Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-02-18
OUT AT LAST


WAsuISGToN, Feb. 10.-The Federal party in the
Senate after protesting from the opening of the
sion against the design of proposing the assumption
of the State debts, have al last moved substitute,
equivalent TO assumption, Tor the resolutions OF the
committee, reported by Mr. Grundy, adverse 10 the
measure. They introduced by MIR. Crtcnden,
and supported by Mr. Clay, who took the ground that
it paying dcm 10 the States which the General
Government owed them, and not paying debtS far than
and now, for the first time since the existence Of the
Union, do hear of debt due from the nation TO the
several States 1t has ust discharged the debts incur
red by two in the common defence, and its rcve-
nucs from both sources of supply the customs and the
public domain, barely sufficient 10 raise means to
pay the current expenses incidental TO the discharge of
IT'S functions of government of the United States
and it called upon surrender the resources APP
proprlatcd by the Constitution, and under compacts
with the States to this specific purpose, to the States
separatey-or to create new national debt 10 deray
pretended debt to the States
The himsy disguise set up by Mr. Clay to cover the
naked assumption of the State debts, in violation of the
Constitutions will, have doubt, be fully exposed
in the course Of the debate. Mr.. Allen of Ohio has
the floor Tomorrow
Mr.. Clay, in his dcsultory remarks this morning,
gave fine sample of his political morality, which
served to set off very well the suberugc under which
he sought TO the assumption. In reply to Mr..
Buchanan, who was discussing point with him
about previous APPOINTMENTS of the Senate, Mr. Clay
told, pleasant anccdote, that when Speaker of the
iiouse Oh lie hau occasionally
dulged himself in the liberty of counting one man MS
ten when he thought the dinner hour had come; and
that the House should adjourn. In this way he fire.
qucny effected the adjournment of the House, against
the will of the majority This was in fact, violation
of his duty as Speaker, which he was sworn TO per-
form; and yet so hackneyed has Mr.. Clay become in
the RIGHTEOUSNESS of drab politician who sacrifices
every thing 10 expedcncy or convenience-so dead to
the sensbltcs which would preserve strict proprety
IN the discharge OF his duty as presiding officer in the
House. as to be ready TO make Joke Of his disregard
OF the sanctty of an oath in counting a minority for
majority, that he might go TO dinner If he could do
this Tor SO small motive, what would he not do to
change the result ola vote in the House, when Bank
OF the United States, or the Presidency Of the United
States, at stake,
In the assumption question now before the Senate,
the nation is apprsed that the Bank of the United
States and the Barngs as well other great European
bankers, have vast stake That Mr.. Clay should, in
such case with the hope of establishing a consc-
quence, another great National Bank to advance his
political prospects, strain point is not be wondered
at; but that he should deem the people so silly as to
propose to dupe them into his measure, by cheating
them into the belief that the nation was in debt TO the
States argues his want Of respect for their intelligence
as much as his supposition that they would consider
piece OF innocent pleasantly, in the presiding officer of
the House TO make false count, that lie might 90 to
dinner, proves his poor estimate Of the moral sense Of
his countrymen.-(iIObc