Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-07-16
.Honday's Proceedings.
CONGRESSIONAL ANALYSIS.
SENATE

WAsHiSGro., July 1--WE shall give IN the Con.
rressonal columns sketch Of the debate the
amendments offered 10 the Bank bll-thc expressing
special order. The discussion was drawn OFT by Mr.
Clay 10 collateral matters, which produced great deal
of warmth and sensbility in the Senate.
Mr.. Wright proposed TO strike out the subscription
Of the Government to the Bank, and enforced his
views on this topic with his usual precision and clear
ness The drift of his remarks will be given hereafter,
under the ngressona head MIR. Clay replied with
great deal Of animation, and while lntlmatng an unw'l.
ngness believe that the amendments were intended
nsdously procrasnate the measure, he deprecated
the DELAY, and expressed so strongly his impotence
under the of proceeding in relation 10 the
bill shat taken in connection with the gag recent.
" imposed in the other House by his friends, (the
Sneaker the head Of them,) who act under his ad-
vice It plainly indicated determination to crush tic
freedom Of debate in the Senate, and vote his measures
through without allowing the minority 10 be fully
heard This called up Mr.. Calhoun, who reviewed
the progress Of the Bank Ball in the Senate. lie
showed that from the commencement OF the session
until now when the complaint, the premonltory to the
imposition of the gag the Senate, was made, the De
moe members had only been employed four days IN
suggesting their views Of the measure, and proposing
notifications The previous portion OF The session nae
been taken by the friends of the in preparing
their BILL and eight days occupied by them exclusively,
in discussing mendmcnts brought IN by the friends 81
the Administration after ii so prepared. During
these eight days. the whole discussion was carried on by
the Federal side Of the Senate, and now, when the oPp
ing the scheme it was plainly limited that the majo-
rity intended put down debate and deny the rvi-
lege TO the minority Of exposing the odious features
and principles Of the bill, and the bad designs OF It's au-
thors in rejecting the sautary provisions BY which the
enemies of the measure would guard against It's fatal
tendencies and dsarn it, to extent, OF It's dan
serous powers. Mr. Calhoun repealed the mputa-
ton that procrastinuton to harass the majority was
the purpose OF the minority. All wished 10 De AT
home enjoying quiet and comfort, rather than to be
olped in he hpaLa and dust of the at this
healthy season Of the year, and struggling to expose the
dangerous OF measures pressed INTO an eAraordna
~ session, 10 be hurried through in few weeks, winch
II cos, Federalism forty years TO build up, and Demo
cracy the last twelve years TO abate. MIR. Ialioun
therefore demanded Of Mr. Clay declare his purpose
Did he intend 10 impose the gag upon debate IN the
Senate as il had been elsewhere; Did he intend to
consummaie tie high handed Federal measure, now
progress, without allowing the minority 10 bring All
their views of what proposed and rejected by the
majority, before the country:
/ Mr.. Clay answered with the utmost vehemence, ana
avowed his readiness 10 alter the OF the pro-
ceedng hitherto observed, as 10 give the majority com
plete command of the Senate. This avowa implies,
that the design entertained of altering The rules
expressly framed to the rights of the minority as
to put il absolutely at the mercy of the majority ana IN
troduce into Congress- with more unlimited control tian
it was ventured on even in G. Brtain-the mon
srous power Of sitting the freedom of speech The rules,
as pacsed upon formerly in Congress drawn from
the parliamentary rules, which, with all their protection
for the rights OF minority guarantying ample freedom
of Speech have stood for centuries respected by ma
jorties headed by monarchs Of despotc dispositions
What the omnpoie majority of Parliament, and des.
potc princes, have not dared violate, Mr. Clay OF
Kentucky and his ephemcral fraud begotten power IN
Congress, threaten at once to put down.
! Mr. Linn Of Missouri replied to Mr.. Gays sug-
ges,on, Of bringing his tactics TO suppress de-
bate 10 bear the Senate in very impressive man.
lie referred TO the past, 10 point the eye OF Sc
TO the Of outrages which the mercenary
interests associated with tins bank question, had urged
its partzans TO perperate. He referred to the blood
shed by The Bank myrmIdons Philadelphia, with fire.
arms with which the marble palace was hiled) to crush
the right Of suffrage in the city Of the Bank-to the
attempt TO seize the public arsenal in n York to effect
the purpose thereto the pollution OF The eec-
tons every where, which exhibited itself in the halls
Of State legislation rs we'll Congress He refer
red to the Of the former of Congress,
al Of which less than six large volumes Of e1-
acFations Of the then existing Administration, were
P''eu - in lis archives in the shape of Bank me.
thor'als' ana With formed the staple of Federal
speeches, filling six mon,L. Of the lime of CONGRESS
tie referred to the revolutionary movements of the
Bank recruits, thrown into the Legislatures State and
National, in breaking up quorums of the respective bo
dies 10 which they belonged by setting the rules at de-
lance, and absentng themselves, and refusing to at
tend, when summoned by the officers of the represen
,ntve bodies lie pointed to OF the sort which
nad occurred IN Congress- IN the Legislatures of la
bama, Illinois, pennsylvania, and some Others show
ing that the utter prosration of Parliamentary rule
now threatened in regard 10 the freedom of debate
was in perfect keeping with all these precursors which
originated in the unbnded, unprincipled spirit which
The money power relying on The mercenary brute force
which II can rally round II, invariably begets Mr.
Linn said he ashamed Of himself for the tameness
with which he had heretofore submitted Senator
torgetn of the independent and sturdy constituents
he represented, to the arrogant presumption with
which that sordid influence had staggered in Hall,
which should be consecrated to calm and patriotic de-
liberation He emphatcaly admonished Senators that
he did not intendto 10 The shaking of the name
and the loud menaces which frequently made
to play part in the scenes of that body He meant to
do his duty there, and he would be found wanting
in any thing that became man. whenever the attempt
made to choke down the rights of the country in
sitting The freedom of debate the part of the mi
nofity of the Senate.
Mr.. Walker referred to the intimation OF Mr. CLAW,
that amendments were offered by those opposed to the
bill, by showing that most of the amendments offered