Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1840-03-28

We cannot publish The communication of our
friend, Mr. Gllmer, without remark or two. We
have not time just now, TO enter deliberately into
an argument upon tho right of repeating bank
charters by the leglslalure--that we purpose,
however, to do very soon. Nor can We, to. day
examine m'nuiely The positions taken by Mr. G.
That wO shall leave to the gentleman who pro.
pounded the questions which called forth Mr. G's
communication. Nevertheless, we have word
OF two tc say. MrG proposes, in case the judi.
ciary should not decide against them, NO reach"
these institutions (lhe banks) by means of a con.
yenllon! This is really the stranges, doctrine we
ever heard advanced A convention cannot pass
or repeal "A law--Ii is not a Legislative body. --
When assembled according to the forms prescrb
ed in the constitution, IT can alter aud abolish that
instrument, and with tho consent of the people,
substitute another in its stead. Suppose such
body should be called, and should so amend the
constitution az to give express to tho LegIsle-
ture the right TO repeal bank charters, This
would not mend the matter whit For, accord.
ing 10 the argumen, Of our constitutional bank
lawyers, such an amendment would be anconsii.
iaioRal-~lhat is, i, would conflict with the clause
of the federal constitution, which says that the
States shall pass no law impOIring the validity oil
Contracts they holding a bank charter to be d
contract in the sense understood by the trainers Of
the federal constitution So Mr. G's uliima ra.
Iio--hs final resort, in case the judiciary should
/ fail "to reach these institutions amounts to lus
nothing nj ALL II leaves US exactly where We
were at first The truth is, if the legislature
the representative body Of the peopls--have no
a restraining power over these corporations, iher,
is no remedy for the evils they may inAict. One
Legislature can bind all succeeding generations
To US 1t seems that the exploded idea of the d
vine right OF Kings is scarcely more objecliona
bic than such doctrine. i saps the very Ioun
datlon OF free government
Mr. g. II seems TO us. in admitting that the lie
4 gislaure have the rght "to compel the banks t,
resume by certain day, under heavy penalties,
gives up the whole Argument which we conten,
for. Ii the legislature have the nsht 10 c lmpe
them in one way, 1t has IN any other which in il
wisdom It may think proper II seems to us i'm
possible to discriminate IN such Il case. Tn,
penalties might be made so high as to amount, il
fact, 10 a repeal. But more upon this subiec
! anon,
We have at last received the long looked 70
Report Of the JOINT select Committee on III
f Union Bank. Ii is a valuable public documen,
and ough, to be in the hands of every gentleman
4 IN the State. Copies can be had by applicable
| TO the Editor OF the Misssspplan. Price S.
We are informed by gentleman directly frot
n. Orleans, that Brandon money is worth 2 an
2 IL cents in the dollar. Union money, 80 an
So discount.
, r. On our first page viii be found ur a,
3 count Of Gen. lIanson's military career take
. from authentic documents. The wings will fin
it almost as difficult matter 10 make hero, Q