The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-23
MR.. CLAWS SPEECH,
On The Fiscal Corporation Bin.

September g the bill 10 establish a Fiscal Coz
poration being under consideration, and Messr'
Archer and Buchanan having delivered speeche
thereon
Mr.. CLAY, of Kentucky, next addressed tn
Senate Certainly, said he, nothing was farthe
from nv expectations, when came here 10 lis
ten TO the speech Of my worthy friend from Viz
ginia, than 10 find myself placed IN such a sltua
lion as TO be called on TO say one word in relation
10 this bill But the Senator from Pennsylvania
has INDUCED himself on this occasion in exerci
sing talent for wit and humor, at our expense
in which he does not often indulge. Let me, i
he will allow me, make suggestion TO him, tina
his appropriate province IS logic, or grave debate
rather than wit. But if should happen TO catch
by contagion, somewhat of the same vein, ne
will, am sure, excuse me, and receive II IN me
same good humor that we have taken what ieii
from him.
As to the bill before the Senate, have mol
much to say. There are TWO great iacul,ies
which ordinarily belong TO banks one IS 10 dea,
in that sort of Commercial paper which is called
promissory notes. the other 10 deal In bllls Oh ex-
cbange-also an orderly commercial instrument
Nv the present bill, the bank which is to be ere
ated is deprived of one of these faculties, while
the other is left to il, and there is no more dan,
ger of abuse in the exercise OF The retained
faculty, by this corporation, than IN the ordinary
banks of the country
incs al the Harrisburg convention. The honor
able Senator seems to think that il contained Alb
olitionists against whom he appears, OF late, TO
have tax, n up peculiar hostility. call upon
him 10 name one Abolitionist who was mem
Der. believe there was not one. defy him
10 the proof He says that the gentlemen who
composed that assemblage were men OF all sorts
Of political principles and 10 some extent that
remark is certainly true. But there was one
principle which am very sure was held by
none Of them: there were none who went for
low wages. "a laugh.) The Senator, howev-
er tells not only that they held all sorts of prln-
ciples but that they were afraid TO publish to
the world any declaration Of their sentiments
Now believe il is part OF the law OF nations
that when war is made against pirates, there IS
no need Of the ceremony of any formal previous
declaration Of war. but it is understood on all
hands that you are at liberty TO attack them
without notice and without ceremony, and cut
and slash as hard as you please. But if that
same convention at Harrisburg was such an I'M
principed collection Of political sectaries-such
an omnium gatherum Of all kindreds and coors,
what sort of party must that have been which
could have been so utterly Frustrated and put
down by such heterogeneous combination 2
CA laugh)
The Senator commenced by saying that
among other doings, the Wings had done Tor
tuSiHoStSS. w SSh.iShASh
fatterng JUNCTION 10 their souls" What! the
Wings of this country to be annihilated by any
thing which has occurred during this session
Never, never Their principles are as eternal
as TRUTH and as sure to prevail as is the cause of
civil liberty to triumph. Ii was justly remarked
By my friend from Virginia, that the restriction
of Executive power-ay, Of the royal, the I'M
perial power OF setting The will of one man
against the united will Of an entire people, stood
highest on the list Of the principles avowed by
the Wings during the late memorable contest;
and let me tell gentlemen that if we shall have
a shower Of vetoes, that principle will still be
written in letters Of light upon all their banners.
Let the Senator from Pennsylvania and his
party war, if they will, for Executive suprema-
cy: for the arbitrary principle that the will OF
one man shall prevail against the will OF the
whole country. We are willing TO go before The
People upon that issue; and, if am not utterly
mistaken in the inherent love of liberty by them
all, Wings and Democrats, there will be gene
raj condemnation OF such an odous and detesta-
hle doctrine Lot tho Senator and hisfiends go
10 the other wing of the Capitol, and look upon
that Macedonian phalanx, standing shield to
shield in a compact and mpenetrable line, and,
in defiance of all the difficulties which beset
them, maintaining their position unmoved, and
their front unbroken for, will repeat, which
have often said with inexpresslbe pleasure, ne
ver-no, never was there House of Represen-
tatives more imbued with lofty and generous
spirit of patriotic devotion to liberty and to the
discharge Of high public duty, Let them
say, look on that spectacle, and then ask them
selves, how is such party TO be broken down
BY whom2 BY any one man? Where IS he I
If Napoleon were to rise from the dead, and APP
pear again al the head of all his power, he could
not do it. The Senator ha prematurey yielded
TO feelings of exultation. He has stretched out
his hand and grasl ed not the sceptre, but a
fleeing vision. He has cried before he was out
of the woods.
An honorable Senator from New Hampshire
(Mr. Woodbury. proposed, some days ago, re-
solution OF inquiry into certain disturbances
which are said to have occurred at the Presi-
dental mansion on the night of the memorable
10Th of August last. If any such proceedings
did occur, they were certainly very wrong and
highly cuIpabe. The Chief Magistrate, who
ever he may be, should be treated by every good
citizen with all becoming respect, if not for his
personal character, on account Of the exalted
Office he holds for and from the People. And
will here say that read with great pleasure the
acts and resolutions of an early meeting, prompt
ly held by the orderly and respectable citizens oil
the metropolis, in reference TO, and in condem-
nation of these disturbances. But, if the reso-
luton had been adopted, had intended to move
for the appointment of a select committee, and
the honorable Senator from New Hampshire
himself should be placed at the head of it, with
majority of his friends. And will tell you
why Mr. President, did hear that about eigh,
or nine O'Clock on that same night of the famous
10th of August there was an Eruption on the
Presidents House Of the whole Loco foco party
in Congress; and did not know but that the
alleged disorders might have grown out of, oil
had some connection with that fact. A laugh.
understand that the whole party were there
No spectacle. ! am sure, could have been NOR,
Supremacy amusing and ridiculous If coult
have been in position in which, without being
seen, ! could have witnessed that most extraor
binary reunion, should have had an enioymcn
which no dramatic performance could possibly
communicates | think can now see The princi