Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-08-30

Mr. CLAY, OF Kentucky, rose aud addressed th
Senate follows; Mr.. President, the ball whic
forms the present subject OF our deliberations, Ia
passed both Houses OF Congress by decisive maloi
iIies and, IN conformity with the requirement o IN
Constitution, was presented to The President Of III
United States for his consideration. lie has return
cd II to the Senate, in which It originated accord
I'M to the direction of the Constitution, with mes
sage announcing his Of the bill, and containing
his objections to its passage. And the question nov
TO be decided is, Shall the bill pass, by the required
constitutional malority OF t~o-thrds, the Presdenr
objections Notwithstanding
Knowing, sir, but too we'll, that no such majority
can he obtained, and that the bill must tall, woulC
have been relulced to have found myself at liberty
TO abstain from saving one word on this painful &C
casion. But the President has not allowed me L
give a silent vote. think, with all respect and de
ference him, he has not reciprocated the friendly
spirit of concession and compromise winch animated
Congress IN the provisions OF this hlll, and espe'
cally IN the modification OF the sixteenth iunda'
N: ntal condition OF the bank. He has comment.
cd, think, with undsserved severity on that part
oi the bill; he has used, am sure unntentiona y,
harsh, II not tsprolchiu languages ana ne mas made
the very concession, which was prompted as a peace
offering and from friendly considerations the cause
OF stronger and more decided dIsappcohauon of the
bill. Standing in the relation 10 that bill which
do, and especially to the excepuona6!o clause, the
duty which | owe t. the Senate and TO the coun-
try, and self-rcspeci, impose upon me- the obiga
ton of least attempting the yIndlcation OF
sure which has met with fate 50 unmerlted and so
unexpected.
on the 4th OF April last, the lsmeu,ed Harrison.
the President OF the United States PAID the deb, OF
Niture. President Tyler, who, as Vice President,
succeeded the duties Of that office, arrived IN the
city OF Washington on the oh OF that month. He
found the whole metrop wrapt IN gloom, every
heart lice with sorrow and sadness, every eye
streaming with tears, and the sorrodnding hills We,
nng;1g back the echo OF the bells VIII ch wee toll
ed on lhat melancholy occasion. On entering ,he
Preside ia mansion nc contemplated the pale body
OF his predecessor stretched b1,f him, and clothed
IL the black hsbilimen,s OF dea'n- Al that solemn
molnsrt have no doubt that the heart Of President
Tyler was 'verhowins with mingled emotions Of
grief Of patriotism, and OF grutIude-Hbove all, OF
gratitude 10 that country, by majority of whose
suffrages bestowed at the preceding November, he
thea stood the most distinguished the most elevated,
the most honoreL Of all living Wings Of the United
States.
IL was under these circumstances, and in this
nrob,ble state OF mind that President Tyler on the
10Th day OF the same month Of April, voluntarily
promulg aied Address to the People OF the United
States. That address as IN the nature of a cOro-
nation OATH which the Chief OF the State in other
countries and under other forms, takes upon as
cendns the throne. IL referred TO the solemn ob.
Ug,tious and the profound OF duty, under
which the ucw President entered upon the hi-h
trus; which had jcvUlved upon him, by the loint
nets The People and of Providence, and II stated
the prnci; les, ami ccineated the policy by wuick
he would be governed IN his exalted station. l. was
emphalically NhE Address IRON beginning to
In that Address l. c President, in respect To the
subiec, matter embraced IN the present bill, held
the fol owing conclusive and emphatic language
IL shall promptly give my sanction to any cOnstiiu-
'liouaI measure which, originating IA Congress shall
have for its object the ration Of 4 sound circu-
Eating medium, esstiG ally necessary TO give
'fdence in all the ciIons OF lie secure 10 in
'ausirv It's juSi aud adtqIdc Ts1a-dS and 10 rses-
Isbish the public prosperity. In deciding upon the
adaptation OF any SUCH measure 20 the end PROPOSED
tdsuSu as us conformity 10 the Constitution, shall
resort 10 the Fathers q he great Republican school
'or advice aud instruction, TO be drawn from their
sage views OF our system oil Government, and the
4 sht OF their ever giOrigUs Examples"
To this clause in the Address OF the President, |
believe but Interpretation was given ghout
this whole country, by friend and foe, by Wing and
Democrat, and by the presses OF both parties. 1t
WAS by every man with whom cOnversed on the
subject al the time Of its appe arance, OF whom
have since inquired, construed TO mean that the
President intended 10 occupy the Madison ground
and TO regard the question OF the power to estab.
