Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-07-14

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having been dehnit vely settle l. Now, SIR, the put
l'shed writings OF MIR Jefferson show that three
years alter that time he did, indeed, consider the
question OF the eonstitu,ionali'y OF a Bank of the
United States settled but as settled against its
eonstitutionaty. In a letter to MIR Eppes dated
the Oh of November, 1918, he uses this enipha,ic
language; AFTER the solemn decision OF Congress
against the renewal of the charter ct the Bink of
the United States and the grounds or that decision
tthe want OF constitutional power,) had imsg med
that question at rest, and that applications
Banks"
Ike truth is, Mo President, that this mooted cues
ton has received different decisions at the n ns of
the people and their representatives, different times
and Il probably gives rise TO much q ference of
opinion at this, as at any former period of our his
| tory. II II has been settled way at one time
It has been settled another way at amos her time the
result OF which IS that 1t is yet unsettled and
open question, aud will, probably, ever remain So
IN the public judgment. | will not undertake To
say on which side oft majority of the nation are
nj this moment. All must admit that a very l,rge
ana patriotic portion OF the nation (probably mole
" az ieaSt) yet maintain the negative. I'm tins di %
Nideu and nicely balanced state of public opinion
on a fundamental question OF power, and one too
which has never failed to excite a profound sensa .
uo throush the mass OF the people, II the part
OF true policy and wisdom 10 avoid the DISPUTED
question, when the same practical results can be at
Toned IN the mode proposed by the Secretary OF the
treasury would appeal to honorable gentle.
men on this side OF the House and ask II thrv N,
not willing TO show much consideration for The
honest and CONSCIENTIOUS convictions OF LARGE bodv
othelr fellow citizens regard to the sacred h,un,
t'es OF the Constitution, as they have shown in the
case oil the Northeastern Boundary TO the sh,Ilox
and uniounted claims OF a foreign power in regor,
10 the limits of the national domain bv nbst,inp,
from the disputed territory.
Mr hiNes SAID that IN our very origin as nation.
IN the history OF that great struggle which had dis
so.vedithe British Empre-we had a n,onitorv To-
son on the danger OF extreme assertions of mower
"iI.en ousnt no' 10 DC forgotten. That glorious and
e'1t "teotnoie contest had arisen The abstract
tg'l' oil inc British Parliament TO tax the cplonic,
'oihoh ther consent. So long as the colonies
were permitted TO tax themselves in the Joyous prI,
ana voluntary generosity of fieemen they poured
out their treasure, with unstnted abundance in,o
the lap OF the mother country. But IN an evil hour the
scheme was conceived of taxing them withou, thcir
consent. The dignity OF the crown aud the hon
o' Oh a''IHmen,' IT was snid required the asser-
ton OF the power. The stamp act was passed and
repealed. PORT duties, as they were called We
then impnsed, but the colonies, plan ing Them. /
selves on the Imporishable principle of British bert
lhe rec consent ct the people through their rene
seh'a'NeS 10 the imposition OF taNcs) Tenunsra,d
ana again prevailed. Ofthc six p1rt Duties which
had been imposed by Par ament. all were rsne,I,d
except the miserable duty OF three pence n mound
Oh 'e'i ana mat was continued, not Tor revenue Tor
u yielded none, but as assertion of the oyi..
IANVe supremacy of the BRUSH Parliament over |
t"r S'""IeS- III was by such mana cement this ~
IN the magnificent language OF Burke .by The ire
S's''oe operation OF feeble councils, that so paItry
e m
nslSnh cant an artic as tea IN the eves Of nil
osopher, shook, and finally dissolved the pillars of
d C"Hmefcia empire that circed the whole slonr "
ono' We oio" 50 dictated an example and insist |
on ue power OF establishing branches OF the pro |
posed Fiscal Bank within the limits of Tho STATE
without their assent, as assertion of the eOi.'a
1--WE supremacy Of Congress- hen there Is reason n,
uo,s'e 'ha' every practicable object be obtained
without such nsscrtioni Will gentlemen ncrmit
me 10 commend to them the example and the In |
SuaSe OF ne great man, whose name have inst |
mentioned, IN the similar circumstances IN which h.
