Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-06-01
Twenty-fif1h a,omsress---2d sess.
RESURRECTION NOTES.

RESURRECTION NOTES.
REMARKS OF MIR RoANE. OF VrRGrSrA,
In Senate .4pr % 1888 On the engr"ssed hill to pro
bbit the ISSUE and circulation Of the notes oi lhe late
Bank Of the United States
Mr. Roane said ! do not rise, MIR. President 10 make
nsneech, as nothing was further from my mind when
entered this open lips on The SUBJECT
before u.s. The Senate knows that DO not oi'eh ''ou
BILE them and tina, am always brief IN my remarks
and if was disposed be otherwise on the present &C.
c,son would not this late hour and potracted stage
of the debate trespass their time and patience but
having formed very decided opinion IN favor OF Inc
measure under consideration, and concluded only aiew
moments SINCE that it perhaps my duty 10 say some
thing rise thus Unexpectedly to assign, in such Ian
puage as the occasion may prompt The reasons ~hlcn
control the voe shall give.
MIR President have been strict cons'ructionist
Of Constitutions especially of our limited Federal
tons,itutiop-so much So have opposed measures
merely becau use thought them unconstitutional Nay,
Sir have acknowledged the justice and felt the
force of the excellent rule just adveed to by the Sena.
tor from Tennessee, Mr White that 1t Is best not to
vote for a measure when the mind eniertans even
doubt of the constitutional power TO pass il. hope
shall ever abide by this safe and sound rule Entertain
ing these sentiments, the very first moment That The
sound fell upon my ear, that there were constitutional
difficulties in the way of this b-lhat the Congress of
the United States does not the power 10 arrest
this outrageous fraud prpe,rasd under The cloak but
in reality, defiance Of law 1t had passed! was
struck with establishment and at once resolved 10 re-
view calmly and disp,ssioualey, tue opinion | had
formed have done SO have listened, not only with
q profound and anxious attention. but with JEALOUS "
GLANCE every word and argument used t" establish
the propositions and, Sir, must be permitted TO say,
that 30 far from seng convinced that there Is any such
constitutional mpsdimen have not been able to lind
even "a loop hinge 20 hung doubt upon, as to The
right.
ing the late Bank OF the United States am one Of
the e members Of either inuss of the present Con.
gres, who voted agnins, that law ard perhaps the only
who voted against 1t Oh cnns'i'u'l"nal GROUNDS
then thought as think, that Congress had no pow.
er Whale Yer either express implied IN the CoDsu.
tion, 10 pass such law But Sir, when voted against
that law because thought 1t unconstitutional, little
dreamed that when the twenty years within when the
Iatiuns OF the Bank ii created were limited should
have rolled around we were thea To be told that il is
unconstitutional tn compel II to wind up It's concerns
that we should thea hear it proclaimed on The floor of
either House Of Congress- that the immense amount OF
paper money which that Bank thereby authorized 10
issue and keep in circulation for twenty years only,
might BY any conceivable engagement, trick, or Desse
be kept in circulation for al indefinite period ct tune
What Me- President, is meant what do we under
stand-when We speak o "wiudIng up concein: Is
il not let ask Of The very oi winding up the
affairs or concerns of bank that 1t should collect and
pay its debts ami, above all things, draw in and cancel
its pro,nssory notes. Has the late Bank Of the U. S.
or lis agents. trustees executors you choose the
term done this Have they attempted 10 DO it, or any
thing like il? On the CONTRARY have they not done ex
acy the reverse in direct and known violation Of The
law which gave it existence: Have they not al this
moment out and in circulation among the people, mil
lions of The identical notes. struck by the plates of the
late Bank of The United States, signed by lis officers,
and issued by the authority Of lis legitimate directors,
acting under law OF Congress- None deny these facts,
and none deny the inquity ot the TRANSACTION yet are
we pravely told that Congress has power TO arrest
the progress OF The evil ursoolh because the bank is
deed-because its charter has expired! And, Sir, we
should be told by these gentlemen that neither thr
Slate uf Pennsy wanna any other State OF this mon
hast Tho nntppr IN
that those took possession OF the notes u the late
Bank of the u s. ihe expiration OF It's charter be-
its trustees representatives., to wind up It's con
cerss; and such, responsible for their faithful
conduc, 10 The law under which they were appointed
and under which the bank hose they were de-
puied 10 close lived and died? When Congress, Sir, IN
corporaled the late Bank oi the Y. States, Mey ac'td
but as trustees agents OF the people and SUCH made
for nd ia behalf OF them Two pleGges was to the
company thus incorporates; 10 guarantee 10 thcm s"
long as they complied with the provisions OF their char
ter oil the privileges and nmpnl'ies II Conferred upon
them The other the people. that alter the term
of 20 years had elapsed all those exclusive privileges
and should cease and the vas, amount OF pa
per money issued by the bank should be Withdrawn from
circulation, unless they the people, should choose 70 re-
vive and extend ills charter The people have mol so
chosen But the first pledge has been fully redeemed
They have submitted most quietly TO the entire fulfil.
me nj uf the law and The bank has been secured by the
judiciary Department. whenever u was necessary in Inc
fun enjoy legal rights Has The second pledge
been redeemed? Has The paper money put IN circulation
by il or it's representatives 10 pursuance OF law Con.
been Withdrawn and cancelled in pursuance of the
same law. No, is the ready and undeniah!e answer
from every lip Yet told that outrageous as Is
this proceeding in defiance absence OF law Congress
has no power whatever interfere That gross and pal
pabe as 10 the fraud Congress cannot either prevent
or punish its perpetrators Who osk in The name OF
common sense, aud common justice, and common no
nesy can punish it, if Congress cannot iii be an of
fence a, ALL it muet be offence against law or within
the reach of law and all will admit that it is not OF
fence against law Of any State Of this Confederacy
of any foreign nation Were not these notes originally
issued by authority Of la, of Congress- and are they
no, continued in circulation in the teeth of plain pro-
vision of that same law which, contend, is in full force
no long as one snge Of them permitted to perform
the functions of circulating medium.
/ am asked, Mr.. President, TO put my finger on the
clause the Constitution which gr"xts the power s"ugh,
70 be exercised by the bill your table, IN return ask
those who put their finger The clause IN The Con
stituon which grants The power TO establish National
Bank, to show the clause which ~ilhiolds the pow
er 10 limit lis charter or, when has expired TO wind
up lis asirss Surely, Sir, is most reasonable to
cure those who deny any power whatever in the Con
tution TO establish National Bank, TO show clause in
il which grants the power 10 compel National Bank 10
,,;nd nm its concerns. The honorable Senator from
Tennessee lMr. Whitley has troly told us, that thnse
..hn claim the bower 10 establish National Bank have
,an,bled through all the of the Constitution and
have located their right sometimes in one, and some
times in another Of lis clauses, until 1t had been called
moi unaotly vasrant power. Call 1t, Sir, by what
name you WILL a"yagrant or even "squatter, It at
fords no reason 10 me TO grant "preempton right
Mr. President, pretend not TO show any clause IN
the Constitution which grants che specific thug con'm
plated BY the bill your table am free 10 say, that
,hafhJ fr0tn an ffrGI