The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-08-14

Ile WHo has peluSeu tHe history OIL MT. L Y
LER's past opinions in relation to National
Bank, which has occupied several preceding
numbers of our paper, will have formed by this
time, doubtless, an opinion, as TO the possibility
OF his approving, at this period of his life, such
a bill as is now before him. There will be time
enough for US to allude more particularly here
after, both TO the bill and to the views of the
President.
But reference being frequently made to the
opinions of General Harrison on this subject it
| is due to our readers, and to his memory, that
the principles of that lamented patriot should be
fairly represented.
In his letter to the Cincinnati Enquirer, dated
September Is, 1922, he said:
old Jeersonian school, and believe in the correctness
of that Interpretation of the Constitution which has
been gwen by the writings of that enlightened
man. who at the head of the party and others be-
longing to it, particularly the celebrated resolutions Of
the Virginia Legislature during the Presidency of Mr.
Adams.
81 deny, therefore, to the General Government, the
exercise of any power but what is expressly given
it by the Con stitution or what is essentially
10 carry the powers expressly given into effect
~ believe that the charter given to the Bank of tn
United States, was unconstitutional-it being not on
of those measures necessary to carry any of the
pressly granted powers into effect; and whilst my
votes in Congress will show that will take any con
stitutiona to revoke the charter, my votes in
the State Legislature will equally show that am op
| tn oh
and which will bring into collision with the Gene
raj Government"
! In his letter to Sherrod Williams in 1885, Gen
Harrison said:
| " have before me newspaper, in which | am de-
sgnated by its distinguished editor as "Me Bank and
Federal candidate" think it would puzzle the wri-
ter to adduce any act my life which warrants him
in identifying with the interests of the first or the
politics of the latter"
"The journals Of the second session of the 18th,
and those of the 18th Congress, will show that my
votes recorded against them 1.-THE Banks upon every
question in which their interest was involved"
"The question, then, for me to answer is, whether
under the circumstance you state if elected to the Of
fee of President would sign to charter ano-
her bank, answer would if it were clearly ascer-
tanned that the public interest in relation to the coec
ton and disbursement of the revenue would material
y suffer without one, and there unequivocal ma
nlfestations OF public opinion in its favor. | think,
however, the experiment should be fairly tried to as
certain whether the financial operations of the Gov
eminent cannot be well carried without the aid
of a National Bank Ii it is not necessary for that
purpose, it does not appear to that can be con-
sttutionaly chartered. There is no construction
which can give the Constitution which would autho-
rize it, on the ground of affording facilities to COM
merce. The measure, if adopted, must have for its
object the carrying into effect facilitating at least the
exercise o some one ofthe powers positively granted
to the General Government"
In his speech before the great Convention at
Dayton, Ohio, on the 10th of September, 1910,
(his latest expression on the subject) Gen. Har-
rison said:
My opinion of the power of Congress to charter
National Bank remains unchanged. There is not
IN the Constitution any express grant of power for
such purpose and it could never be to
exercise that power, in the event the powers
granted to Congress could not be carried into effect
without resor,ing to such institution. [Appause
" l am not Bank man. Once in my life was, and
then they cheated me out of every dollar placed in
their hands; (shous of laughtcr;l and shall
indulge in this way again"