Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-07-10

the subject. he Inclined 10 support the amend
ment which had been offered by the Senator hooi
Virginia; and he should do this, not because no a.
greed with the honorable Senator IN the consttu-
toni doctrines he had advanced, iar otherwlse,
but for other and very different considerations. No
one entertained a stronger or more decided opinion
| IN regard TO the power OF Congress to establish
bank or the branches OF bank m the States WIN
out their assent, than he did. lie never had had,
and had now, the slightest doubt upon the sub
leci; and he was free To say that 80 lar as II con
cerned hls individual opinions and wishes, he prefer
res, much preferred, the proposition which the hon
oracle Senator proposed TO strike out to the proPo-
siiion he proposed 20 insert.
| Mr. Il. had no hesitation in saying that the bill,
in its present form, embodied the sound, the true
constitutional principle. But Notwithstanding such
| was his opinion, II known, and well known,
that a difference OF opinion, an rreconcilable differ
ence Of opinion thus point, whether well founded
or not was Immlieria, existed among the friends OF
| National Bank, both IN and oui OF congress; ana
| upon a measure of such vast Importance, of such
/ deep interest TO the country, he desired TO see all
/ the unanmgty which a spirit OF compromise, with
out any sacrifice ofpv,ncIpie, might attain; he wish
| ed to undivided vote OF the friends OF the
measure. lie did not think It was necessary to go
| to the extremity Of the Constitution; he did not
thlck that was necessary to give efficiency to the
| institution, or tor any ether practical purpose.
Looking then. to the difference Of opinion which
eI Sei among the friends Of bark, ard decming the
question, h. did, OF much pCac;ica. Importance,
Mr. L. was disposed TO 80 tor the amendmen'; to
Weld 20 what policy ana eNpedIeney, IN the pres
en-; pcs Gar Ssatc OF things appeared require. lie
vlSheG - say. however, that he would by 10 means
80 taiS 0. the amendment coud be regarded as a
Surrender 81 power On The part Of Congress Bot
~ cos ! ~; .Nok upOO L IA that light. What was
The amend cr.e u propNscd 10 give 20 the cOTpO
a.o-sIon-ves 10 the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 10 es.
"A > Ish sncA % the cank m any State with the
n sRc SAFE; other wosds, 20 give the cor
Horauon not an aasa. l,e bat 4 qualified power. IL
ui1 no.. even ~ lny. .ca,fOn, ce0y the ahSu ute
PoweT - ConsgeSS D; mere y withheld u from the
corporation, ana that not on constitutional grounds,
bot irom p-u5en;Iai motives Congress might hero
after al any time ena-e the power ct The corpora
ton N TINS respee OF Il nigh; directly exercise ne
power I,Se.i.
Sleh was Shortly Mr. P.'s view Of the matter.
tie cd no: ihiak that any iajus surrendered,
that any thiDs wanting which vas eSs sntIal TO
the efficiency Of The hlnk, and that being the case,
he TEX al uherly 20 take the course which sound pol
cy, under ex1suus Circumstances, seemed 10 han TO
Gi,isls
Mr. DIXON SAID he should vote against the a
mencrlen; for the purpose Of retaining IN the bill
the power of establishing branches IN the States,
nth or without the aSseu; OF the States. Almost
every Senate. WHO hal spoken IN favor OF the
msnnen; had admitted that they were opposed toU
N principle, but were IN favor OF u on the ground
OF compromise. Impressed rs they were with an APP
nrchenslon tina; the O. could pass without that
compromise, all, or nearly all, admitted that such
power should be retained IN tae bill. And Mr.. II.
believed without that power the Institution would
be worse than useless. When It was admitted that
the amendnen; was wrong IN point OF principle, It
seemed TO him that IT'S adoption would involve
sngu absurjily. lie had supposed the best rule Of
legislative action for the Legislature to act up
on ITS own conviction. What might meet the APP
probation OF others, was too uncertain matter Tor
calculation. Are we to give up well. sc, tied opin-
ion, and IN which have no doubt, because we
conjecture that others may be Of different oplnion'
What will others think OF the bill when We
put II forth marked with our own d!SlppsObA-
ton Instead of making such bill as we
think may possibly become law, he believed we
would pass such bill rs think ought TO be-
come law. If those who make goods for pub &c
use admit that they badly made. and OF bad
materials, they pay poor compliment to the jutg-
and taste of others ii they expect them find
favorable market. Is there any thing in this case
which requires so strange departure from common
legislative uSlge1 Or is II 10 become the rule oiac-
ton here IN future that IA the enactmen. OF all fu
ture laws to discard our own opinions and
discretion and legis.ac entirely upon what con-
lCc urc may be the views Of Othersl Ii Is said by
honorable Senators this is no abandonment Of the
power Of establishing branches. But the bill. itself
will be It's best exposition. The bill itself vii, show
this power TO be surrendered. And when is It TO
he again asserted Never, sir. Power conceded
Is rarely got back. Its course Is downward TO It's
own destruction, while encroachment rises and
strengthens IN the agItauons and commissions Of the
world.
Mr. WHITE here rose and gave his reasons at some
ength fot the vote he was about to give. lie sus
tained with much zeal the original Dill as reported
from the committee.
Mr. WALKER, though opposed to all banks
sustained the amendment OF Mr.. RIves on the ground
OF State Tlgh:s. lie said, II that Ul. became the
law Of the and, we should have the war OF nul.if-
cation renewed before twelve m in,hs went over
their heads and asked If there was any thing so
hatEerIng IN the recollection Of that history that
gentlemen would like TO see 1t again revived.
After Mr.. Walker concluded his remarks, the
question was taken on the amendment OF Mr., Rlyes
and decided IN the negative, as foow,:
lEAS-Messrs. Barrow, Bslss, ChOaie, Mer-
rick, Phelps, P.en.,ss, Preston, Rives, Walker,
WI,.lams-IO.
NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Archer Benton, Bsrrien,
Buchanan, Calhoun, Clay, Of Ala, Cay, OF Ken
lucky, Clayton, CuiAber;, Dixon, Evans, Fulton,
Graham. Henderson, huntington Kerr, King, Linn,
McRoOerts, Mangum, Mi. er Morchead, Mou'on,
Nicholson, Porter, Sewer, Simmons Smith Of Con-
nee,icut, Smith OF Indiana, SogIhard, Sturgeon,
la. madse, White, Woodbridge, Wood bury, Wright
and foung-3s.
Mr. HUNTINGTON then said there was t-i-
VIA. amendment which ne would ike to offer 10 the
j!h section, VIZ: 70 strike out the words seven
Millions" and insert ''six ion FIVE hundred thou.
sand 10 ars-n Mr.. II. explained The object;
Mr. CLAY sld the amendment was perfectly I.
proper, and be hoped would prevail;
Inc amendment was adopted.
Tie Senate then adjourned.