Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1839-08-24
Mr. TnOMpsoN,s sPEECH.

! JAcoB TnoNrsoN, ESQ. as We stated IN ou
last, addressed the people at The Court. House in
this city, on Thursday, the 18th inst. The audi
ence was quite numerous, composed of both
| wings and democrats. We never saw more Of,
lentye meeting.
After very appropriate exordIum, Mr. Thomp-
son entered upon the field Of politics. lie de.
clared himself to be disciple Of the republican
school of '9s-staied that his creed was based
upon the constitution as eXpounded in the memo
rabe Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of that
/ year. OF course he was opposed to loose con
struction Of the socrod bond Of our Union. lie
would take the constitution as it was-as every
man Of plan common sense would read and un.
dcrstand it, mud he would oppose the exercise by
Congress Of every power not clearly granted, or
not indlspensably necessary to carry out such as
were granted lie looked upon the incorporation
Of a National Bank as neither an expressly grant.
ed, nor necessarily implied power and to establish
tho correctness of his opinion beyond the posi-
bility Of doubt, he referred to the well known
fact, that a motion was made IN the convention
which framed the federal constitution, to give to
the General Government the power to create cor
poralions and tees rejected. But precedent, he
was told, had sanctioned the constlutionaty Of
bank. lie denied that precedent should have
any weight in eXpoundng tho constitution. Esia.
blsh such rule, and you destroy all the checks
instrument. Congress will be MS omnlpotent as
the British Parliament. Whatever tina, body en-
acts to-day, however plainly unjust and against
the spirit Of our institutions, becomes the prece.
dent of Tomorrow, aud stepping stone 10 fur
Their and more flagrani usurpatIons. BY this rule
Of construction Mr. Thompson remarked, the
Alien and Sedton laws, and protective tariff,
were constitutional measures, for they were pass
ed by Congress, and sanctioned by the President
and the Federal judiciary. MI Thompson yehe-
hemently and eloquen,ly denounced this mode of
interpreting the constitution.
But was precedent, even granting that to be
legitimate rule Of construction, in favor OF the
consttutionality Of a bankl The very reverse,
Mr. Thompson argued was the case. A national
bank has been chartered and sanctioned by the
Federal Government but mice--the first time IN
1901 and the second, in 1916 On the other hand,
such an institution has been rejected, four several
times, mostly upon constitutional grounds. In
1871, Congress refused to re.Charter the first U.
$. Bank, because, as Mr. Clay then said, the
power 10 erect such corporation was "vagrant"
one, and could not find a "a congenial spot to
lOsten upon in the constitution; in 1915, MIR
Madison vetoed bill to charter National
Bank; and in 1892, Gen. jackson did the same,
and his veto was sustained by the people. Again
proposition to establish bank was rejected in
Congress in 1887. Thus, even precedent is a.
ganst this fragrant poiter,"
Mr. Thompson also argued against the expedi.
ency Of National Bank, and advocated the In.
dependent Treasury recommended by Mr. Van
Buren,, as the salest and best mode of Keeping
and dsbursag the public revenue. He quoted
the recently expressed opinions of several dis
lingushed men agans, Bank, among others,
Langdon Cheycs, former President Of tho L. ).
Bank, and Geo. McDutlie, once its able advo
cate.
lie took up the sell-stylcd Wing parry of the
presen, day, and clearly showed, that although
composed Of the most heterogeneous materials,
they are nevertheless the true representatives Of
the principles oil Hamilton and the elder Adams,
and in fact, Fodcrallsts in every thing but the
name. TO MIR Van Buren, he paid high and
deserved compliment, as n Chief Magistrate, who
amid more embarrassing circumstances than ever
attended any other President, had done his
duty and redeemed his pledges, regardless Of
consequences TO himself, aud of the bitter de.
nunciations of his opponents. He had stood
erect and undauned amid the bellowings Of the
storm and The raging OF the sea, aud with firm
hand and unwavenng purpose, had guided the
ship Of state in safety. Such captain the PEG.
pie should sustain, aud the results Of the recent
elections clearly cvInced that they were rallying
around him in all their might.
Mr. Thompson commented with much severity
on the late address of the Wing Central Com.
mit,ce, to the people of Mississippi, after which,
he closed his remarks by beautiful and eloquent
appeal TO his audience, which was loudly ap
plauded' His speech was interspersed with ma
ny amusing anecdotes, always apropos, and told
in manner which excited the hearty laughter of
his hearers We have in this sketch merely
touched upon a few OF the heads Of Mr.. rs
speech. We took no notes at the time, and can
not give any thing ike an outline Of his remarks.
Mir Ihompson Is q man unnneSiionahly WILL