The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-08-14


Con-, Sturgeon, Tappan, Walker, Williams, Wood
bury, Wright Young-2l.
The bill was then taken UP, the question being on
concurring In the amendments Of the House Of Rep
resentatives
Mr., CLAY said the Committee on Finance recon-
mended the adoption Of the amendments They
were but two; one to repeal what was Familiarity
called the Pet Bank System, with the exception Of
one of its provisions the other was TO repeal the law
which prohibited the Government from paying notes
of less denomination than twenty dollars. The Bank
Bill provided for issue of notes Of five dollars
this act therefore useless. He hoped both amend
ments would be concurred in. so. itG
=, Mr.. CALHOUN said this bill to repeal the Sub
Treasury was either useless wrong. The bill now
before the President superseded this BILL and provi-
ded for the keeping Of the Treasury in another man
ner. The provisions of the Sub Treasury act would
therefore, be superseded, If the Bank bill became
law. If the President did not sign the Bank bill, il
was wrong to pass this as il left no security by law
for the Treasury.
He would 60 further and say it was indicate II
must bear the decision ofthe Chief on the
Bank bill They inerfered then with his right, not
content with gagging the House. and they presented
the alternative before him. that if he did not sign the
Bank bill, the Treasury would be left without legal
protection.
This was, in short, the question, and he moved to
postpone the subject to Saturday next. He had seen
it noticed in the papers that the Chief Magistrate in
tended TO visit the ship Delaware Saturday. and he
Mr. Cahoun) took it for granted that he would dis
pose Of the bill before him before he made the trip.
They owed il to themselves, to the Chief Magistrate,
and to all concerned that this matter be postponed
On this motion he called the yeas and nays
Mr.. CLAY said if the Senator meant to erect him
self into , ri sf dseencg he sMl Clayo would
judge of what was decency on his MIR. Clay's) part,
or the part of the Senate. s. gg.ar aat eaaER K
What had been his object in moving to take up this
bill2 He had had no design Of connecting the two
matters. He should think that it would be agreeable
to the President TO have both subjects before him at
once. Congress were to 90 on, and pass bill after BILL
and if number came before the President ut once,
It would enable him to act more Understandings on
them.
The gentlemen had said that in certain contngen-
cy, this law was wrong. He Mr.. Clay) believed,
whatever might happen that their respect the wish
es of the People would induce them repeal the Sub
treasury, at any rate. .tEt 1~ - '' Ply
As to its being superseded by the Bank, il was true
that some of the provisions of the two acts interred
and some did not; when this the case, the Bank
bill would supersede the other. They should act
matters that came before them and with all due re-
spect send them to the Executive without reference to
the fact of others being before him.
Mr.. BENTON said the President must feel himself
embarrassed to have both subjects before him at once
What possible objections could there be leaving in
operation few days longer measure which work
ing well, that no human being could make one par
tcle of complaint against it There but rea-
for it, that every day that system worked put
death the necessity of your National Bank; the Go
vernment was now going on well. He held that if
Gen. Harrison was now alive he would feel himself
bound to veto this BILL as the sub Treasury was
doing so well that there was no necessity for Bank
Mr.. PRESTON said the Senate had acted on this
subject about two months since. They had made il
the first act to comply with the expressed opinions of
the people, and had repealed the Sub-Treasury.
Then, now, its friends cried "give us few days
longer before this is repealed and they entreat
ed them to spare this cherished object little longer
Did any body doubt the general sentiments this
measure, when they considered the unqualified con-
demnation from the people, when they considered
the action of the other House, and this House, on
this subject? Did any body doubt the opinions of the
President and with what deep and heartfelt satisac
ton he would sign the deathwarrant of this odious
acts Now, its repeal was objected to as ndeli-
cate' to the Wing President, and that by those who
did all they could in preventing this indelcacy, by
the defeat of his election. They now come forward
to protect him from the injuries his friends would
infict on him. 1t reminded him of the ancient max
i'm, Iimeo Danaos ct dona ferentes." s.. r. y#sa
He was friend of the President, and inclined to
respect all his feelings political otherwise. He
would vote for sending this bill to him now, belev
ing that in the act they performed the will of the peo-
pie Of the country and for which the President would
thank them. He had had no communication with the
President but believed he would sign this, whatever
was done with the Bank bill. If no other measure
were adopted he would sanction this measure. Why
pause Where was the indelicacy or embarrass-
ment to the President J This, if signed, became a
law tomorrow. Would the people object to it if the
Bank were not established The issue was made
between the Sub Treasury and any other system of
revenue. He (Mr. P. would prefer any other plan
to this it had been decidedly condemned, and should
now be repealed. Il. l9 5'4a'aH# -
Messrs BENTON and PRESTON made some
further remarks .,.,.. .... ..3.asa.3 RI
M. DJUEC so;J h. mo, MT g, ~. H.. 49, AZ
debate commenced and had mot heard the previous
remarks of gentlemen. For himself he saw no rea-
sonabe consideration for postponing any action on
this subject. Without any communication with the
President of the United States he MIR. R. believed
he would have no objection to having both measures
before him; under any circumstances, he would do
his duty to the people of the United States. He did
not that it was necessary consequence, if they
acted this subject that the President of the United
States would be, in celebrating another measure
without any alternative but its adoption. Gentlemen
seemed to think that the amendments of the other
House would be adopted a matter of course. Was
that so Gentlemen would recollect, when the bill
passed. provision of similar character was act
ed on by the Senate and rejected They would not
accept of the Sub Treasury which their opponents
had held out in their hands plank save the par
ty now in power from the shpwreck which they an
ticpated for them; he believed neither the President
those who acted with him. would accept of so slippery
plank as this. He (Mr R.) should vote as he had
done before and If the majority Of the Senate voted
as they had done they would simply repeal the Sub
Treasury, which had been condemned by an over
whelmng majority of the people of this country. If
this So the President not left with the sim
gle alternative of approving the bill now in his hands
Whatever he would do, no person was less informed of
than he (Mr. r. was; he would state frankly that
he had no knowledge directly or indirectly Of the
course of the President; but from his knowledge
of the man he would say, that in whatever state of
things this matter was presented to him. he would do
his duty to his country.
He thought, therefore, the course was pain-that
was, to act on this measure They acted on it in.
obedience to the will of the people, Immediately after
they met it had been kept till this time in the House,
and now they should in the same spirit Of expedition
act on the amendments 1.- g13
Mr.. CALHOUN said he had moved the postpone
ment, that the President might not be embarrassed
He took it for granted that the President would not
wish have the Treasury ofthe u States in his own
hands There could be no harm in this short elay and