The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1841-08-07
SPEECH OF MR.. CLAY,
or EnNTt OK Y,
or KENTUCKY,
IL THE SENATE or THE UNITED STATES.
Tuesday, July 9th.

preventing hin from so rcgulaiihg or mo,
d,Ilatinr his voice as to be lavorably heard
bv them, he had occasion for all the kind
Indulgence of the Senate III the lew obscr-
yaticns which he now meant to address
to it, During the progress of this bill.
MIR. President, it has been clcarl y mani
;rstcd that there is decided majority OF
the Senate in favor of the establishment q
National Bank. For himself, he be-
licvcd that it stood out prominently as
thc first among those measures OF relief
which he lcrycntly hoped would be sem
out bv Congress, from It's present session
10 rc-cslablish the business and the pros
pcrilv Of the country. Other measure,
would undoubtedly extend much relief
but it would be limited and not general
whilst every section, every interest, every
person, rich and poor, would be bcnclittt
Dv the blessing Of 4 sound currency. u
We pass all other contemplated measures
and fail to pass this, we shall fall far shor
of the lust expectations of 4 suffering pco,
ole. Rm the passage Of this only, wlthou
any other measure, would have fully JUS
died the eonvocation OF Congress.
But Notwithstanding the urgent ncccssl-
~ cf National Bank, it is we'll known
on all sides of the Senate, that the bill as
it at present stands, i'll respect to the
branching power of the bank, cannot pass
Shs body; but will be rejected by ma
iorilv of % to 25, if all the members be
present. Under these painful clrcumstan-
eos, what ought to be doncl Shall we
return home without fulfilling the hopes
orthosc who sent us here, i'll respect to Il
Rational bank? We have thought it due
20 the country. and TO our own obligations,
10 leave no honorable means unemployed
TO bring about a concurrence OF opinion,
if possible, among those members OF the
Senate who agree as to the necessity OF a
national bank. We have accordingly con-
icrrcd and consulted together, and inter-
changed opinions and views, III that spirit
of cancellation and concession, which
shouM ever animate those who arc united
in opinion as to the object to be accom-
plishcd. but arc unfortunately divided on
subordinate points, We have not looked
beyond the Senate. He (Mr. c. docs not
Know, does not wish, and has not sought
80 know the opinion of the chief OF CO.
ordinate b anch of the Government, IN re-
spcct to the proposition which he was
about to submit. Not that he was want
inc in high respect, personal and Official,
for thc exalted person to whom he alluded,
but because it was, i'll his Nr. C.'s)
Judgment, aga@;,st the spirit and gcn'as Of
free institutions, that tic deliberations of
the Legislative branch of the Govcramcnt,
during the progress OF a great measure
under its consideration, should be affected
by opinions. rc' or imaginary, OF the En-
ccutiye head.
The result of the consultation to which
hc ha. referred, has been an amendment OF
the 10Th Fundamental rule, which he was
about to propose. That amendment pro-
poses modification OF the branching pow
e. of the bank as reported by the commit
tee. lie adhcrcs (and he believes all OF
the nineteen political friends who voted
with him in rejecting the amendment pro-
posed by. the Senator from Virginia, Mr..
lsivcs, adhcrc) to the mistaken convection
that the best form to confer that power
OH the bank is that which was proposed by
the committee. Their preference remains
cnFirclv unchanged. But seeing that il
WAS impracticablc to carry through the Sen
ate q bill with that modification OF the
power, they and their differing brethren
have anXiouslv sought Il substitute which
might be satisfactory to all. This he
hoped wa. found in the amendment which
he would now read:
"\nd the said directors may also csta-
blish one or more competent Offices OF dis
count and dcpositc i'll any territory or dis
trict of the United States, and III any State,
with the assent OF such State; and when
established. the said Offices. shall not be
removed or Withdrawn by the said dir
cctors prior to the expiration OF the char
ter, without the previous assent of Con-
grcss: Provided, in respect to any State
which shall not, at the first session of the
Legislature thereof held after the passage
of this act, by resolution or other usual
legislative proceeding, Internationally as.
sent o. dissent to the establishment of
such Office or Offices within it, the assent
of the said State shall therefore be pre-
sumcd, and provided, nevertheless, that
when it shall become necessary aud pro-
per for carrying into execution any of the
powers granted in the constitution, TO cs-
tablish an Office or offices in any of the
S a,es whatever, and the establishment
whereof shall be directed by law, it shall
be the duty of the said directors to cstab-
lish such Office or offices accordingly"
Two opposite opinions prevail as to
the branching power. According 10 one
the previous assent Of the States IS ncccs,
sary according TO the other, it is not
The difficulty has been TO reconcile
these conflicting opinions. That i,
the object OF this amcndmcnt.-Wc
who think the power exists in Con.
10 4