The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-02-27
THE ATTACK IN THE SENATE UPON
THE CREDIT OF THE STATES.

Mr.. Senator Benton introduced into the
Senate set of Resolutions declaratory Of
the constitutional incompetence of Congress
10 assume the debts of the States. He ac.
companed them with speech, in which he
depicted in strong coIors the disastrous con
dlnon of the States, arising from the exces
sive and improyident Indebtedness into
which they had fallen, IN consequence of
bank paper, vicious extension Of credit,
absence Of specie, DC. la short, the speech
and the resolutions were characterized by
the usual traits so strongly Impressed upon
! the productions OF the Senator from Missouri.
Mr.. Lumpkin, Of Georgia, apparently dis
satisfied With the taste in which these reso
buttons we're drawn, proposed substitute,
varying the manner, but concluding ia an
identical proposition. Both SETS Of resolu
lions proposed negative propositions upon
hypothetical case, VIZ. the States
should apply for It, this Government will
not assume their debts. To compose the
conflict tdnte amino, Mr.. Gfundy proposed
reference of the resolutions 10 a select
committee, which was ordered, with the
general persuasion, as we believe, that,
when conided TO the custody of Mr.. Grun.
DIV, at the head Of well balanced commit
tee, they would share the fate Of the bank
rupt law proposed by the President some
years since, which, being thus referred, was
quietly strangled. But the Senator from
Missouri is not thus 10 be dealt with.
measure Of his does not perish like a blind
pup, fifteen IN the litter. report was
made; and it has not happened in the his
tory Of Congress that such a lecture has
been read To the sovereign States Of this
Unlon. They do no! present themselves,
but are summoned 10 tie bar OF the Senate.
they are not accused Of any oreTi act, but
Of the crime Of Imagining treason, and their
/. imputed intentions beng sufficient grounds
oil jurisdiction, they are not Only informed
that their vile imaglnlngs shallu be real
lzed but are soundy rated for their imputed
poverty, and for the reckless and gambling
extravaganza which the report asserted had
superlnduced il.
The report, in short, was an application
and exaggerauon Of Colonel Beulon's reso
lutions, IN which that distinguished Senator
could complain Of nothing, unless It were
tue weakening Of his propositions by d,tiu
sion. Ii announced the State debts 10 b.
the enormous sum Of two hundred millions
Ii stated that Of New ! ork as exceeding
more than eighteen millions. II spoke Of
exlrayaganl burdens imposed upen the PEG
pie BY prodlgal legislation; Of members Of
the Legislatures shrinking from the tespon
siblllty OF taxing their constituents TO main
tain the credit Of the States aud most Ella
boralely argued that the sound States should
not be called upon to pay the debts OF those
who, by gambling aud improyldent specu
/ aiIons, had fallen into bankruptcy. The
argument OF the repor! assumed that such
proposition was made, and illustrated II by
most logical dlsqulsllon on the question
whether one man ougai 10 pay the debt o.
another.
Louisiana was assumed, or grahd for
general Illustration OF the enorDlIles OF the
whole stfair.
! THIS most extraordinary reprobaIlon Of
/ the States. made by virtue OF gratultous
and unconstitutional assumption Of Junsdc
ton over their most separate and peculiar
concerns, was received with astcuishment
by the Senate. Mr.. Cutlenden and other
distinguished Senators warmly denounced
the authority for his proceeding called tor
an exhibition Of that clause Of the Cous,itu.
ton which aulhonz' d Congress to supervise
and examine luio the local institutions Of the
States and the proceedings ofthe State Leg.
lslaiures within heir ackno" Iedged pro,
vince. 1t was asked by the Opposition
shat Stale had come for assistance ! what
Stale had squandered lis means and reduc
ed itself to bankruptcy J And, II there
we're any such, IS hat night had the Senate
to proclaim that bankruptcy, and to yolun.
teer the denial Of lis assistance, when &c
such assistance vas asked ioF IL was
asked how the committee had ascertalned
the extent Of Indebtedness alleged How
they had ascertained "lhat one State bad
run 10 debt TO construct an Improbable rail
road, and another to establish ar Insolvenl
bank And, above all, what could Justify
on the part Of this Government, such a
tone Of exaggeration ~ regard 10 the debts
Of the States, Of apprehension IN regard 10
their interior policy, and such Remuneration
Of their imputed desingsl
To these pregnant questions, vigorously
put, no satisfactory answer could be given
and the report vas, therefore, upon motion
Of lis friends, rccommilted.
A nights consideration on part Of the
committee led to important notifications Of
the report, and gave time TO the friends Of
the Administration to rally for tie next day,
The Chairman, Mr.. Grundy, upon the
second coming IN Of the report, justified ii
on the ground OF circular letter from a
Banker 10 Europe Mr. c. e. Clay, on the
ground Of an editorial in the New York
Courier and Enquirer; Mr.. Brown, Of North
Carolina, on other grounds; and Mr. Cal.
houn spoke Of the Bank Of the Uuited States,
gold aud silver and paper currency, the tar
if, the removal of the deposlies, and Mr..
/ Claws / and R,lI Throuoh the nrouresa