Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-09-18
SPEECH OF WR. CLAY,
OF KENTU CKY,

OF KENTUCKY,
On the Executive Message containing the Presi-
dents objections to the Bank Bill,
In SENATE UNITED STATES, August 10, 1871.
Mr.. CLAY, of Kentucky, rose and addressed
the Senate as follows: Mr.. President, the bill
which forms the present subject of our delibera.
tons had passed both Houses OF Congress by de-
cisive ma critics, and in conformity with the re.
quirement of the Constitution, was presented to
the President OF the United States for his consid.
Grafton. He has returned it to the Senate, in
which it originated, according 10 the direction Of
the Constitution, with message announcing his
veto Of the bill, and containing his objections to
its passage. And the question now 10 be decided
is, Shall the bill pass, by the required constitu.
tonal majority Of two.thirds, the Presidents OBJ
jections Notwithstanding?
knowing sir but too we'll that no such MAORI
ty can be obtained, and that the bill must fail,
would have been reloced to have found myself
at liberty to abstain from saying one word on
this painful occasion But the President has not
allowed me to give silent vote. think, with
all respect and Difference to him, he has not re.
ciprocated the friendly spirit Of concession and
compromise which animated Congress in the
provisions Of this bill, and especially in the
modification Of the sixteenth fundamental cond
ton of the bank. He has commented, i think
with undeserved severity on that part Of the BILL
he has used, am sure unintentionaly harsh, if
not reproachlul, language; and he has made the
very concession, which was prompted as peace
offering, and from friendly considerations, The
cause Of stronger and more decided dsapproba.
ton Of the bill. Standing in the relation to the
bill which | do, and especially to the exception
able clause, the duty which owe to the Senate
and to the country, and selCrespect, impose
upon me the obligation of at least attempting
the vndcation of measure which has met with
fate so unmerited and so unexpected.
On the 4th of A r last the amented Hari.
son, the President Of the United States paid the
debt of Nature. President Tyler, who, as Vice
President succeeded to the duties of that office
arrived in the city Of Washington on the 9Th Of
that month He found the whole metropolis
wrept in gloom, every heart filled with sorrow
and sadness, every eye streaming with tears, and
the surrounding hills yet fnging back the echo
of the bells which were tolled on that melon
choly occasion. On entering the Presidential
mansion he contemplated the pale body of his
predecessor stretched before him, and clothed in
the black habiliments OF death. At that solemn
moment ! have no doubt that the heart OF Presi-
dent Tyler was overlooking with mingled emo
tons OF grief, Of patriotism, and OF gratitude
above all, Of gratitude to that country by ma.
jorty of whose sufrages, bestowed at the proceed.
ing November, he then stood the most distin.
guished, the most elevated, the most honored
Of all living Wings Of the United States.
1t was under these circumstances and in this
probable stale Of mind that President Tyler on
the 10th day OF the same month Of April, volgn.
tarily promulgated an Address to the People of
the United States. Thet Address was in the
nature of coronation oath, which the Chief of
the State, in other countries, and under other
forms takes, upon ascending the throne. 1t re.
fered TO the solemn obligations and the pro.
found sense of duty, under which the new Pfes.
dent entered upon the high trust which had de,
volved upon him, by the joint acts Of the PEG.
pie and Of Providence, and it stated the princi.
pies and delineated The policy by which he would
be governed in his exalted station. 1t was EN-.
phatically Wing Address, from beginning to
end--every inch Of it was Wing, and was pa.
triotic.
In that Address the President, in re spect to
the subject matter embraced in the present bill
held the following conclusive and emphatic lam
guage: 81 shall promptly give my sanction tc
any constitutional measure which, originatins
in Congress, shall have for its object the restora
tlon Of sound circulating medium, so eSSentialls
necessary TO give con fdence in all the transac
tons OF life, to secure to industry its Just ana
adequate regards, and to reeStabliSh the publi
prosperity. In deciding upon the adaptation o
any such measure to the end proposed, as rel
as its conformity to the Constitution. shall re
sort to the Fathers Of the great Republican
school for advice and instruction. to be drawr
from their sage views of our system of Govern
ment, and the light Of their ever glorious cram
ple."
To this clause in the address OF the President
! believe, but one Interpretation was given
throughout this whole country, by friend and foe
by Wing and Democrat, and by the presses o
both parties. 1t was, by every man with whom
| conversed on the subject at the time of its ap
pearance, or, of whom | have since inquired
construed to mean that the President intended Il
occupy the Madison ground, and to regard thu
question OF The power to establish Naliona
Bank as imnovably settled, And | think
may confidently appeal to the Senate, and to tn,