The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1841-07-13

the District of Columbia, he regarded it as
fiscal agent established for the general purpose
of the Government to act throughout the Un-
ion and the question of its location was OF
minor importance. But with all his convlc-
tons regarding the existence of this power, he
contended that there might easily arise clr-
cumstances under which the exertion of that
power would be inexpedient. In reference to
the amendment of MIR Bayard, he construed it
as proposition to force on the States, the very
agencies contemplated by the original bill, and
liable to he same and The only objection, that
it urged the power of the Government beyond
the limits Of expediency. He should vote tor
the amendment of the gentleman from Viz
ginia, although he protested, in doing so, a.
gainst being considered as surrendering any
portion of the power which is indispensibly re-
sident in congress.
Mr. Huntington then rose and designated
the amendment of the gentleman from Virgin
la as one exciting great interest, and as laying
the axe to the root of one of the main features
Of the bill. The argument had assumed the
old fashioned form and character. The de-
sign of the clause in the original charter was
to give the bank powers co-extensive with the
duties required of it. The amendment of the
Senator lays the powers of the general govern
ment at the feet of the States. He would
vote against the amendment. The amend
ment had been sustained on the ground that
the bill as it came from the committee, assert
ed power which was not in Congress. inns
objection, Mr. III. regarded as having been DEL
initely and finally settled by legislative, execu-
tive and judicial decisions over and over again.
The subject had not come up for adjudication
before the Courts, but the point had been ire
quently made and had undergone deliberate
investigation, and that very point was then
decided, and was to be ever considered as SET
tied. 1t is maxim that when the Courts
adjudicated, and rights of property have Ebeen
acquired under such adjudication, the question
was itself considered as settled. He could
not add TO the conclusiveness Of the argyll
ments which had already been made on this
{ point. He put the case of an agency being
/ established in New York, where a tax is I'M
posed on the Banks. The amendment of the
gentleman from Delaware permitted free
agents there, and how could the State tax these
agenciesl You therefore assert the power of
the government here as much as if you estab-
| lished branches without the assent of the
States.
| Mr. II. said that the amendment, if it pre-.
walls, puts into the bill feature the very effect
of which would be to produce the evil of which
the gentlemen complain. You will 20 into
/ States having large banking operations, and
where they are unwilling to have rival. Let
the question come up in the Legislature, some
members will want TO impose tax, others &c
choose directors, and perhaps to insert CLAUSE
to retain the power of Withdrawing the assent
TO the charter at any time. Thersfwould also
arise difference about the place of location and
thus no branch might after all be admitted.
I HOUSE.
After the Journal was read, on motion o.
Mr. w. C.. Johnson, the House resolved itsel
into Committee of the Whole, Mr.. Lawrence
in the chair.
Mr.. Underwood thought the passage of thi.
bill would tend to induce an economical ex
penditure in the general government. He
showed why the sum Of ten per cent. was Civ.
en- to the new states-it was because it had beer
calculated that their population would increase
in about that ratio over the old States He
was in favor of the bill, because he had al
ways wished to take the public lands out o.
the power of the General Government, to pre-.
vent them from being made electIoneerine
capital out of by ambitious men, who might be
seeking for the presidency, as had been here.
toiore done on this floor, and elsewhere.
He would pass by all the adcaptandum ar.
guments about the rich and the poor, which
were only delivered on this floor for political
effects at home. He liked the poor as well as
any mamie had sprung from them-they
were his brothers-he had himself been a
charity scholar. Internal Improvements were
of as much benefit to his poor constituents, or
the rich lands of his State, as TO any one else
as it enabled them to change their ropducts for
the red shirts and comfortable clothing which
the gentleman from New York had spoken so
eloquenty about.
/, l. Mr.. Wise then moved that the Committee
rise, which was agreed to.
The House adjourned to meet on Monday
morning at 10 o'clock.