, 1841-07-31
WEDNESDAY EVENING July IA, 1871
CONGRESSIONAL ANALYSIS.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Mr.. LINN resumed bis remarks during the
morning hour, on the system Of prescription,
and particularly addressed himself to the
exposure of the hypocrisy which has entered
into the mode Of carrying II out by the pres
ent Cabinet. He showed that they arttully
adopted what he called a gum elastic rule,
which had, with the appearance OF limiting
the prescription to those only who had vio-
lated the right Of suffrage. been stretched
IN draw in and reward the very men notori-
ousIy criminal in this respect-and 10 de-
Drive and punish the honest Democrat, tied
TO his official desk during the whole canvass,
and within a District where there were no
polls opened at which he could cali even 10
the exercise Of the right Of suffrage.
The special order-the National Bank
was entered upon.
Mr.. Japan proposed to amend by adding
to the bill, that nothing in ii should be cen
strued TO take doay the po,rsr Of Congress 10
alter. modify, or repeal the same. MIR. TAP
Pan took the ground that this WAS an inhe-
rent principle Of legislative power. ltalaw
was unconstitutional it should he repealed
whenever injuriois t siloaId ne repeated
In a very able and clear argulnant he illns-
traued the principles Of his proposition. We
will soon present it as a whole to our rea-
ders.
Mr.. BUCHANAN suggested to Mr.. TAP
Pm the pfopriety Of Withdrawing ms amend
ment for the present. 1t was a very lmpor'
tant one, and might be offered again afte'
we had gone through the other amendments
of minor importance. For his own part he
was willing TO vote for the amendment; bu'
solely on the ground that this bill would be a
transfer of sovereign powers OF Government
to a corrup,ion, and therefore could be re
yoked by Congress whenever the public IN
terest demanded it. In this respect II wal
wholly different from corporations OF private
nature. in relation to subjects properly EN-
braced by private controls. He trusted IN
friend would withdraw his amendment 10
the nresent. Mr.. TApPAN withdrew If 10
the present.
Mr.. Clay of Alabama moved that II
case of suspension, the bills OF the Ban
should no longer be received in payment O
public dues.
Mr.. CLAY Of Kentucky objected, an
moved taat the notes should not be deceIve'
during the suspension.
Mr.. Clay O: Kv.said thatihe friends OF To
Rank wished to make it a permanent sPeci
having Institution, but it might suspend, an
then i would be a great Induce'nent 10 re
sumption, if the reception oil IL notes aga'
were the consequence. =,
Mr.. CLAY of Alabama SAID thai 10 max
the Bank a permanent specie paying lnstitr
ton, his amenment held out a stronger sual
,antee than that Of its author, when the cor
sequence was the exclusion OF ITS notes fror
reception in the business Of the Government
This was the strongest motive TO make
provided against suspension.
Mr.. BENTON, MI. CALHOUN, and Mr.. Al
LEN, opposed the amendment of MIR. Ola
of Kentucky. II recognised suspension ;
a sort of right in the Bank. 1t could pa
fast and loose with the Government an
people; stop five years, and resume for
month. and in the latter event resume II
right to pour in on the Treasury any amour
Of its paper with an intention TO fail agail
and throw the loss of its irredeemable paP'
on the Treasury.
The amendment of Mr.. Clay OF kel
tucky prevailed by a vote Of 25 to p.
The amendment, as altered by that Of M
CLAW Of KY, being under considerable
Messr. Allen, Benton, and Calhoun oppose
II. upon the ground that it recognised IL
right Of suspension, and that the Penalt.
consequent on it were wholly maaequa'
and were, moreover, as experience prove
never enforced. MI. Calhoun argued, tn
it was held by sound lawyers that suspensie
was q forfeiture of the character. If this I
30, then the provision in this character f
the reception Of ia notes after suspensio
left the inference thai this character was e
empted from the forfeiture.
= Messrs. Nicholson, Walker, and Ssvi
looked upon the a~mendmeA., as amended