The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-29


mai there we mean il shall remain. But perceiving
ina, secure the country all the practical good
which was introduced To secure without resoriig 70
IL; perceving that, IN the actual eondion Oh 'hings,
We cannot now exert il If would perceivlng that
we can reconcile opinions spare feelings, and ensure
general harmony of useful administrative action, by
absaining from the OF il, we abstain from the use
| of IT, Thus the Senator from Virginia understands
this act and thus do we No broader, other effect
can be ascrbed 10 IT, Ii you inspect the bill itself af
ter il shall have received this amendment, you will
find that il in truth and asserts the constu
tional power of the National Legislature 10 create
corporation which has authority To transact in every
one OF the States all the business of bank except that
ofdiscouniing SO much power II necessarily
and asserts. And then es to the business Of making
discounts il neither asserts nor denies that you have
the power TO authorize it without the assent of the
States; il Just authorizes the corporation TO do it with
their assent, and there il leaves the matter. Both
classes Of expounders of the Constitution certainly
that to which belong may vote for such bill with
out yielding any opinion changing in the least the
sacred and awful text Of the great Charter itself
Let me say, sir, that TO administer the contested
power. OF the Constitution is, for those Of you who
believe that they exist at all times trust Of difficulty
and delicacy. do not know that | should not ven
ure to suggest this general direction for the perform
ance Of that grave duty Steadily AMI strongly as
sef their existence do not surrender them; retain
| them with provdent forecast for the time may
when you will need 10 enforce them by the whole
raj and physical strength of the Union; but do not
offensive expedents of wisdom .ifectuay secure to
the People all the practical benefits which you believe
they were inserted into the Constitution TO secure
| Thus will the Union last longest and do most good
To exercise contested power without necessity
notion OF keeping up the tone OF government IS not
much better than tyranny, and very improvdent and
impolitic tyranny too 1t is turning " extreme medi-
cine into daily bread" Ii forgels that the final end of
governments Is not TO exert restraint, but TO do good
i Within this general view of the true mode of ad-
minstering contested powers, think the measure we
propose wise il is conchatory wise because il
is conclliatory wise because reconces sound and
strong theory of the Constitution with a discreet and
kind administration of it, desire TO give the
4 try Bank. Well, here is mode in which can do
IT, Shall refuse to do il in that mode because can
OF the time, and by the same operation, gain
victory the settled constitutional opinions and
show my contempt for the ancient and indispensable
jealousy and preudces of far less than half of the
| American People Shall refuse 10 do IL in that
mode, because cannot at the same time and by the
same operation, win triumph Of constitutional law
over political associates, who agree with me on nine
in of all the questions which divide the parties OF
the country; whose energies and eloquence under
many an October and many an August sun, havoc
tributed much to the transcendant reformation
which has brought you into power} Shall | refuse
to the People their rights, until and unless, by the
mode of conierrlng those rights, can also plant
wound in the side of one who has stood shoulder 10
/ shoulder with me in the great civil contests OF the
last ten years. Do YOU really desire that the same
cloud of summer which pauses to pour out It's treasures
long withheld on the paTched and dreary land should
send down a thunJerbolt on the head Of noble and
conspicuous friendl Certainly nobody here che
| rish such though for moment.
There is consideration more which has had some
| influence in determining nv vote. confess that
think that bank established in the manner contem-
plated by this amendment stands the actual circum
stances of our time, chance 10 lead quieter and
more lite To speak, than bank established
by the bill think II worth our while TO try to make,
! H., nt.nl.r Pc
Judging from the past and the present, from the last
years of the last bank, and the manner in which It's
existence terminated from the tone of the debate
and of the press and the general Indications of public
/ opinion, ] acknowledge an apprehension that such an
institution created by direct exertion OF your power
throwing off its branches without regard to the wishes
or wants OF the States, judged of by themselves
and without any attempt 10 engage their auxiliary CO.
operation diminishing the business and reducing the
profits of the local banks, and exempted from their
burdens that such institution may not find SO
quiet and safe field of operation is desirable for
usefulness or profit do not wish to it standing
like fortified post on foreign border-never wholly
at peace, always assaed always heigerent, not fall
ing perhaps but never safe, the nurse and the prize
of unappeasable hostility. No, sir. Even such
institution under conceivable circumstances, II might
be duty to establish and maintain in the face OF all
opposition and to the last gasp. But much evil at
tends such state of things, much insecurity, so
much excitement, would be exposed to the peltng
of such pitIless storm of the press and of public
speech so many demngogues would get good llvngs
by railing at it; many honest men would really re-
gard unconstitutional and dangerous to business
and to liberty, that il is worth exertion to AVOID IT,
! Why, sir, notice has been formally given us by the
eloquent Senator from Ohio that the day you grant
this charter he lays resolution your table to repeal
it. Sir desire to the Bank of the United States
become a cherished domestic institution reposng in
the bosom of our law and of our attachments. Es-
tablished by the concurrent action or the applca
ton of the States such might be its character There
Iaa nf abr fh.
4 discount power into the States much good sense and
much nonsense will be spoken and written but such
struggle will be harmless and brief and when that is
! over, all is over The States which exclude il will
hardly exasperate themselves further about It. Those
which admit it will soothe themselves with the
deration that the act is their own and that the exis
tence of this power of the branch is perpetual recog
milton of their sovereignty Thus might it
cease TO wear the alien, aggressive and privileged as
pect which has rcndered offensive, and become
er blended with the of domestic interests, che
rshed by the regards protected by the and
by higher law.
You have the reasons on which shall perform the
unpleasant duty of voting for this amendment 1t is
unpleasant, among the most unpleasant acts of my
life for it will be, fear unavallng act and 1t in
wolves temporary separation from many and respec
ted political friends scarcely know who of the de-
legation from the Northern States will vote with my
\ worthy colleague and myself rope my friend from
the hltIe brilliant Emerald Isle, (Mr simmons, who
sits Ivy my side, will at least he We could pre-
fer undoubtedly to retain the company which have
found so good but, with IT alone chcertully
submit ourselves To the judgment of the generous and
intelligent Commonwealth which we represent
i From he Savannah Republican.
PROTECTIVE DurlEs-This subject has of late