Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-07-31

States, in noticing and replying to the argu-
ment and illustration of Mr.. Ames, clearly
admitted the authority of Congress to es-
tablsh such Bank as Mr.. Ames had des-
cribed, ,oitlin the District. Again, in 1911,
when, at the expiration of the charter of
the first Bank of the United States, the dis
cussion was renewed on the constitutional
power of Congress, similar admissions as
to the District were made, in unequivocal
terms, by several of those who were most
earnest in denying the general power of
Congress to create National Bank within
the States.
But hasten, said Mr.. Rves, to come
down to more recent period of our polit-
ical history, when recognitions of the same
doctrine thicken Upon us, and from quar-
ters distinguished, or claiming to be distn-
guished, by peculiar Republican orthodoxy.
In 1914, when the effort to obtain re-es-
tablishment of National Bank was first
formally renewed, after the unsuccessful
struggle of 1911, the subject came before
Congress on petition of number Of the
citizens of New York. 1t was referred to
the Committee of Ways and Means of the
House of Representatives,, of which Mr..
Eppes, distinguished Republican Repre-.
sentative from Virginia, was the Chairman.
AS Chairman of the Committee, Mr.. Eppes
reported against the constitutionality of the
proposed Bank, and embodied the grounds
of that report in the following resolution,
which, as setting forth distinctly the princi-
pie on which the objections of the Repub-
lican party of that day to the constitution
atty Of National Bank rested, deserves
particular notice. Resolved, that the pow
er to create corporations within the terrific
rial limits of the States, aDithout their consent
is neither one of the powers delegated by
the Constitution of the United States, nor
essentially necessary for carrying into ef-
feet any delegated power 1t cannot fail
to attract attention, that the terms of this
resolution, by an obvious and necessary i'm
plication, admitted the power to create such
a corporation as proposed, ,oithin the Dis
trict of Columbia.
ence only. The distinguished Senator
from South Carolina, (Mr. Calhoun,) then
distinguished member of the House of
Representatives, moved a recommitment of
the report to the Committee which brought
it in, with the avowed purpose of obtaining
their report in favor of National Bank in
the District Of Columbia--a report which
was accordingly afterwards made. As the
honorable gentleman seems frequently to
suspect us on this side of the house, of de-
sign to msrepresent him, will give his own
words as taken from the records of the day:
"Mr. CALHOUN then said, it would be found that
tho Comunittpa nf WauS and Means had decided
against the proposition on the ground Of unconsti
nationality Of establishing such Bank as that ask
ed for in the petition. He wished to instruct the
Committee to inquire into the expediency of estab-
fishing National Bank within the District of Co.
lumbid; the power to do which. ii could not be Doubt
ed, came within the constitutional potoerS of Con.
gress. For all practical purposes, he believed such
Bank would be as useful that which was pro.
posed. To come at his object, Mr.. Calhoun pro.
posed the following motion;
| Resolved That the Committee of Ways and
Means be instructed to inquire into the expedency
of establishing National Bank to be located in
the District of Columbia"
This occurred during the first session OF the
18th Congress At the succeeding session OF the
same Congress the subject was resumed. Mr..
Dallas in the mean time, had become Secretary
of the Treasury, and in October, 1914, had pre-
scented his plan Of fifty million National Bank
to be established at Philadelphia That plan
being under consideration in the House Of Rep.
resentatives, and a resolution having been offer
ed declaring it 10 be expedient " to establish a
National Bank, with branches, in the several
States" Governor Wright, Of Maryland, then a
leading Republican member OF that body, mo.
we'd to amend the resolution by inserting therein
the words "within the District of Columbia. p
What said VIM. A. Burwell, OF Virginia, on
that occasion? Who and what he was, no ono
knows better than the honorable Senator from
South Carolina. Twill only say that through
the whole OF his patriotic and distinguished life
he was a strict constructionist OF the "most
stratest Sect" and an invariable and uncompro.
missing dencr OF the general power OF Congress
to establish National Bank. And yet, on the
occasion here referred to, he did not hesitate "a
say that che had no doubt OF the po,eer OF Con
gress TO establish Bank OF the kind proposed,
(even fifty million National Bank) ain ht
District Of Columbia
Having seen, said Mr.. Rives, what were the
doctrines OF the old Republican schoo, on this
subject; let US, for moment, inquire if the mod
: ern democratic party have not through its &C
. knowledged interpreters and organs, held pre-
cisely the same creed General Jackson, ths
Grand Llama Of the snti.B Bank party, was ever
sedalous to assert, in the most unqualified terms
the power OF Congress to establish Banks in thu
District of Columbia, TO any extent and for an!
: purpose. 1t is curious and remarkable coinci
dence that, In the very act by which he put hi
veto on the bill for rechartering the late Bank o
the United States, he took especial pains to re
affirm and vindicate the unlimited authority O
Congress to create Banks in this district. Ii
: that bill was provision that no other BanI
should be- established by Congress during tn
continuance Of the institution thereby recharteT
ed ,.excent chat Cnngress might ranew existin