Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-12-22

should he should stand mp and resist il By every
faculty, and all the energy with which Nature had DE-
slowed him. for, he lived, he believed the day
on which National Bank shall be established, with
capital of fifty hundred millions, and twenty
years duratlon and with power and privileges sufi-
cen to control the currency and business OF the coun
try, would be the end of our liberty, and would as e
fectually create q sovereign power if General Har-
rison elected President for life with the right of
succession in his descendants and even more So
To either OF these, the much abused Sub Treasury
will be found to be the only alternative Condemned
and vlifed it was, the country if it desired pre-
serve its free institutions, must 10 it, nor was
less for the advantage of the banks themselves than
the country, that it should. Yes for the banks; lie
knew what he said he weighed every word He regard
ed those the greatest enemies, in reality to the banks
however kind their intention, who would force them
| again into union with the Government, against the
deep conviction of the injustice, mpocy and unconst
tutionalty OF such unon of powerful and determined
party, not much inferior in numbers than their oppo
nents if tested even by the late election; for however
strong the vote ofhe electoral college, the popular vote
in favor of General HARRISON did not much exceed
one hundred thousand out of upwards of two millions
OF votes. If against the fixed opinion Of this powerful
and resoute party, the coming Administration should
force reunion between Bank and Government,
they would, at the same time, force them into the
political arena Of party conflict, which could not fail
10 overthrow the whole system in lis convulsve move
ments lie warned the banks and those interested in
them, against the fatal tendency of their indscrcct
/
the reunion. lie was enemy 10 the existing banks
while he had confidence in the system az II existed
in this country and Great Britain. He belieyed that
banks Of issue and circulation were founded on a mis-
take and must down, by their inherent defects
against every effort stay their d. scent, and had long
thought but lie made them, and never had.
They running down of themselves, according to
his impression, ton fast for the good of the country,
and his policy was to retard, and not accelerate
their descent. He acted on the same principle in 1884,
,nco damn nbn
it, urged course, which, lift had been adopted would
have saved the country and banks from the disasters
which have since followed On the same principle he
acted al the extra session in lS37 and had SINCE
in advocating the separation of the Government from
the banks the only means Of exrcating them from
politics, and leaving them quietly to be reformed or
out under the action OF enlightened and calm
public opinion. He was and ever had been, averse
all sudden and forced measures in reference to the
rency, even as applied TO our SYSTEM bad he be-
lievsd IL To be.
| In addition TO the supposed condemnation of the
SuhTreasury by the people at the late election, the
Senator urged another reason for its repeal, that it
would make practical change. lie says that the
practice under the existing law is reality the same
as il before its passage and wonid be after the re-
peal If so, why then this haste to repeal it; Why
agItac the country so anx'ously seeking repose,
subject acknowledged by him TO he wholly inmate
rial? Why not allow the measure TO go quietly
III he and his party into power and then they
could deliberately the subject, and not only re-
peal measure they consider SO obnoxious, but also
present their substitute, 10 afford the community
fair opportunity of deciding between them: But be
the practice under il what may the dtfcre nee be-
tween the two states of things, that which exists
and that which would il the measure proposed by this
resolution should be adopted far very far from being
so innaerial the Senator seems TO suppose. The
Sub Treasury, established by law, be it wise not
is, at all events, legal aud constitutional No one can
deny that but should the Senator'S resolution sue
coed, and the act be repealed, he would restore the
state of things which he, and those with whom he has
acted have conended for these three years, be e
gal and unconstitutional, and which placed the control
over the public money wholly under the discretion of
the Executive Is that nothing
As to the practice, If it be such the Senator sup
poses, he (Nlr. Calhoun) held it directly contrary to
law, and that the officer who had dared TO practise it,
deserved punishment and expulsion from office If the
Senator desired to pursue the subject and would move
resolution to ascertain the facts, it should have his
support. He would be the last protect any officer
high or low, in the violation Of law.
He had said more than he intended when he rose but
would not take bis seat without again entreanp the
gentlemen the other side force on controver-
sy at this time. The people of the United States had
elected General Harrison, whether by proper mpro-
per means was not question for him. He acquicsced
in the decision, and wished to the excitement,
which accompanied the contest, subside. He was
prepared TO give his administration fair trial. as lie
| would any other constutonay elected by the people.
lie should watch 1t with vgilant eye, but with
disposition to oppose unless his should force
him into opposition, in defence of what he believed to
be the welfare and liberty Of the country.
| Mr.. ANDERSON SAID that, occupying the position
which he did, after what had fallen from the honora
Bile Senator from Kentucky, he felt it to be his duty to
express his entire dissent from the views which had
been urged upon the Senate in support of the PROPOSE
ton under consideration He said that he regret
ted exceedingly that the Senator had deemed it proper
TO bring up anew the exciting questions which had so
recently ag'taed the country In this he concurred
with the honorable Senator from S. Carolina, and be-
eved that the public mind needed repose at least for
short PERIOD and he could but express his astonsh
ment that any attempt should be made which
would necessarily pass in review the of the last
canvass Sir said he do express this regret be-
cause Of the position which may be supposed to hold
in relation to that question, and coming, as do, from
State which has cast its suffrage for Gen Harrison.
more suitable time will arrive, when this whole sub
ect would properly under the administrative ac-
ton of the President elect but it must hiring up
discussion of events utterly Improbable TO the public
welfare, and about which wide difference of opinion
has surely obtained, if understand rightly the true
ground upon which the gentleman has based his pro-
position To repeal the Independent Treasury act The
gentleman said that the recent election of General Har
rison was an implied instruction to Senators coming
from the nineteen States which had supported him. to
repeal that measure. Sir, deny that this inference is
JUST and strong objection TO The resolution proposed
by the honorable gentleman that it is not supported
by such an issue IN the late TO make it
elusive. deny that the Independent Treasury was
The inducing to the Of General Harrison
1t was not The exclusive issue. Following sir the ex
ample set by older Senators Of both parties, mingled
among the people in this contest, and kne,o that other
questions hal much poacerfui efect-questions
which were made 10 90 home to their hopes and their
ears-and that they did not consider this the great
issue upon which they were 10 decide. The extraord-
nary pressure of the times, peculiar circumstances
and the military services of Gen Harrison, advancing
in the lead of the of questions, had power
full agency in producing the result. Who, Sir, for
get that his military pretensons urged with great
ardor and eloquence npon this floor by the gentleman
from South Carolina, who usually sits opposite 10
me-and by the gentleman from Kentucky, who sits
to my right on the other side of the house, And can
we fail to advert TO the very fountain from which
sprang all their success-eir convention at Harrisburg"
There they soiemny resored that they acoaid make
formal declaration Of their cpnions-no, sir,
The thing to be left to the individual skill and