Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-08-06

YOU delegate such an authority! Can you, IN
other words, delegate what you have not to a
Corporation Forbidden to effect an object, d. |
rcctly, can you achieve it indirectly!
The project of the Senator from Virginia pro-
cceds upon the supposition that the Constitution
has not granted any power to Congress to estab-
fish national bank. If therefore, branch is
admitted within State, il Is there in virtue of
the will, under the authority Of the laws, and
subject to the Jurisdiction Of that State, It is
consequently amenable to and may be dealt
with by the power of the State according 10 the
pleasure of the State.
The Senator inquired lift were not compe-
tent to Great Britain to admit if she pleased the
establishment of branch or office of Bank Of
the United States within her limits Most I'm
doubtedly she may and it would be an analo.
gous case to the admission of such branch by
State. Upon the supposition the admission
of such branch, would it not be subject to the
Parliament of Great Brtian.-Could the fact
that the corporation whose branch was thus re-
ceivcd was created by a foreign sovereignty
exert any restraint upon the power of the Brit.
ish Parliament in dealing as it pleased with the
alien or emigrant branch which it had thus re-
ceived The branch located within the State
by the consent Of the State, TO all intents and
purposes would be local institution, governed
by the local laws. That, think, would be the
case of any branch Internationally admitted by
the Legislature of a State. But if you organize
bank within this District, and in the terms of its
charter announce to the States that branches
can only be admitted within their limits by their
consent and authority, you necessarily invoke
the several States to deliberate on the question
OF admission which they are thus called upon to
decide. And fthey may consent or not consent
according to their option, they may consentspbs
solutey or upon conditions, according tp the
views which they may happen to take, not. of
the interest of the whole Union but of thcir,f4ns
eral communities. Thus power which, .ifEit
exist, beyond all question was delegated for the
general good, and to be exercised by the S,nate
and House of Representatives of the United
States in Congress assembled, is devolved upon
each OF twen.y-six State sovereignties, to be
executed according to their respective opinions
OF the interests of each OF them.
And can it be that the consent of the several
States, (if indeed any of them did CONSENT
would be coupled with various resolutions and
conditions. according to what they might deem
best for their several communities The tax.
ing power would probably be insisted upon by
all OF them.
The bank would be told, yes, you may cs-
tablish branch, but you must pay the same tax
| lHdL liit ioOdi DduhS diC sujjeCL TO- we can
not receive stranger within our borders and let
him fare better than the natives. And who
could withstand the force of that argument be.
fore the people Of any Staten the Union. Other
conditions would be sought to be imposed such
as the nature the business to be transacted
by the branch, the rates of exchange, the de-
nomination OF notes, the participation of the
State authorities in the direction &c. A fruit.
. tul source OF contention in some States would
be the place OF location OF the branch just as
we have seen the terminus or commencement
ola canal or railroad or Macadamized road, dis
tracing and agtating whole State.
Another question of great Importance would
be the degree of legal protection which the
branches would enjoy in the several States
which might admit them. Concede the power
of Congress to establish National Bank, am
the right TO protect its existence and its opera
tons necessarily results TO Congress. Deny
that power, and it must be wholly dependen
upon the States. The committee have insert
ed in this bill adequate pr visions to punsl
counterIeiters of the issues of the bank, ant
its officers, agents, and servants, who may EN-.
bezz!e its funds. These provisions are valid anI
and Will be effactual, on the supposltion OF the
existence, in the Federal Government, Of
, power to establish National Bank but if NJ
such power exists, or, if existing, you iurbea
TO execute it, these provisions viii lose all tbci
force and efficacy. For Congress- cannot. if il i,
: not authorized to establish, or does mo-, mea,
: to establish, National Bank, pass penal law.
operating beyond the territory of this District
J the euactmen.s of penal LEGISLATION. onerating
to DEPRIVE man of lie or liberty. is the hirhos
IMAGINABLE exercise of human authority Con
rress cannot extend lis projection Of the hank
Of the district of Columbia bnvond tho limits n
the District into the limjts Of the States -
. These alone must afford than nro,ecfion, q
! thew would there have no lerol nrotertion
Nov. what would he the condition If tb,s t;sr,
r bank as to crimes committed AGAINST If in III,
5 States ! In the States nd,nittin@ branches l.
the States refusinr thp admission of branch
! es!
A., fu;1 tu, Whit:
that Conrress nossnsses tho nn,vor ~ mai,
sucb hank as his is -. that vyhon !, ;y hronnh
: into y vis,once by tho AUTHORITY or C,rrross !,
cornoratc canaci,v is comnla,c . and hat cor
rress NAV invest i with ,To rrir;nro of contr,,
tinr with the Stotes fnr tho n, rndHct;nn Of !,
: brancho. Ian n,rodncoJ ha th;nLS ~
''"'NhNS' mn 'p'ipNNN|"S tHiHho vi