lish a National Bank as mmoyelbly se.ted. And
| think may confidently appeal to the Senate, and
TO the country, sustain the fact that this the
contemporlneous and unanimous judgment Of the
Public. Revsrtins back 10 the period Of the pro-
mitigation ofthe Address, could any other cOnstruc-
ton have been given 10 It's langu'ge} What is III
al shall promptly give my sanction TO any constitu-
tional measure which, originating fH Congress,
shall have certain defined objects IN view. He
comedies the vital Importance OF a sound circu-
perty. He coacedes that It's origin must be in
Congress. And, to prevent any inference from the
qua Ificaton which he prenNes TO the measure, be.
ing interpre ed TO mean that United States Bank
was unconstitutional, he declares that IN deciding
on the adaptation of the measure 10 the end prOpO
sed and its con formify TO the Constitution, he will
resort to the Fathers the great Republican school
And who were theyl IL the Father Of his Country
is to be excluded, are Madison, The Father Of the
Cons,itutonO Jefferson, Monroe, Gerry, Gailaln
and tba ofR ~ cd Wi
them, not TO lie regarded among those Fathersl
But President Tyler declares not oniy that he
should appeal TO them for advice and instruction,
but to the light Of their ever glorious EXAMPLE.
What examp'e7 What other meaning could have
been possibly applied 10 the phrase, than that he
intended 10 refer 10 What had been done during the
Administrations ofJCffsrson, Madison, and Monroe!
Entertaining this opinion OF the Address, came
10 Washington, at the commencement Of the session,
with the most confident and buoyant hopes that the
Wings would be able to carry oil their prominent
measures, and especially a Bank Of the United
States, by far that one Of the greatest immediate
importance. anticipated nothing but cortla. CO.
operation between the tBO departments Of Govern.
mer'; and reflected with pleasure that | should
find at the head Of the Executive branch, pefso-
nal and political friend, whom had ong and init.
mately known, and highly esteemed. II will MT
be my fault NJ our amlcabIc relations should unhsp-
PLY cease, IN consequence Of any difference Of opiu-
ion between US on this occasion. The President
has been always perfectly familiar with my opinion
on This bank question.
Upon the opening ofthe session. but especially on
the receipt OF The plan national Ulnk as propos.
ei by the Secretary Of the Treasury fears were ox-
cited that the President had been misunderstood i'm
his Address, and tnat be had not waived but adhcr
ed 10 his constitutional scrup.es. Under these cir
cumstances II was hoped tha,, by the Indulgence Of
mutual spirit Of compromise and concession, a hank
competent to fulfil the expectations ond satisfy the
wants Of a. People, might lie established.
Under the influence Of fhat spirit, tie senate and
the House agreed, st. as % the name Of the
cd b'nk. ] confess sir, that there was some ng
exceedingly ,utTts and revolving 70 my cars In the
term "l scai NIX ~ buil thought, "Wha' is there
~ nat e. rose, 10y any oihcr lame, would
smell as sweet" Looking, therefore, rather fl line
utility Of the substantial faculties than 10 the nam,
oCthe ronteu plated institution, we consented 10 ths
which was proposed.
3D. As TO tie place of location Of the bank Al
though Washington had passed through my min,
as among the cities 10 which 10 might be e1pedisn
TO place the bank, d was believed TO he the Gast rIr
rbe Of some four FIVE oths cities. NevertbeIc,s
we consented to TX here.
And lastly, IN respect 20 the branching uoyst
there was not probably solitary vote given tn oithe
House Of Congress for the tiII that DID not grest
prefer the unqualified branching pOwer, MS as.err
IN the charters Of the Two former Banks Of the Uni
ted States, 70 the 18Th Fundamental GonI ton as
nalIy incorporated IN this bill. lti perfectly man
fss' therefore, that II not no conformity with is
opinion ami wish OF mlior.,iss ln Congress, Ji
IN a friendly spirit Of concession towards The Pres
dent and his particular friends, that the clause a
sumed that form. So Tepuguani was % To- some
L. rN nal IL a..