The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-08
selfa Wing, who less opposed TO hi. amendment

i "
there was any gentleman who was not q Wing who
would have less objections 70 the bill Of the Secretary
Of the Treasury than ofthe Committee but this lie did
know, thai there were great many Wings who had
insuperable objections The scheme Of the Committee
and had none "a that Of the Secretary The source
| from which this came, was wing soutce, II was an
\ Executive proposition, which had been recommended
aying measure and he looked al u under the
circumstances which they placed 10 bright
star of relief 10 the country.
4 A. TO the power Of establishing this Bank as pro-
posed by the Secretary Of the Treasury the proposition
was plain that ns arguments could make 1t plaiucr.
| They had the power 10 create Bank here, and
give the capacity OF doing service elsewhere Did
II not avoid all constitutional scfuples when they left
il to the States to say whether they would receive he
benefits Of il or not They got clear Of the consttu-
tona difficulties by referring Ito the States.
But II was said, they confined lis action 10 the
sent OF the States, they created immense power
here without efficiency, and they gave up tie power
To create Bank, without the osstnt otbe States, and
! that forever lie would ask the Senator from Con-
necticut, Mr.. Huntingdon who had particularly
urged this, what was the necessity Of establishing
institution to teer and bind the hands OF the people
Were they afraid 10 trust the judgment of the people,
on the MEASURE proposed, II II was beneficial
The Senator from Connecticut had also urged tina, by
this amendment, they did not get nd OF constitutional
difficulties
MIR. HUNTINGTON asked whether the same au
thor which created agents TO carry the
of the Bank, would not establish offices OF discount ii
necessary, for this purpose}
tional power u establish such an agent.
The opponents of the amendment had referred 10
the States, and that they would have difficulty in 10
eating the branches. IL seemed 10 him that there
would be difficulty in this respect
lie preferred trusting 10 the opinions of the States
and 10 pass the amendment Of the gentleman from Viz
g1ia, for they could but unite support for such
sure 1t always offensive 10 the American people
10 exercise power. Let them attempt to this
institution, and they endangered its existence but
it TO the consent of the several States and they
would view II calmly there would be no appeals to
party politics, and 10 all those exciting topics which
could he brought in, to nsguide them their mind,
would be left free, and they would approve OF they
would have all they could desire and that would for.
silence and put TO rest this vexed question OF
slituiional power
Il had been said that the States might refuse their
consent before the expiration of the charter Of the
Bank to the further continuance OF the branches with
in then limits. Their only security against this was
their State faith which pledged 10 the institution
during lis existence when they received the branches
within the States.
As the clause of the Constitutions Of the States
| OF Illinois Indiana and Arkansas, which prohibited
the establishment of any banks within their limits
other than the banks specified that unquestlonably de-
prived them of the power, but if they desired their
branch, il not very difficult for them TO effect such
| an amendment to their Constitutions as would give
their Legislatures the power TO grant their assent
| II was said that the amendment calculated TO
| trample under loot the laws of the States but, he
would ask, not this the very ground on which
to establish branches in each of the States without
reference TO their laws This would require these
States TO be excepted from the provisions of the hill
that the bill be modified and altered require
the consent of the States before the corporation should
be permitted TO exercise any such power Of location
within the States.
He should not vote for the amendment of The Sena
tor from Delaware, (Nr BayaId but should support
the amendment OF the gentleman from Virginia MIR
Ryes,) because he believed it, under all crcums,an
ces, better and wiser and would reconcile large
portion OF the people to scheme which would have
the effect OF restoring the currency.
Toe gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Berrien) had
said the amendment was experiment As said
by the Senator from South Carolina, (Mr Preston
the bill iself was an experiment. but 1t was not
experiment in the sense which the People had con-
demned experiments. They proposed 10 establish
Bank of the United States which had been dema nd
ed by the People, plan which they helie, ed bet
ter III an the mode OF the Committee and he trusted
the amendment would prevail.
Mr. BATES did not rise to discuss the amend
ment nor the amendment to the amendment but he
asked the indulgence OF the Senate, before he
called on 10 give his vote on the question: for the pur
pose of stating distinctly the grounds which that
vote would rest lie wished to put on record cotem
poraneous exposition OF the of his vote and
the motives by which he governed.
He bad no more doubt,of the constitutional power
of Congress 10 establish Bank Of the United States
within without the District of Columbia and with
without their consent than of the power of Con-
cress under its commercial powers to a light
house at the land end of Cape Charles or Henry,
anywhere else, for the purpose of preventing ship
wrecks OF lt',aud property.
The Constitution had provided expositor Of it,
meaning the Judicial power appointed tor the express
purpose OF ahsuvlng and removing all doubts and
when that decision was gwen according law, 1t be-
came part Of the text, and was engrayen the tab
let OF the Constitution. The oath 10 support thr
Constitution, was oath TO support lnterpi
by the judicial power. His inquiry was not what
jefferson, Monroe, Adams, W Washington thought
on this subject, although they great names and
entitled To profound respect and regard because men
changed, influences changed opinions changed, bur
this judicial power was appointed by the Constitution
To speak authoiiiayey and distinctly, and to lay all
men under us dominion. He thought when this tn
hunal had spoken over and over again, that mortal
man should bow to II. On questions of duty there
was nothing short of It which the mind could rest
and nothing beyond but what was bottumless and
shoreless, and The mind OF must return 10 il,
the mind o. Jriierson dii after it, wandenngs.
In his view, Bank Of the United States was
necessary as fiscal ancnt of the Treasury of the
United States and would be useful in Fastening the
restoration OF specie payments by the banks equal
lznE exchanges, and was Indispensable to having
uniform currency for the people.
These were his views on the subject unmporant
he admitted. and he should have obtrudeI them
on the Senate, but from the position in which ho
stood he felt it TO be necessary
Many distinguished gentlemen, with whom he hal
he honor To cooperate in achieving the victory which
had placed the Wings at the head of affairs thought
differently aud denied the pow OF the United States
To establish branches within the States without thar
consent and they could not supper, a bill nc'udus
tins power without violating thcr official oaths Thry
might cndea'or to convince them, but they could not
coeIcc, he pcopl, waited foi a Bank as for tho
dawn OF bright and glorious morning after a DIE
turbcd and dark night OF distress and suffering and
they had right to do it, and to demand il at thty
hands and 1t should be done, il he slaid here MT
only 10 September, hut 10 December and March AMI