The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-23

our foreign relations weighing on his mnd-our bnr-
| ger dhcuities source OF much anxiety
calls upon his time by the hundreds daily thronging
the Presidential ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS appon menis OF
the greatest Importance 10 make and the necessity OF
forming correct ophions ofthe character and qualfca
tons OF the gentlemen presented TO his
a. suitable persons TO represent our Government
abroad-the most Important Offices To ill al home-the
anxIehes attendant upon Indian relations and es-
pecialy that unfortunate Florida wa-and the press
ing necessity Of placing the country in proper state
OF defence. Sir, Ipont the gentleman from Virgil
ma TO the numerous messages from the Executive
which have been received by both Houses of Congress
during this session. in proof of the here uean abors
which have devolved upon the Executive; and then,
surely, the gentleman will 10 sheer at the decla-
ration OF want of time especially if he will divest
himself Tor moment Of his personal feelings, and
calmly consider the great importance of the questions
involved IN the subject OF the establishment OF fiscal
agent OF the Government
The gentleman tells us that the President objects
to the feature ofthe bill which in his opinion authorizes
local discounts and then trumphanty turns 10 the pro
JET submitted by the Secretary OF the Treasury which
authorizes the same thing, and charges the President
wnh Inconsistency ---avowing, the gentleman does
that The plan emanating from the Secretary APP
proved by the President. Now sir, | deny that the
details of the plan submitted by the Secretary Of the
Treasury we're approved by the President; and /
call upon the gentleman for proof of his assertion
But admitting, for arguments sake, that II was sub
mted to and approved of by the President, and tax
IL
Bank, with all the powers necessary 10 such instr
tution-to deal in exchanges foreign and domes,icto
discount local paper, &c.-i ask the gentleman why
that plan was Immediately rejected Why was it
pronounced a poor, rickety affair Z" Why if you
anxious for Bank, did you not al once ac-
cept of this plant Il had you confess, all the powers
and privileges Of National Bank The gentleman
may say that il required the assent of the States
tablish branches, and therefore Objectionable
Well, sir, did the first Bank bill you passed But
/ he a hat 4 Inv ludif
ton that il merely seemed to ask the Of the
States but in reality asserted the power Of Congress
TO establish branches. Then, sir, il was no compro
mise, as you have again and again asserted il TO be-
It did not Internationally require the of the
States and therefore did not meet the Presidents oh
lection; that, take the question in either light the
gentleman is at fault in his charges. Sir he give
u.s. If he will the reason for rejecting the projct of
the Secretary, and for pressing these two Bank bills
on the President with much haste.
The first bill that passed all acknowledged to be
most contemplate affair. ! voted for it reluctantly
Several of the most prominent Wings in this House
voted against it Not single one approved of the bill
can well understand, sir how unwilling its trainers
were to make the fate ofthat BILL 1t was
therefore necessary frame another And even long
before il went to the Executive, the gentleman from
Virginia predicted confidently that il uoutd be petoed
He openly ayowed thus opinion the floor and said
that when the Veto came, he for would speak
freely of the Presidents And, sir, he has
done to-day. But how came that gentleman to
know that the President would veto the bill ? He
appears sir he in the secrets Of the Executive. Or
did he know that the bill was palpably objectionable
that it could not but be vetotdl Or, sir, was il
framed with q view of heading the President? Sir
II the gentleman will MOI dispe the mystery hanging
over all this Bank business, | will. The whole SEES
sion has been passed IN " President making" told
YOU a few DAYS since | tell you again. And
repeat that from the first meeting Congress this
hour, there has been determination the part Of
some gentlemen TO create an issue with the President
His constitutional scrupcs, well known and openly
a,owed, have been snecred at under the pretext Of
avoiding them the most absurd and evasive PROPOSE
iions have been presented to him. with full know
ledge that they could hot receive his sanction. In The
expressive language OF the gentleman there has been
every means used 10 . head hun to make him sign
bill which neither his conscience nor judgment ap
proved and thereby violate all his long CHERISHED pm
cI,s, and subject himself TO the Of the good
and viruous, or by refusing his assent become
object OF abuse and mi representation for those who
hate him, and look upon him as standing between
them and the objects ~ their ambition Why, sir,
even thi, day The gentleman from Virg mia, when
speaking Of The President, proclaimed his motto
Head him, or die" lte,inces the iuvetcracy of his
opposition. lie may choose what motto he pleases.
admire neiher the inscription IN his banner nor the
object for which he struggles tell the gentleman,
Beware OF the Peope.n They fought under
such banner during tue late con,est they, SIR
moi willing that, while you pay this desperate poitl
cal game their interests, Their principles, Their honesty
heartless Screenings of ambition. They did not seed
here, ST. TO piot and coun,erpoi TO mine and
termne, for political purposes They did not send US
here pass time connecting schemes TO - head
the President. Ard | think when home
they Will inform that it is not a fting ploy ent
fol Legislators and statesmen. know, sir, that II IL
difficult for the people understand the undercurrents
Legislation hut having unshaken faith IN their de
ih rate judgneh heal not Their verdict on the mat
tiers now aguatng and exciting the nation.
|
to perform my duty do justice the President 10
MAINTAIN the principles for which have contcnded
from the days of my boyhood, TO produce harmony
and union amongst thnse with whom have long
been associated and 10 incuIcatr concession and for
beaance lieu OF the unfortunate spirit Of strife aud
enuity now amentahy palpablc, shall, there
fore give briefly what conceive 10 be an analysis of
the message now before The President says that
lie cannot nsclenloGsly approve of the bill yioat-
ing, as he believes il does, the Constitution which he
has sworn "to protect, preserve and defend"
Admitting that the veto power ough, to be exercised
with great caution, and as conservative power,
yet the President justly says that alternative is left
TO him. it the bill presented is to his mind clearly vio
Iatlve OF the Constitution
He considers the Constitution of the United States
as the embodied and written will Of the whole peo-
pie" UNANIMOUSLY adopted and prescribing TO the
public functonatles imperative duties.
He considers that this bill which processes to esta-
blish agent OF the Government purely national
era nts powers required for the operations of the
Government, and at war with the Constitution. He
objects the power granted of making local discounts
unnecessary the fiscal operations of the Govern
ment, and subjecting The public funds TO loss and
10 improper by the officers of the institution. He
that the permission to deal in exchanges
without limitation, on time unlimited, with power of
unchecked and rates of interest unre
strained powers improper to he granted and liable
10 be grossly abused not only injurousy the Gov
eminent, but to the People He contends that the
power tn deal in this kind of exchange is obnoxious
to all the objections made to local discounts. lie de-
MES the power assumed by Congress invest local
with general national powers. He con
tends that, under this BILL fictitious bills Of exchange
can be drawn without limit, whereas all operations
cxchange our ht To be based upon Teal and substan