The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-08-25
oAMpEM, S. CAROLINA.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 25, ls4
VETO OF THE BANK BILL.

This document which had been most ahAlodsy
looked for, reached us on Saturday last and 1t IS
with unfcgncd pleasure lay it before our readers
to day. We need not ask them to examine It, TOR
this they will most assuredly do Indeed we douot
if it will not be tho most universally read docu-
ment. which has been issued from the Executive,
for MANY years 1t is not only destined to be uni
versally read, but to meet the most SEVERE ana
scrutinizing criticism of any paper within our re'
collection, from such high authority. Happily lot
ts auihor and for the principles which 1t sustalns
the bold and manly 6rmness manifested throughout
the dignity and ability which mark It's character'
win bring it, we doubt not, through the trying or
deal, with renewed lustre.
The veto puts the objection to National Bank
ON its true ground-its unconstitutionality. The
constitution of the United States gives to Con-
press no power to grant charter OF incorporation
and such power is not to be inferred from any OF
its provisions It's total silence on the subject OF
interpretations, should be sufficient answer to those
who claim the authority under the assumption that
it is nccessary and proper to carry out the granted
powers, if there was no higher evidence that the
Convention which framed the Constitution did not
intend to vest congress with this power.
But it smatter of history that the Convention did
NOT only refuse to vest in Congress the power to
grant charters Of Incorporation generally out' as
though this declaration was not sufficiently enpha
sic, proposition to give Congress the power ITO
GRANT CHARTERS OF INCORPORATION IN CASES WHERE
THE ppn1rc GOOD NAY REQUIRE THEM, AND THE Au-
ruoRITl OF SINGLE STATE MAY BE INCOMPETENT,
met with similar fate. Both these propositions
were made in the convention on the 18TH OF Au.
p,,st a7e7; ut least so says DR.. COOPER in the first
volume of the "Statutcs at large of South Caroli-
: nan page POP. The Doctor adds "the Convention
did moi content itself with general discrimination
:and separation Of powers but enumerated and con-
ceded expressly and specifically such as they chose
ito grant, and refused many that were proposed
surely power proposed, debated, and negatlved
by she Convention, cannot now be assumed either
directly or indirectly without fraudulent continuance
.or manifest usurpaton." This is the true ground
!, of objection to National Bank. No matter how
.expedient measure may be thought, merit
which We do concede to this yet if the power be
mot expressly granted its exercise should not be
permitted Power is always stealing from the ma.
. ny 10 INC leWs anu ltoPiO w WV va
dhe alert to prevent nfractions of the charter by
which they hold their liberties under any pretcnce
whatever, No considerations of cxpcdiency how
!: ever spccious or plausible should permit us for
Gsmement to wink at the slightest violations OF tho
iconstitution, for they will, in the cnd no matter
.how great their promises of immediate good, prove
n lasting curse It is far better all occasions TO
submit to slight Inconvenience, than to give our
Z sanction to precedent, which may hereafter be
suse6 for purposcs'fatal to liberty Circumstances"
may il we do not raise our voice against usurpaton,
render it "necessary and proper in Congress ma
ority to overleap all the barriers Of the Consttu
on, and it therefore becomes tho friends Of thein-
tcgrity of that instrument to speak out.
The President has entitled himself to the thanks
of tho country, for the noble stand he has taken in
his veto message. If he should maintain it firmly,
sand we now see no reason to doubt it, his name
will stand side by side with those who have been
the greatest benefactors to their country. That he
= has had the moral courage to discharge this duty IN
accordance with tho dictates of his own conscience,
and in consistency with his whole political history,
menaced, as he was, by those who assisted in
bringing him into power, affords favourable ground
to hope that he has neither forgotten, nor aburcd,
those principles for which his fought for the last
twenty five years.