Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-09-03

cular parts of such measures might be appointed pax
none aeho SPEAK eutrciy against The btH Tor he VINO
would entirely destroy the b would not amend II
and that no man was to he employed as member of
any Committee, on any measure, when he had ae-
clared himself agans; i, and when any such mem.
Der should be appointed he Int TO ask 10 De excused
from service.
Under this view the Chair had decided, in the ap.
poinlmrnt of this Committee, and the Senate would
approve or disappsoye that action
| Mr. BENTON That is the Ler Parlamfntord OF
ENGLAND from " hch you read, Mr.. Pesd' nj. and IS
no part of our rules. II is English authority
good in the British Parliament, but not valid N th
| American Senate 1t is not in rulrs-neher III
the rules of the House nor those OF the SENATE; aud
IS contrary to practice of both Housesthelr set
tied practice for fifty years. From the beginning Of
our Government have disregarded 1t, and followed
rule much consonant To tecency and justice TO
public satisfaction a:.d the results OF far legsa-
ton, and that was, 10 commit our business to m'seo
commtees-comn,ittees consisting OF friends ana ioes
of the measure, and of both political pares-always
taking care that the friends of the measure should VI
the majority and, it was political question, ."a'
the political party III power should nave the aJoi
This is our practice; and wise and good pactce u
IS containing all the good that there is in the BRITISH
rule avoiding lis harshness, and giving both SIDES
chance to perfect 10 understand measure. nc
nature of our Government-its harmonious anu sie'
cessful action-rcquires both parties TO have mana ~
conducting the public business, both IN the committees
and he legislative halls; and this the first session al
which committee business or legislative business, has
been confined or attempted 10 be confined, Ia one po
tical party The clause winch you read, Mr. ffesi,
dent have often read myself not Tor the purpose u
sendin q measure a committee of exclusive friends,
,, 4, nrovent il from going to committee nt eXclu
,e an.m;cs-in fact 10 obtain for il mixed commit
tee-such as the Democracy has always gwen when
in nower-such as il will again give when in power
and such as due 10 fair, decent satisfactory, and mar
monou Legislation
The Senator from Alabama, Mr. King so long and
On we'll acquainted with the rules and practice Ut the
Senate has well and justly objected to the one-Sded
character of this Committee. 1t IL an objection 10 u
we'll taken but it is also open 10 another objection
that of being composed entirely Of the junior members
of the body The whole five Committee men thus NJ
ponted from the ranks Of one party to take charge o
this most important bill, are new members and who
by the practice of The body, should be placed on the
Committees Of least importance-those which do mol
require the greatest experience and Skill The Sena
Tors as they come in, and that without any regard 10
their age talents, character are placed on the small
/ Cnmm.tees-those Of Enrolled Bllls-of Engrossed
| Blls-of Contingent Expenses, NC, NC, &c. The
experienced Senators are charged with the welghiy
subjects of finance, Foreign Affairs, Commerce, nc.
&c Of all our Committees, that of Finance is the
most important. II stands at the head of the list
and is CHARGED with The gravest subjects, and ~ al
ways composed OF experienced Senators, and those
who have shown an aptitude and capacity for the
intricate and wcighty matters with which they are 70
be charged To this committee has always, before this
session, gone The Bank question: now that committee
on which the Democracy has member, and nnly
one hut ore who is too much for many, Mr.. Wood
bury is superseded by special committee; and that
SPEC al committee consists of the five junior, one-sded
members which subjects II In our anlmadversIon.-
Doubtless that committee very competent to the
great work which is committed to them. No exception
is taken 10 their skill capacity, ability, and eminent I'll!
ness in every wav, Ear they individually and
personally concerned for dschargng the high duty Ia
which they called To the exclusion OF all the old
Senators But that is not the thing. We have rules
10 90 by and propretes 10 be consulted, and Geccn
ccs to be observed and these rules, these proprecs
and these decences require the younger Senators 10
bp employed first in the minor business OF the Senate,
and be advanced gradually afterwards to the head OF
those which most important. do not 60 Tor Jn-
niors being put ever The heads Of seniors either IN
civil or military affairs am friend 10 'sorersiaugh.
mr. either in the Senate in the Army. have no
notion OF seeing Majors put over Colonies, or Cadets
fresh from West Point shot ahead Of veterans who
have had the earth for bed, and the heavens tor CO.
vernG for many long years; and, upon the same prin-
cplc | object to these five young Senators, who have
inst appeared among us, being advanced 10 the place
which belongs Of right TO the Senators who have been
here many years These my objections 10 the COM
mtteea all If one side, and all juniors. hcy are en-
pha,cay Of one side. ! do not know exactly how
many sides politics have Al present; but, IT IS GER
lan Democracy has no friend this committee: It is
pretty certain the President has and IT IS quite
certain that the Federaiss have all venture the as.
serlion that the President has none; my assertion sub
ect be corrected BY the developments OF the ensu-
inr fortnight. 4 fortnight will tell. In the mean time,
say all things considered there should have been one
member upon j, friendly 10 President Tyler-one at
leas, for hlm-ouc for us-and three Tor them wan
this We would haze been content. Without tins We
are disconnected; and that, not personally, but for the
sake Of fair play and the public good appeal to the
public to say, If the Democracy and the President have
been served right in tins business; Whether the conn
try has been served right Whether the bank party has
rot advantage in this committee which helps Il,
and hurts u.s.
The Senator from Alabama, mir. King, to whose at
tentvc for the preservation OF our rules and
ORDERS We are indebted for The motion he has ust made,
and the notice he has taken Of this committee, has told
that only in single heretofore has one-sided
committee been appointed, and that for special reason
in relation to the District of Columbia. That Senator
correct at all times but he will not lake ass
If shall suggest him that he is in now that
there has been other occasion in which SIDED
committee was empoyed-and that in very important
casc-concernng no less power than Mr. Bidde )
Bank, and Mr.. Bddle himself / speak OF the
committee which sent by this Senate To examine
the Bank OF the S. in the summer of 1c:'4, when
charged with insolvency and crmInay by Cen jack
son-charges which time have proved TO be Hue-anu
when the whole committee OF one party, ana mat
party opposed 10 General Jackson, and friendly TO The
Bank And what became then Of the rule ct British
application then, though would have cut oil every
member of the committee; for not one OF them was Ia
yorable to the inquiry, hut the contrary and the thing
ended all expected. | mention this as an instance
ofa esded committee, which the Senator from Ala
bama has overookcd ard which deserves 10 be parcu
larly remembered on this OCCASION for reason which
will mention before resume my seat.
But, TO return 10 our Committee of juniors and ex.
clusives what is il with which they are charged :
That measure which is the king of measures IN the
eyes Of the Federal pary-hat measure for which the
Session callcd-withcut granting which We are
not allowed to separate-for baking which the Pres
dent is TO be unhorsed-and which, (change It's name
as you please,) is sill the same thing-a National
Bank to rule The pcmoerary, to pinnder The people,
md 10 hind us 10 England. This great measure is
committed TO this young Committee, with new name
upon lis old and brazen forehead. II has a name as
long the moral law--half Sub-Treasury and hall
Bank. IL is called 4 bin far ME coLec,ion safe Keep
ing, transfer md disbursement IF NE public moneys, By
means # Fiscal Corporation Of The United States %
.7mcrica. Heavens, what name Too long too
long and fraudulent besides. 1t will never do
People cannot go through all that. We must have
pytr