet of the Ex-
ccutive. Such language is disrcspcctlul to
the Senate. do not believe the Senator
intended TO insult us. But let me remind