Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-07-24

ton Of the Dcposites to the United States Bank
ana a renewal of its charter; and this phase is
contenperaneous with one of the most violent and
desperate efforts ever made by u monied faction
TO get possession of the Government, and many was
the patriot who feared the Bank and its minions would
succeed-bnt, rs God would have it, the people ti-
unPhed. This was the time selected by Gen. IIarri.
son 10 surrender his constitutional scruples and to
chanCe ms opinions for the third time on a Bank.
we Will now present him in his fifth phase-he
has as many phases as the moon-he is moons struck
politician. Sherrod Williams, in 1886, addressed him
the following query:
ana save rom depreciation III. revenue and finance Of the ma
ton, and 10 afford a uniform sound currency 10 The people Of The
caaasrinE Bank of',hs In United H.GR st.,ss:" '"' ''s'' ~
What says Gen. Harrison, share made this state
mem, 70 shoe yoa that I am o COMMITTED 10
ny coarse in relation to the charterng Of a Bank Of
ne I. States; and that I MIGHT, IF so disposed, join
~ ne popular cry of dcnuncintion againS: the old inSti.
tnu0n, ara, ur.n ITS misconduct, predicate an FRO
oiiiu.N 70 TIE ehartering Of another. '-"What does
Meheral II. here say: casks the North kentucklan)
why, after giving a long history ofhis course IN relation
to the Y. ). Bank, in and out Of Congress, as Chairman
OF public meetings held upon the subject Of the Bank,
and as a citizen, in the whole Of his private intercourse,
mat ne had never committed himself: and that, up to the
time of writing his reply to Williams letter, he WAS
mot committed to any course. say you, frank,
honest Wings, to this: Your most arnilnblc candidate,
"d'sttngWshed alike in thefod and cabinet, and dtnaps
occupying a 'eido space in tie public eyr, had hitherto
mot committed himself upon one olthe most exciting
and important subjects that has aGitatcd the political
Elements for years. Is not the irresistible inference TO
be drawn from this, that Gen. Harrison WINS either dead
politically, or managed so adroitly As 10 stand always
prepared to 'Join either side in the Bank controversy
But what reply did Gen. Harrison further make stript
OF all the ~verblage which is SO %prcfusely scattered over
hi, letter:
"Under these impressions, ! agree with Gen. Jack
son IN the opinion expressed in one of his messages Ito
Congress, from which make the following extract =
Thai a Bank Of The T.. s., competent TO all The duties
,chich may be required bythe Government, might be so or
eanised as not 70 infringe on our delegated pocers, or The
reSerrcd rights Of tie States, lido not entertain a do"h.
But the period for re. chnrterinr the cid institution has
passed, as Pennsylvania has ,etscly taken care to appro-
pirate TO herself the benefits of its large capital. The
question then, for me TO answer, is, whether, under the
circumstances you state, II elected 10 the Office OF Ere
sident, would sign an act to charter another bank =
answer, would II IT were clearly aScertaiacd that
the public interest, in relation to the collection and dis
burselnent of the revenue, would materially suffer with
out one, and there were uneQuivocal manifestations Of
public opinion in its favor. l think, however, the eS-
pertinent should be fairly tried, to ascertain whether the
financial operations ofthe Government cannot be as well
carried on without the aid ola national bank. lfitls
not necessary for that purpose, il does not appear TO me
that one can be constitutional1v chartered. There is no
construction which | can give the Constitution which
would authorize 1t, on the ground of a~tlording facilities
10 commerce The measure, If adopted, must have Tor
It's object the carving into effect facilitating at least
the exercise Of some one OF the powers poeitIveiE
granted 10 The General Government. If others now
from il, producing equal advantages to the nation, 90
much the better; bt these cannot be made the ground
for J~usirfying a recourse 10 il: The excitement whiclI
has been produced by the bank question, the number
and responsibility Of those who deny the right OF Con-
grcss 10 charter one, strongly recommend the course
above suggested
Gen. Jackson, by the way, has rclinqni,hcd the OPT
Mon, which he formerly expressed. But Gen. larri-
son still retains the opinion, and entcr'ains no doubt
Mark. however, what 4 profound constitutional lawyer
he is He places the constitutional power upon two
grounds. The collection of the revenue must materi-
ally suffer without onc'-andl in the I'd place, there must
be '.unequivocal manifestations OF paHic op'nton IN lis
favor
But, nothing shows us so clearly the poor preten-
siens Of The military candidate 10 the character Of the
Constitutional oracle, IA the variety and locscness OF
the terms lie employs-First We are to try whether
the financial operations of The Government cdanot d6 as
mcH carried on without the aid of u National Bank
III not rate as ,csH, We presume the Bank IS cons'tta-
tionaD-2dly, "If il is nat atcosSGry for that purpose,
it cannot be constitutionally chartered and 3d!y, How
soon is THIS word .nrC"ssGry irittcrco down into
ono of the most ductlle words Of our languagc-'Jactt-
ta,c'-Tlle measure, f~adoptcd, must have for lis OBJ.
