Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-04-14

sttutonal grounds. One would naturally conclude
from the foregoing, that the General was committed
upon this subject and that consideration apart ire M
an amendment OF the Constitution could induce him to
/ sign bill cha.ering Bank of the L. States. But
! in lo36, General II. the Wing candidate for the
Presidency and the Bank tavoritc measure OF that
party
At that time, Sher.od Williams addressed the same
question to hm which he had propounded to Mr.. Van
! Buren,: "Will you sign and approve, Of 1t becomes
necessary TO and from depreciation the re-
venue and finances of the nation and to afford uni
FORM sound currency 10 the people of the u Stntes)
bill, with proper notifications and restrlctonsD
charerng Bank OF the u States
And to this, what is Gen. Harrison's reply? ~
hare made tbs statement to sho,o you, that not
committed TO ann course in relation the chartcring
of Bank of the l.. States; and that m,ght If so DIS
posed, join in tie popular cry OF denuncaton against
the old institution, and upon It's misconduct predicate
ali opposition to the chartering Of another. Here we
! Ind that the General after expressing the opinion in
1892 that the charter given to the Bank of the Un-
ted States unconstitutional it not being necessary
To carry any OF the expressly granted powers into e.
I feet and after having given in the previous part of
this reply, long history Of ms relation 10
United States Bank IN and out OF Congress, chair
Of public meetings, held upon the subject OF the
Bank, and, citizen, in the whole of his private in
ercourse, comes out and says he is not committed
this subject, and that up TO the time of writing his
ply Sherrod Williams, he not ''commitfcd to any
! course" Now what say you to this, reemen Of Vir
ginia' The Wing candidate for the Presidency dis
tnguished like in the Cabinet and in the field, always
occupying large space in the public eye, had not hi
thcrto ''c0mmitted himScf' upon of the most i'm
potant and exciting subjects that have agitated the po
litical elements Tor years. Is not the Inference
sstibe, that Gen II. politically dead or else ma
jagged adroty TO stand always prepared "to join
either side in the Bank controversy But the Gene
raj does remain long unc0mmit:cd. What IS his
ply further "rhc question then for me to answer is
whether under the circumstances you state, | would
sign act to charter another Bank answer, would
if it rieariy ascertincd that the public interest,
in relation the collection and disbursement of the
revenue would materially suffer without one, and there
were unequivocal manifestations Of public opinion in
| its favor. | think, however, the experiment should
be fairly tried, to ascertain whether the financial ope
rations OF the government cannot be well carried on
without the aid of National Bank. If it is not ncceS
sarv for that purpose II does not appear TO me that
one ca:i be constitntonay chartered. There IS no
construction could give the Constitution, which
would authorize it the ground of atford;nr tncios
to commerce. The measure. If adopted. must have ter
its object the carrying into effect Facilitating at least
the exercise of of the powers granted to the
General Government. If others flow from it, produce
ing equal advantages TO the nation much the better;
bnt these cannot be made the ground justItyng re-
course I" it The excitement produced BY the Bank
question: the number and Responsibility OF those who
deny the right of Congress to charter one strongly re-
commend the above suggested"
No longer uncommted! From having advanced the
opinion in % that ''the charter given the Bank was
unconstitutional ii not being necessary 10 carry any
of the expressly granted powers into effect, he next
the first part of his reply TO Sherrod Williams,
that he is committed to any in relation to
the chartering of Bank of the L. States, aud finally
comes TO the conclusion, that she would Chat sign
bill charerIng another Bank ''lf was clearly dScsr-
qintd that the public interests in relation - the coec
ton and disbursement of the would materially
suffer without one, and there unequivoca mani
festations Of public opinion in its favor What pro-
found constitutional lawyer the General Isl He places
y NJ mR sut w
out one"-and in the second place, there must be
"unequivoca manifestations of public opinion in its ia
soF G SsnsnS Words "asn the eefln
,u and the manifestation of public opinion. Inc
Maysville Monitor remarks-"lhls IS certainly inc
nerF,ction Of poltical wisdom When Gen HARRISON
ii ant That yHs a GS" s""r W" "onsu
tionaI points with the enormous consumption of time
and money, which absolutely necessary 7" sa-
tisfactory legislation, will be set asde and the aten-
ton of our LEGISLATORS confined To the finding OF
facts 1t will be sufficient for any measure, tina, The
fact Of its public advantage be clearly ascertaiued,
and the demonstrations of public opinion IN It's favor,
be clear and unequivocal to ensure ITS adoption Gen
H. may now be styled with proprety our country be-
nrfactor The discovery OF this easy principle pro-
misses immense advantage the nation, in facilitating
Legislation, hamonzng parties and advancing the STA
| bty of the Republic.
Nothing shows us so clearly the poor pretensions ot
General Harrison to the character Of constitutional
. lt.
ploys FIRST TO ''whcther the financial opc-
raons of the Government cannot DC as "c f"'tea Q"
without the aid Of a National Bank or moi q"ne as
/ ucH we presume the Bank IS ronStit"ito"a) 2dIy,
"If it is not necessary for that purpose II cannot nc
consttutionally chastered and 3dy how soon IS tha
word neccssary frtered down INTO on" OF lne great
est ductility in our language-'tdctit"e Inc inca
sure if adopted must have for its object the carrying
into effect (acHtang, at least 'h' rNe'c.sI " so'I
ono of the powers positively granted to the General
Government If it is any facilities winch the Bank
conters that make il constitutional, the Constitution IS
indeed, ike the opinions Of Gen Harrison, "any thing
or nothing.
harrison with the language of Geo Clinton, one OF the
most venerable interpreters of the Constitution, when
he gave his casting in 1911 against the rechartcr
| of the first Bank OF the I. ;:
ain the course of long lifc have found that Go
vernment is not to be strengthened by the assumption
of doubtful power but by wise and energetic excrt'on
of those which ncontcstable the former never ias
10 produce suspicion aud dstust; whilst the latter IN
spres respect and confidence If, however, after tar
exper ment, the powers invested III the government
shall be found incompetent to the attainment OF the 3D.
iec,s for which it was instituted, the constitution haPpl-
furnishes the means for remedyng the evil by amend
OF the community, it will be wisely applied
| Now let US compare the opinions OF Gen Harrison
with MI Van Buren's and whose approximate
more nearly those of the orthodox cxponndtr OF hc
Constitution to whom, as authority we Ha'c just -
/ tt.rr fTtn
| : ri NJ III. II $ is unconstitutional, and he de-
cares he would sign act to charter another Bank,
under certain circumstances.-Now, what says Mr: '.
Buren, to the same interfogatory propounded by sher
rod Williams,
ain the published opinions, to which have already
referred my opposition to tbs establishment of U. s.
Pink in any Of the States, is placed the want Of
Those .-nal power in Congress to establish one
tss bv which theft ressrnyng THIS Powrr neyerhs
Some admit, that Congress asegaf 70 .ne par.euSf
,ta nlfa "a lgh Eo
c.ss,rv TO the collection disbursement and preserve
ton OF the revenue; but insist that no such necessity
yised when the charter of the old bank EXPIRED OF
has arisen since With this class the considerations 70
which you allude would be essential and 's. NV 20
controlling eifect-for such persons make the
establish a Bank dcpcnden. upon hem-My objection,
on the contrary, is that the Constitution aoes 40; gre
Congress the poaer to erect eorpgraoss eee
States This was the main point of Mr. rs ,s first
nta.ea Ip.,". Is an objection which nothing short