The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-17
WHOLE NO. 675.


tsed upon ever since. To make the alteration
now proposed, would involve the subject in
many real difficulties, and not escape that which
the friends Of the amendment propose 10 avoid,
and which, think, an imaginary one
| Mr.. President, have thus far examined this
question as il was presented by the advocates of
the amendment, and il appears TO me they will
admit thatit is perfectly plain that II all the objec
lions which they urge against the bill, asreported,
really exist, the adoption of the amendment pro-
posed will not remove them. 1.-THE constitutions
al power Of this Government to establish the Of
noes OF this Bank IS questionable, 1t appears TO
be equally SO TO establish agencies 10 do the same
business or, if slightly, not substantially, dfe-
rent II 1t is lmpotlc and unwise, upon any dis
puted question: to drive ''elther party 10 the WALL
and compel him 10 surrender as the Senator adj
monishes US il is shown that by the amend
ment, surrender of the whole question is TO be
made, by the great body Of the people, to very
few. In fine, that every consideration presented
| 10 induce US 10 adopt the amendment has failed.
now desire TO examine some of the grounds of
objection TO the reported bill for if they can be
removed, the advocates of the amendment may
support the bill, as they will now agree that ace
cannot support the amendment, and yet all agree
that something must be done
| desire TO say few words, TO show why
think the power 10 establish National Bank
should not be regarded as doubtful or ques-
tlonable one. shall attempt no argument up,
on The constitutional question. No, sir shall
not so far forget myself, or that | am addressing
Senators distinguished for learning and of great
experience. But desire their permission to re-
cite few facts of our history, upon which nv
convictions rest that this Government does pos
sess the constitutional power TO establish Bank,
and that this has been consttutionay determn-
| ed. | desire this, because | believe the same
facts which have convinced me, will convince
every other plain man in our country who has
been brought up, as have been, al the plough,
and who has no motive but TO see this question
as il really is.
We have already been told, on this floor, by
the enemies of Bank, that they intend to ex-
cite and arouse the people upon this question:
For what purpose, the manner In which II has
been announced here sufficiently explains
The first fact then, TO which shall advert is
gwen by Mr.. Madison in the introduction.l think,
TO his history Of the debates in the Convention
which formed the Constitution. He says he in
serts 1t with others, that we may the better un-
derstand what led TO the calling of that Conven-
ton. This is publication OF that day, urging
I the necessity of such a Convention, for the pur
pose of comforting on Congress the power to
establish National Bank. 1t appears then,
that TO give this very power was a leading OBJ
ject Of the Convention. And have been taught
from childhood TO believe, that the men who
composed that Convention never failed 10 ac-
complish any laudable objects they undertook
! This Is a pervadlng opinion with all classes In
this country. 4ou cannot find one man unless
he be partzan, who has some selfish purpose to
answer, who does not believe this. Name any
member OF that Convention 10 any man you
meet-name Washngton-and say when you
speak that name, that he went TO that Conven-
ton for that obect-and it will not be in the
power of all the demagogues of our land to con-
vince this man that he came away without ac-
complishing it, or withou, believing he had &C
complishedit.
agree that patriotic men may doubt whether
! by the rule of construction since adopted all this
is clearly expressed in the instrument itself; but
10 the first point, the intent, none can doubt.
The high and noble objects of these men, and
! their character for success, has given them an
enduring fame. All the people regard them
! the fathers OF our country. The Constitution
| they gave US, the institutions which have grown
up under H. caused our prosperity, and made US
what we are A feeling Of gratitude toward
them, OF Just pride in their fame, and in the IN
stitutlons they have given US, animates every
! American bosom, and forms mutual guaranty
for the stability OF these institutions. II surely
behooves an American Senate TO countenance
and cherish that feeling-it forms the most reli-
able tie that binds US together as one people.
| Subsequent events clearly show that these men
thought they had accomplished the object OF
giving TO Congress this power TO establish
/ Bank. The very first Congress comprised one
or more of the same men in II, from eleven out OF
twelve of the States, who had been of that Con
vention, and ii was they, with others, then fresh
from the people which had just adopted the Con-
stitutlon, who created such a Bank Can any
one doubt that they knew well what had been
done in Convention, and what powers the peo
pie had conferred upon Congress. by the nstru-
ment which had then just been framed and
adopted II would be as reasonable to suppose
that men would not know the children they
had reared, who had grown up Gas this Con
stitution had) under their own eyesight and
guardianship This act of the first Con-
gress under the Constitution stands at the
head of that line of legislative proceedings, in
favor of this power, which was referred to by
the honorable Senator from Virginia, and which
he thought could be met with an equal "oppos
ing force" of legislation against IT. In 1916,
another similar act passed. ! omit one which
did not receive the Executive sanction, and need
not enumerate the many enactments which were
passed within the forty years during which these
| two acts were IN operaton--al asserting the va
lidity of this power, and making phalanx of
legislative force in defence of its constitution
ality. | may here be permitted to- review the
! legislation IN opposition TO this pomer which
the honorable Senator has arrayed with great
skill and has asserted with confidence TO be
equal TO all that is enrolled in support OF il,
some of which have referred to- This legsla-
ton consists of two acts proposedfor the renew
al of the charters of the two Banks. As these two
propositions never became laws, the honorable
Senator viii admit, that they never had any au-
thority, for any other purpose, whatever OF
strength they may give 10 his argument. But
admit that some differences may be drawn from
the failure Of the two bills which were proposed to
recharter the Banks the facts are that the first
| failed by the casting vote, of the President OF
the Senate the second passed both Houses of
Congress, by very strong majorltles. II will be
1 cd ,haf a ,o b,s d,snI,y &c