lcct the carrying INTO effect Facilitating, al least, he
exercise of some one oitlc powers positively granted
to the General Government" If 1t is any jacRi;ttS
which the Bank conlers, that make it constitutional, The
Constitution is indeed "any thing or nothing. lie
brings us again 10 the old Federal notien Of the "Gtlc-
raj welfare : and any power may be saidt &c be constr
tutional, which IS only calculated to facilitate the ope..
rations of the Government. or 20 promote the genera!
welfare whether it was queen or not. Now, compare
this !ooss phraseology with the following language Of
one of the most venerable interpreters OF me IonsttG.
t!on-we mean, old Geo. Clinton, when he gave his
casting yot. IN l-il against the recllar!er OF the trst
Bank If the /. States:
SIN the course Of a long life, l have found that Co
yernment is not 10 be strengthened by an assumption
oil doubtful powers; but by Il wise and energetic e1er-
ton Of those which are incontcstible; the former never
fails 10 produce suspicion and dlstrust, whilst The latter
inspires respect and confidence.
sif, however, after 4 fair experiment, the powers IN
vested in the Government shall be found incompetent
to he attainment of the objects for which 1t was insll.
tuted, the Constitution happily furnishes the mean Tor
remedying the evil by amendment, and ! have no doupt
that, in such event, on an appeal 10 the patriotism and
rood sense Of the community, it will be wisely aP-
Piled
lie, u, now compare Gen. Harrison with Mr.. Van
Buren,. The General is decidedly Of opinion that =
Bsnk Of the l.. s. ia not unconstitutional, and he de
clarcs, that he would sign an act 10 charter another Bank,
under certain circumstances. And what says Mr., ' an
Buren, in reply to the very same question:
ain the published opinions TO which have already
referred, nv opposition to the establishment OF a =.
States Bank, in any of the States, is placed on the want
Of constitutional power in Congress. to establish one
Those who concur in DENYING this power, nevertheless
differ among themselves IN regard to the puollc views
bv which their respective opinions are sustained. some
admit that Congress has a ri2ht 10 cieae sueh q" '''''
Itu,on. whenever it's establishment becomes necessary
to The collection, disbursement and preservation cf inc
revenue; but insist that no such necessity existed when
The charter of the old Bank expired, or has arisen since
With this class, the considerations TO which you allude
would be essential, and might have n controlling effect
for, such persons make the power to establish a BANK
dene n6e nj upon them. My objection, on the contrary
!. ,bo, mir Constitution docs not GRE Congress pocer to
erect CORPORATIONS pithin the States. This was the main
po;nt of MIR. Jetferson's celebrated opinion against the
establishment of the first National Bank. 1t Is an 90
iect,on. which nothing short Of an amendment OF the
Cons,i'ution can remove. We know it TO be an histori-
cal fact. that the Convention refused to confer that pow
er on Congress, and | am opposed to its assumption BY
it upon any pretence whatever. If its possession shall
at any time become nsees'aIy' me on nsc JIs "a ~, 70 G, pp,
uycs.r;bsd 6y the Constitution. Holding this opinion, and
sworn ,%o support that instrument as it il, could mol
find IN the circumstances 10 rbch yourJcr, either war
ra,t or excuse for the exercise of the authority IN ques-