The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1841-07-29

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Cd, WsFe den imposed boz tlis colonies,
planting themselves On de impeFishable
principle Of British Liberty, (the free con-
sent of the people, thr0' their FepFpsenia-
lives, % the imposition O. taxes. remon-
ssraied. and again prevailed. OF he ak
pors-du6es which had been imposed By
Parliament, all were repealed except he
miserable duiy Of pence pound On iea;
and Ihas was contained. not for revenue.
for II YIELDED none, bur 5 n assertion Of
The legislative supremacy Of the British
Parliament over the colonies. = II was
BY such management . this" IN the
magnificent language Of Burke, BY the
irresistible operation Of feeble councils.
that 50 palry a sum Is three pence N he
eyes Of : 6nsncier. 50 insignificant an
article as tea in the eyes Of PHILOSOPHERS,
shook, and finally dissolved the pillars Of
: commercial empire that eneircled The
whole globe"
Shall we follow 30 III fsied an example.
and insist on The power Of establishing
branches Of the proposed Fiscal Bank
within the limits Of the STATES. without
their assent. ss an assertion Of the legisls-
tive supremacy of Congress. when there
Is reason 10 believe ihsi every practicable
object can be obtained without such asser-
tioni Win gentlemen permit me 10 COM
mcnd 10 them the example and he Ian
guage ofihe greatmsn, whose name Ihsve
Just mentioned, in the similar eircum-
stances in which he was placed. Like
themselves, in regard 70 the power of Con-
gress to establish branches Of the pro-
posed bank in the States, without their
consent, he held, IN the most unqualified
manner, the abstract right Of the British
Parliament 10 tax the colonies. As q
member Of the Rockingham administra-
ton, he had concurred fullyiin the declare.
tory act which affirmed that night. But
when il came TO the question Of carrying
out the power in practice, against the
remonslranees Of the colonies, he opposed
il with all the mighty weight of his
eloquence and wisdom. He said he
resolved that day 10 hare nothing 10 do
with the right Of taxation--ii was less
than nothing in his consideration-he
looked to the policy Of the question---lo
practical results. On the question of the
right Of taxation, las in this country. on
the question Of the constitutional power
Of Congress 10 create a National Bank
he found opinions divided and perplexed
names initiate against each other.
in that field-high and reverend anthori-
ties lift up their heads on both sides, and
there was no sure footing on that ground.
IL was-
"The great Ssrbunisn BIG.
Whers armies whole have sank.'
"The question, therefore," said he,
- is not what lawyer shall tell me may
do, but what wisdom, prudence, reason,
tell me ought 10 do. What ayails The
ssrictness Of my legal tile, ifby its asser.
ton | lose my suil!' These, indeed,
were words OF sobeness and truth. 1
trust they may be better needed now .han
they were then. commend them 20 the
reflection Of patriots and statesmen.
Mr.. Rives said there was another pro-
found and important truth--in especial
harmony with the genius Of American
instinsions-taught by the wisdom Of the
same great philosopher and statesman,
which, he trusted, honorable Sena,ors
would pardon him for recalling TO their
recollection. IL was this-ihat !. the con-
slant aim Of every wise public council
ought TO be to find out BY cautious ex-
perients, by cool and rational endeayors.
with how little, not how much power,
governments could be conducted, and the
affairs ofnations be administered. Why,
therefore, assert the disputed power Of
Congress in this instance, admitting il 10
exist, Till experience shall have shown 4,
to be necessary for the successful opera,
uon oil the measure proposed! The hon.
orable Senator from Kentucky, | well re-
collect, said Mr.. Rives, with that i'm.
presslve and stirring e'oquence which so
entirely distinguishes him above other
men, used to reproach his political oppon-
ents, during the administration of Gen.
Jackson. with their fond assertion Of
intent, as he said, on the
exercise of power, power. memorable
power. | trust, sir, we shall not fall into
the same error now. The distinguished
Senator from Kentucky also had the
privilege, denied to most Of us, of having
heard from the lips ofthat ,rue-hearied Re.
publican patriot George Clinlon,) who
then filled the chair you now occupy, Mr..
President, the memorable words with
which he accompanied his casting vote
against the bill for renewing the charter
Of The Bank Of the United States in 1911.
The nation caught them as they fell, and
has cherished them since as the oracIcs
Of wisdsm. "In the course Of long
life" said he, " l have found that govern.
ment is not 10 be strengthened by the
assumption Of doubtful powers, but BY a
wise and energetic execution of those
which are incontcstible; the former never
laiis to produce suspicion and distrus,, |
whilst the latter inspires respect and con. |