The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-08-10
SPEECH OF MR.. PROFIT,
OF INDIANA,
ON THE BILL TO INCORPORATE " THE FISCAL BANK
OF THE UNITED STATES

DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
AUGUST 4, 1871.
The bill to incorporate :" the Fiscal Bank of the
United States" being under consideration, in Com
mitteu of the Whole, Mr.. PRoFFlT said
Mn. CHAIRMAN. shall vote for the passage Of the
bill under consideration, though dislike some Of lis
provisions, shall for it, even though il should
be amended into Objectionable form because
promised my constituents TO support the best bank Dill
could obtain A cuptious spirit must mol be display
I'd IN our deliberations on this subject. We cannnt
all be accommodated in our peculiar views The Go
vernment requires fiscal agent to collect disburse,
and safely keep the revenues of the country There
Is no difference oloplnion in h? Administration party
on tins point From the head OF the party, down y
It's most humble member, all agree that such
institution is necessary. We have differences of OPP
mon as to the details OF the plan We have differ
ences OF opinion TO the pomers be conferred upon
the institution
My ohj,c, in addressing the committee is to state
those differences; to aid, If possible, in reconcing
conflicting views, and 10 show the necessity of
cession, compromise, harmony. | shall not discuss
the consttu,onaly of the proposed measure a. shal
not even debate It's necessity expediency leave
this TO gentlemen who think they can, in one bfiet
hour, course over fitd of argument which has en-
gagged the powerful minds OF the greatest Of the
nation, during the whole period OF our national exit
ence. | undertake different branch of the subject
and fear me that shall find 1t ungrateu task
] undertake to sci both parties hight on this floor
where they as think, enormously msstate he
latey before the people for decision, and which mis-
statements calculated injuriously to prejudice
IN the public mind. The gentlemen IN opposition say
that The wing party protested principles previous
to the elect n OF General Harrison and john Tyler
deny II. They say that the election of hose gentle
men decided nothing Of principle or policy. ! deny
IT, Members on the Administration side of this
House say that there was but opinion and one
set of principles in the Wing party, openly avowed
previous TO the election. deny ii. They say thai
this bank bill, and none other received the sanction
Of e People deny it. believe that majority
OF the Wing party were, and are in favor Of d bank
but they have never decided what kind of bank
should be established. They decided on It's de-
tails or the powers TO be conferred But in order 10
place my views cea " before the committee il is
cessary that should rccur TO the condition Of the
Ing party previous 10 The Harrisburg convention.
ST., could we bepropeily called party three months
prior 10 the meeting of that convention Dismay and
CONSERVATION covered the party pail The noble
spirits which, through years OF toll and strife had bat
tied against The tremendous influence OF the party in
power, at last spoke desparingy the safety OF the
Republic Power and patronage stalked triumphant
ly through the land Gallant Kentucky had fallen
back one short step. Tennessee in dismay, bched
the dark banner of misrue trumphanty waving o er
her time honored soil. North Caroina-high met
lied, glorious a she is-ceased to hope had sunk
into dependency and supineness. The Maryland
llne Tor the first time, gave way, and her Wing ban
ner was lost in the disastrous conflict Ohio had gwen
IN her allegiance 10 the Administration Indiana my
own beloved State, lullcd into security or deceived by
false promises tcll from her high state and present
ed on this floor but two Wing Represc natives Viz
GINA FILTERED IN the battle State after State was
carried by the power of the Administration All was
confusion, douht dependency, when New York, with
giant strength, rushed 10 the rescue covered her
treating friends and again planted high in the air go-
rious banner of the Opposition
Sir, New York rallied the party-Ncw York sared
The cOuntrst A .tar of The first magnitude heanled
purely and brightly amid the surrounding darkness
and then it was that hope revived The People
aroused 10 sense of the impending danger, senthelr
representatives To the convention at Harrisburg To
nominate candidates for the Presidency and Vice Pre-
sdency. 1t was the last effort OF ihe Wings The
battle then to be fought decided their fate; and so
ialnt-heared were Of our friends from recent de
feat that many, very many, advocated the dlsbandng
of the pary and ccnterng Of our strength upon
Administration candidate less Objectionable than the
chief magistrate then in power The convention met,
every State but one 1epresentcd and here declare,
that a more gallant pure spirited, honorable body Of
men never congrcga ed than on that occasion. But
am to sit here and hear gentlemen Of the Wing par
ty that there was SET OF doctrines set of
" opinions entetained by the members of that
ton Z" Sir there vast diff, rences Of opinion
a great diversity of ptiDcipes-in that body. There
were bank men and ami bank men !; protective tariff
men and anti protective tariff men internal improve
mrnt and antI-iiiternal improvement; ultra States
right men, and ultra atitudinarians u constituting the
Constitution. Sir the convention well appised
OF these differences existing between them; 1t is
wrong here to deny is injurious to cur character
as party 10 galnsay it They met to devise ways
and means to Ject bad Administration from power,
and to bring back The Government to its rginal pu-
ry Like patriots, they sacrificed all former political
differences at the altar of their counrys good, trust
ing that the same spirit Of compromise, concession,
and forbearance would animate the party, should il
attain power This union of various interests and
principles was proof OF the honesty OF the party
A domestic foe tramped under foot the laws and the
Constitution of the land scoHed at the wants and
wishes Of the people squandercd their in the
support of parzin friends and hIreling presses
Were the friends of order and law to stand dislrust
ingly gazing % each other and inquire how each
had voted the last elect N r. what tins ot
that man 5 opinions of the tariff the currency ~
No, sir. The enemies of correct principle and good
government had possession Of the land; there
time To parcy; the armor must he bucklcd on, and
each went to the conflict txrlaiming, surely we
who have met and sacrificed all differences for 5, pure
purpose, can, after victory sh III be won, labor
in harmony in the same good cause" The decision
of the convention based on compromise, and with
a view to success. A great man now in the Senate
had decided majority of friends in the convention,
and yet another grea: aud good man selected, be-
he known one of pure and patriotic life,
correct in his political morality strongly enrcnched in
the affections OF the people and more likely 10 succeed
than any other gentleman named
Sir that Convention ISSUED no address to the people
Of the United States, No adlr could have embo
died the principles of the men composing The Conven-
ton. II was unnecessary that an address should he
published The main object was to eject had men
irpm power and put good men IN. Any change OF
could but be triumph IF principle. In
the language of noble VIrgInian II was sufficient
for the Wings to bazon the misdeeds of the Admins.
tration the people would decide upon lis conduct,
And sir, we did prefer charges; and, without wish
ing debate the matter, rtate the feelings OF
our Opposition friends, believe that the people found
the Administration guilty, charged in the indlc-
ment. We charged that the Executive was the Pre-
sident Of party and not of country that IN his
anxiety to secure his rc-eectlon he had sacrificed the
best interests of the country that he attempting To
force the Independent Treasury system upon the coun.