Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-08-16
FROM WASHINGTON.


/ MONDAY, august x
In Senate to-day, various memorials we're pre-
sented in favor Of and adverse to a BANKRUPT Law.
Il National Bank, and Distribution ofthe Proceeds
OF Public lands one from hat manufacturers of
New York, Boston and Philadelphia against a-lu.
~ the materials used in the manufacture ofsilk
hats one presented by Mr.. Tallmadge for duty
on watches, jewelry, &C.; another by Mr.. Clay a.
gainst duty on articles entering into the munu-
facture Of glass and one by Mr.. Wright against
the Revenue bill in its present form.
Mr. Calhoun presented the proceedings of a
meeting of the citizens of Cumberland Co. Vir-
ginia, containing resolutions against National
Bank, affirming its uncons,itutonality, and the
right not only but the duty of Congress to repeal
it if chartered, denying that the Bank question had
been at issue at the late election, and repudiating
MS useless this Extra Session. m
debate sprung up on the disposition of this
petition, on the Constitutionaliy Of Bank, and
as to the history of the Convention that framed
the Constitution, with regard to this subject
Nessrs. Henderson and Morehead maintaining its
Constitutionay, and denying the power of Con-
gress TO establish bank was brought in question
by lat Convention and Messrs Clay of Alaba-
ma and Calhoun tenaciously contendlng that the
question of comforting on Congress the mower of
establishing bank was raised and decided in the
negative, that it is unconstitutional and the duty
of Congress to repeal it If established.
The bill making further provisions for the paul
per lunatics of the District OF Columbia was read
n third time and passed.
The Revenue Bill, and the bill relating to the
extension Of Military Land Warrants, from the
House, were twice read aud referred the former
to the Finance Committee and the latter to the
Committee on Public Lands.
! The Fortifcaton Bill from the House was a.
gain taken up and debated, with reference to a
mendments, during the day. Several amend
ments were adopted, among which was one offer
ed by Mr. Benton, approprating $4,000 for site
| OF a Western or South Western Arnory 10 be se-
Ilnctp cd bv tha IF tba 1pit tod
Mr.. Preston, Chairman of the Military Com
mttec, who reported this bill, defended it with his
accustomed ability and sagacity. 1t is designed,o
supply the deficiency OF appropriations of the
Fertilization Bill of last session, and to 60 for the
defence of our maritime borders.
In the House of Representatives, the Fiscal
Bank bill from the Senate was taken up in Com
mtee of the Whole, (Mr. John G. Clark in the
Char,) and discussed during the day.
SPEECH OF MIR. SERGEANT.
Mr. Sergeant, chairman Of the committee on
the currency, who had reported the BILL took the
floor with the purpose of supporting the general
measure so far as the limited time allowed him
by the rule should permit He said that the OBJ
ects of the present calle,l session of Congress
were well understood by the People OF the United
States and as there time to spare in going
into enumeration of them, he should content
himself by saying that they might all he compre-
hended in this, viz to put the affairs of the union
in order. The House, thus far, had fulfilled the
expectations Of the Pebble and performed its du.
~. 1t had now arrived in due course at a meas
rre much looked to, of vast Importance and which
he considered as ndispcnsably necessary 10 The ad-
n,instralion OF the Constitution itself lie could
not now enter into proofs but he would suy that
the Constitution had never worked right nor, in
his opinion. ever would without such q machine
as this bill contemplated again to introduce into
the Government, and thereby 10 render its great.
plan complete. When this bill should have been
~ ia
hoped, not long) the Sab. Treasury bill and the
Bankrupt bill to complete the enumeration which
had been made Of the principal measures which
ought to occupy the attention of Congress the
present extra session.
He stated his present object to be to remove
doubts and, difficulties, if any existed in the minds
Of members OF the House. He should not go in
TO the constitutional queston-he meant upon o.
riginG grounds. His position would be, that that
question was now settled, and his main endeavor
would he to show this Some gentlemen might
he disposed TO ask, Why take any trouble to eS-
tabsli such position? Did not every body
know, and feel, and acknowledge that il was a
settled question, and had been for half century?
Yes; it was very that il had been treated, in
point of respect, with as much regard as if it had
been inserted in express terms in the letter of the
Constitution. But this was not sufficient: for
whenever tile question was introduced into dis
cussion it was obvious that there remained still a
lurking remnan! of the same difficulty which had :
formerly attended it, and which was more or less
productive of embarrassment. He wished there
fore, to deal with the question, and hoped to be
ble to dispose OF it, so to leave no doubt on "a
ny mind.
The House was composed for the most part of
lawyers, but lawyers acting rs statesmen. And he,
therefore, should moi deem it sufficient to address
to them every argument which might be resored
to in professional encounter. There were ques-
tons which, though they might seem at first sight
a he mi ST y prOtpsSOnal
crtheless, founded on considerations which adj
dressed themselves TO a statesman. These were
entitled TO respect. While there were others
winch sprung directly from the Constitution ITSELF
and to settle which we must go TO the Consu-
ton itseIf-nR authority which must ever be ad-
mitted as final as much by the statesman as the
jurist.
In taking historical view of the question: his
time would admit merely that he should present
the points of the argument, and leave them to the
of the committee
He should 60 back, back, almost TO the period
when this nation first asserted its independence.
lie must look at one of the gloomies periods in
our whole revolutionary history he meant tho
year 1880, when the represent a,ives Of the nation
having coniederated themselves by articles agreed
on in l776, Though not fully carried Out t'Il ioll
for the purpose of carrying on the struggle against
the power of Great Britain, resorted to The very A..
measure proposed in the present bill. The idea
originated in 1850; and the Journals would show
that no sooner had it been conceived by the patri-
OTIS of that day than it was instantly adopted by
Congress-viz on the Odd of June, 1880, at time
when Maryland had not yet joined the Coniedera-
cy. And IN December, 1881, it more openly es-
poused the Bank, which had done so much 10 en-
lble the States TO bring the war to triumphant
conclusion. There was an ordinance of Congress
n 1881, Incorporating The frs, Bank OF the nj
ed States, and in its preamble that body employ
I'd these memorable words words as true al TINS.
lay as they had been then, and containing ruin
likely TO be more especially appreciated ~ ume
IF war viz Whereas the eSigencles oil the U
,ited States render /, iadispensaby necessary that
uch an act he immediately passed"
This was the Judgment Of the old Congress-it
,,.. 49,, : g -, historical facts which one liked