The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-10
The great Serbonian bog,
Where armies whole have sunk

".The question, therefore, said he, is not what
lawyer shall tell me may, do but what wisdom, pru-
dence, reason, tell me oughtto dc. What ayalls the
srictness ofmy legal title, If by its assertion lose my
SUIT r These, indeed, were words Of soberne.s and
truth. TRUST they may be he better needed than
they were then. | commend them to the reflection of
patriots and statesmen.
MIR. RIvEs said there another profound and i'm
pouant truh-ln especial harmony with the genius of
American institutions-taught by the wisdom of the
same great philosopher and statesman, which, he
trusted, honorable Senators would pardon him for re-
calling TO their recollection 1t ,his-tha /" the
constant aim OF every wise public council ought to be
TO find out by cautious experiments, by cool and RI.
uona endeavore, with hole Rtt!e not ho,r much" pow
governments could be conducted, and the affairs of
nations be administered. Why therefore assert the
disputed power of Congress IN this instance, admit
ting II to exist till experience shall have shown it to
be necessary for the successful operation OF the
sure proposed The honorable Senator from Ken
lucky well recoect said Mr. Rlves with that i'm.
rrcssve and stirring eoquence which cmincnv
distinguishes HIM above other men, used to reproach
his political OPT onents, during the administration of
Gen Jackson, with their fond assertion OF power
ever intent he said the exercise OF poirer porer
inerord5ie potrer. trust, sir shall not fall into
The same now. The distinguished Senator from
kentucky also had the privilege denied to most Of US
Of having heard from the lips OF that true hearted Re
publican patriot George Clinton who then filed
the chair you now occupy, Mr. President, the memo
rable words with which he accompanied his casting
vote against the bill for renewing the charter of the
Bank of the United States in 1911. The nation
caught them as they fell and has cherished them since
The oracles of wisdom. In the course of long
lite sand he 81 have found that government not 10
be strsngLbenedby the assumption oldoubtu powers
but ty wise and energetic execution of those which
are incoHfestbie the former never fails TO produce
suspicion and distust whilst the latter inspires respect
and confidence"
My firm conviction, said Mr. Rvcs, il, that if the
IruuDsYu Ia be crcntp1 shall ha
ed on the " i1e0Httstible ground suggested by the
Secretary OF the Treasury sustained and fosered by
the assent and good will of the States will be far
strong and more efficient to every useful end that il
u be borne along by the strong arm of the General
Gpvctnm,ni, thrusting il upon the States without
their consent and in despite of their objections.
proceeding of tins sort necessarily begets opposition
party war VIII I've commenced upon 1t at the thrcsh-
hu,J anil it, whole existence will be of agitation
ad contest On the contrary If YOU refer the cstab-
sh ~ 81 lranch6s 10 the assent of the States with
a. whose llnrts they to be placed they will not
ne" ~ u" admitted but they will be invited, wherever
urlN'tc ntcres, shall call for them, You dsarm At
one The JeNlousles of State sovereignty You place
lvur institution under the SAT- guard of State honor
"ud under hat moral protection OF public sentiment
M'rh . hr more powerful than the stern mandate of
The Law. II any Of the States should withhold their
Hssthi nom the establishment Of offices Of discount
bd deposit where they may he deemed neccsss nv for
the purposes at The institution the amendment |
ave uaettd contains alternative provision for the
,-tabl sinner OF hunted agencies, which would meet
tbc calof eAigcncicF Of the public service and the
leading commercial wants of the Union and which
under recent decision of the Supreme Count 81 tho
Jriieu Stalts, On the Of the Bank OF Augusta
- E,re } might be established in tho States without
iora act ct consent thor part their assent he
Ing presumed, (li The contrary is declared from the
general county OF nations
With those Provisions adapted to every probable
contingency, icc persuaded said Mr. RlNes, that the