Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-02-25
CONG RESS.
Correspondence Of the N. Y. Express.


Ala. versus HUBBARD.
The discussion i'm the Senate to-day has not
been without peculiar interest. The General
Bankrupt Bill has been the prominent sub
ject before the body. Administration Sena-
tors, without interference from any quarter,
have been allowed to have things their own
way, and the result has been scene ofspar-
ring not uncommon among the Wings, but
most extraordinary for those who, as Mr..
Calhoun once said, have been "kept together
by the cohesive power of public plumber"
MIR. Benton led off in the discussion, choos- |
ing another subject, however, as apeg upon
which to hang an anti-bank speech, concoct-
ed at home, and delivered in the Senate Cham
Der, for the purpose of showing how ultra
man may be in conspicuous position. The
recent events in Philadelphia, the effects OF
which are to be seen for evil from Philadel-
phia to the extremes of the Union, were allu-
ded to with exultation, and when Mr.. Benton
announced that the third suspension had come,
he could not SO far restrain his feelings as to
put sober face upon the matter, but with a
half-devlish smile playing upon his counte-
nance, and rubbing of his hands, like Worm
wood in the play, happy when others were
miserable, he seemed to congratulate the
country upon the calamity which had befall-
en- the banking institutions of the country
made manifest so publicly by one in authori-
ty. man so imbued with the spirit Of his
Satanic majesty, should have aid to conceal
the devil lurking within.
When the Bankrupt Bill was brought for
ward, after an Intellectual attempt to persuade
the Senate to take up the bill to revive the
Banking powers in the District of Columbia.
MIR. Hubbard, ofN. Hampshire, seconded the
exertions of Mr.. Benton in opposition TO
Banks, by an effort to have clause incorpo-
rated into the Bankrupt Bill which should
operate upon all State institutions, Manufac-
turing, Banking. and all Corporations having
State Charter.
Mr.. Clay of Ala. resisted the effort manful-
ly, and with the Constitution of the State of
Alabama III his hands. He could not see
how any man with any respect for the rights
OF the States, could propose to give Congress
the control of State institutions. There was
no power to do SO, and if there was power, no
sensible man representing a State sovereignty
could consent to such an exercise Of it.
Mr.. Hubbard of N. II. who W IL never set
the world on fire by his eloquence or his ar
guments, took the opposite ground, and with
Mr.. Benton beside him, acting as fugleman or
prompter, he replied to the Senator from
Alabama. MIR. Sewer of Arkansas followed
in the debate. Mr.. S. is half-horse, half ALI
Satois anu d HttlS lOuCn Oh the Indian. o
great originality, he adds independence, and
to both plainness of speech and bluntness of
language which give him high reputation.
1t was treat to hear him to-day, cutting right
and left-now at Mr.. V. Buren,, who had
changed his opinion upon the Bankrupt Bill
now at MIR. Benton, who was no examplar
for him or any body-and now again at Mr.
Hubbard, who he thought had better add to
his proposition to include State Corporations,
another which should allow Congress to put
States, liberties and subjects into commits
sion of bankruptcy. "Leave the States a.
lone," said the Arkansas Senator. "You are
servants. We, the States, are your masters.
Hands of. Touch not an inch ofour proper
ty. Our Banks belong to us; we own them.
DO not NEEDLE with any thing belonging to
us. Ifyou act in reference to the currency at
all, actin the spirit of charity and forbear-
ance. The country is in distress. Seek not
to add to its Affections by harsh and ungener-
Gus treatments. AS for power, you might as
well say the States shall take arsenic from
your hands as to say that the institutions of
the States shall be put in a commission of
Bankruptcy by your power. l will vote for
no such proposition. care not who supports
it, will not. care not what Mr.. V. Buren,
thinks, or did,-or Mr.. Benton, or Mr.. Any
body else. | act for mysclf!"
in the teeth of the Senator from Missouri,
who undertakes to be the dictator fhis party.
They were received with delight in the SEN
ate, and created feeling enough to call Mr..
Wright to the rescue of his amiable and adj
mired friend Mr.. V. Buren,, and to the aid of
Mr.. Benton and his ultra proposition to in
clude Banks. A set speech was made by the
Senator from n. ", to prove that under the
Constitution, the Banks and other Corpora
tons Of the States could be controlled by
Congress. There was no half way policy
with the Senator,-but, without reservation or
qualification, he contended that the Corpora
tons of a State were as much subjected to
State legislation as the People of State.
Mr.. Wright took strong ground also in his
speech against the passage Of any Bankrupt
Law. AS prospects the city, he insiiuates,
if he does not say, that large proportion of
the wealth and poverty Of the city are adverse
to such law, and the act ofthe last Session he
deems as disastrous as the great fire. So of
the petitions from other parts Of the State al
so, and from Albany in particular. In con- |
clusion of all that he had to say, Mr.. Wright |
gave those who heard him, to understand that |
he was against the passage of Bankrupt
Law,--but if any should pass, ne hoped that |
Corporations would be included ,--nothinp |
doubling the power Of the Constitution to |
force State Institutions into commission of
Bankruptcy.
Mr.. Calhoun resisted Mr.. Wright as soon
as he could get the floor. lie regarded the
doctrine laid down by the Senator as the
most dangerous assumption ofpower ever pro-
mulgated against the rights Of the States and |
was astonished that such position should be
maintained. lie spoke against it warmly,
and argued against it with great abilty,-re.
plying to MIR. Wright, and rejoining when
his first argument was answered. Thus the
rr.0r bout al J,.. al |