was placejl Like themselves IN regnrd ,o rho |
power OF Congress to establish branches of the nro
posed Bank IN the States, without their conSent -
ne hed, III The most unqualified manner the abstract
right OF the British Parliament TO tax the colonics
AS a member OF the Rockingham administration, he
had concurred fully IN the decarltory act which at
hrmed that right. But when It came 10 the oucs
ton OF carrying out the power in practice AGAINST
the circumstances OF the ones he opposed n win
on me ''Shty weight OF his eloquence and wisdom
lie said he resolved that day to have notbin"
to do with the right OF taxa,ion-it was less than
hoIhh IN ms eonsderatlon-he looked to the policv
o'lhe Puestlon-to practical results. On the uueS-
.on o the right OF ax,iion (hs IN this country on
Tue question OF the constitutional power of COMPRESS
10 create National Bank he found ouinians dyid
go and perPlexed-great names nitrate ugainsteach
other' IN that hed-hsh and reverend authorities |
h' up theIr neads on both sides, and there was no
sure 'oothS on that ground. IL was
The great serbonian bog
where armies whole have sunk" l.
The question, therefore," said he SIS not what
a lawyer shall tell me may DO. but what wisdom,
prudence reason, tell me ought to do What avails
the strctneSs OF my legal title II by its assertion
lose my suit" These indeed were WORDS OF so.
oerness and truth trust they may be better heed.
co now than lhey were then. | commend them to
the reflection OF patriots and statesmen.
MIR Rves said there was another proC,und and
important truih-In especial harmony with the &C.
mus OF American !nstituiiOns-tlught by the wis.
ion OF the same great philosopher and statesman,
ne .fRlh hon. -
hm Tor recalling TO their recollection. IL was This
that The constant aim OF every wise public conn
e'I ought TO be to find out by Cautious experiments
oy cool and rational endeavors, with how little not
now much' power, governments could be conduct. |
ed, and the atlirs OF nations be administered WHY
therefore, assert the disputed power of Congress In
tins instance, admitting II Sxist t.ll eyperI.pee
snail have shown II TO be necessary Tor the success
'uI operation OF tha measure propOssd The hon. |
ornbie Senator from Keutgsky,[ vel reroller,
said Mr. Ryes with that impressive and siirring
s.oquence which 20 smi1Sn Y 3,sti7gu:shes him
ABOVE other men, used 10 Teprohch his political op.
pOnents, during the administration of Gen. lack |
son, with their fond assertion Of powcr-ever intent,
IS lac sad, on the exercise of power power inrxo-
fable power. ! trust, sir, shall not fall into the
same error now. The distinguished Senator from
Kentucky also had the privilege, den ed to most Of
u.s. having heard from the lips of that true hearted
Republican patriot, George Ciinton) who then f..
led The chury you now occupy, MIR President the me.
morabe words with which he accompanied his cast
the b INK Of the United States in 1911. The m.
ton caught them as they fell, and cherished them
since as the Oraceg of wisdom. "In tho course Of a
long life" said he, 81 have found that government is
not 10 he strengthened by the assumption of doubt.
tu powers, but by Wise and energetic execution
Of those which are inconitsiiJle the former never
fails to produce suspicion and Cistrust whilst the
latter ms rcs respect and confidence"
My firm conviction, said Mr. Riycs, is, that If the
institution now proposed 10 be created, shall be
planted on the 'inconesube' ground suggested by
the Secretary Of the Treasury sustained and foster
ed by the assent and good will Of the States IL will
be far stronger and more efficient to every useful
end, than II II 10 borns along by the strong arm of /
the General Government, thrustng II upon the /
States without their consent, and ia despite Of their
objections. proceeding Of this sort necessarily
bcgets opposition. A party war will be conmenc- /
Ell upon Il at the threshhOld, and ITS whole exi,-
tcnco will be Of agitation and contest. Ga the
CONTRARY, II you refer the establishment of branches
10 the assent Of tho States within whose lnrs they
are 10 be placed, they will not merely he admitted,
but they will b. invcd, wherever tho public inter- |
est shall call Tor them. You disarm nj once the |
IeaOusas Of State sovereignty. You place your !
institution under the safeguard Of State honor, and
IN Ier that mo al protection OF public sentiment
which is ilr moro powerful Than the stern mandate
OF the law. lfnny Of the States should withhold |
their assent from the establishment Of Offices of die.
count and deposit, where they may be deemed ne
cssslry for the purposes Of the institution, the
msndmont / have offered contains an alternative
provision Tor the establishment Of limited agencies
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