Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-08-31
SPEECH OF Mr.. SERGEANT
ON THE
i. STATES BANK.


mlttee on the currency, who had re-
ported the bill, took the floor with |
the purpose of supporting the general
measure; so far as the limited time al
lowed him by the rule should permit.
lie said that the objects of the present
call session ofCongress were well I'M
derstood by the people of the United
States; and, as there was no time TO
spare in going into Enumeration ofthem
he should content himself by saying
that they might all be eomprehended
IN this, viz, TO put the affairs Of the
Union in order. The house thus far,
had fulfilled the expectations of the
public and performed lis duty. It had
now arrived in due course, at a meas
ure much looked to, of vast import
ance, and which he considered indis-
pensible necessary to the administra-
ton of the constitution itself. He
could notnow enter into the proofs;
but he would say that the constitution
never had worked right, and his opin-
ion never would, without such a ma
chine as til e bill contemplated again
introduce into the government, and
thereby to render its great plan Gem.
lplete. When this bill should have
been disposed of, there would then
remain( Though he hoped not long, the
Sub Treasury bill and the bankrupt
bill TO complete the enumeration
which had been made Of the principal
measure which ought to occupy the
attention Of Congress atthe present ex-
ira session.
Mr.. S. stated his present object to
be to remove doubts and difficulties,
! ifany existed in the minds of the mem
bers Of the house. He should not 60
into the constitutional question-he
meant upon original grounds. His po-
sition woulI be that that question was
not settled, and his main endeavol
would be TO show this. Some gentle.
men might be disposed to ask, why
| take any trouble to establish such po
ition! Did not every body know anC
feel and acknowledge that it was q set
| tied question, and had been for half
century? Yes, It was very true that
had been treated in point of respect
with as much regard as iii: had bee
inserted III express terms in the lei
; ter of the constitution But this wa
not sufficient; for whenever the que;
ton was introduced into discussion,
: was obvious that there remained sti
2 a lurking remnant ofthe same Difficult
ty which had formerly attended it, an
/ which was more or less productive c
: embarrassment. He wished, there
5 fore, u deal with the question, an
: hoped to be able to dispose Of it $
K as to leave no doubt on any mind.
The house was composed for tn
o most part Of lawyers, but as lawye
Il acting as statesmen. And he there
Il fore should not deem it sufficient to az
dress to them every argument whiC
n might be resorted TO in profession
encounter. There were question
} which, though they might seem at fiji
sight TO be merely and strictly profe
sional, were nevertheless, founded
At considerations which addressed ther
selves to a statesman. These we
~ entitled to respect. While there we
N others which sprang directly from Il
N Constitution itself, and to settle whi
we must go TO the Constitution itse
is an authority which must ever be a
r ntted as final, as much by the state
Is man as the jur;st.
re In taking a historical view Of i
question, his time would admit mere
that he should present the points
the argument.and leave them TO t
SIS reflections of the committee.
&C He should go back, back, to t
u period where tie nation first assert
j its independence He must look aio
~ of the gloomiestperio in our who
:; re evolutionary history: he meant
- year 1850, when the Representad'
~ ~ of the nation having conlederat
rs themselves by articles agreed on
l776, Though not full carried till IL
for the purpose Of carrying on
struggle against the power of Or
Britain, resorted to the very meas
proposed, IN the present bill. l
ale idea originated in 1880, and the 10
Mt nails would show that no sooner |
ii it been conceived by the patriots
hat that day than it was Instantly adop
are BY Congress; viz: on the s2d Of j
on 1850. al a time when Maryland
+ to not yet joined the confederacy. A
es,. in December, 1871, it more openly
zen housed the bank, which had done
ing much TO enable the States TO bring
an war 10 a triumphant conclusion
There was an ordinance of Congr
/. in 1871, Incorporating the first b
of the United States, and in It's
sis amble that body employed these mi
Of orable words, words as true at this
zeal as they had been then, and cont
its LIMO a truth likely to be more espec
lu-I " apprehended in time of :
Is viz. "Whereas the exigencies OF
vbo TTn;.od States render it andgspeas
ged necessary that such an act be imm'
49, ately passed.
fra This was the judgement of the
Can Congress, it was one Of those his
ten cal facts which one liked TO resor