Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-10-01
TwENTY-sEyENTH cosGREss--rst Session
SPEECH OF Mr. PRoFFlr OF ISolASA,

SPEECH or MIR. PROFIT OF ISnlASA,
On the Objections IF Tie President to the EiH 10 esta-
Hish Fiscul Corporation, and in reply 70 .Mr. Boris
Of Irgin;a-- Deiirercd IN the House Of Representa-.
tires, Sept 10, 1911.
The Message of the President of the u. s. returning
INC bill to establish Fiscal Corporation, with his OBJ.
]ecrons thereto, heing under consideration
Mr. PROFIT said:
Mr. Speaker, ! had hoped that the debate upon this
important question would have been conducted in n
manner cred'iable 10 the National Legislature. ! had
nopea that our discussions would be confined 10 the
matler oil The message of the Executive and
the merits of the bill before us; md that argument
courtesy, and dcc"rum would distinguish our delibrra.
tons OF So grave and momentous an occasion as the
present But, Sir, have been disappointed, and
must confess deeply mortified at the course which il
mas pleased the gentleman from Virginia Sr. Bot.s to
pursue.
II must have been source Of pain and rearet TO
every friend Of peace and harmony, 10 listen IN the
speech made by that gentleman-a speech Sir scarce
~ g.ancing at the message the bill before u.s. but re.
plete with the most dennncatory epthets against the
public, the most irrocious assaults upon the pri
vae character of the Executive The gentleman from
Virginia has charged upon the President "perfidv
streachery, and prostitution Of his official character
Tor selfish and unworthy purposes lie has thought fiji
to compare him with the traitor Arnold aud with Hul
lie has said that this is the first time tina, John "
Ter has been guilty Of perfdy, but that, than
occasion, The charge had been made and proreL-
lie accuses tie President, also, of equiyocaIion.
Sir, shall proceed TO take notice of the gentleman
charges in the order in which he has made lhen and
give notice 10 him that Will hold him to the proc
of the accusations made upon this floor under the
sponslbiiitles Of American Representative. Til
gentleman cannot complain Of this. He gave motto,
/, the House, ten days since, that he would ar
rign the President, and that he would furnish unden
able evidence sustain his charges Of pcItidy anc
irpg chcrv tlsn IL frl ~
has had ample time 10 collect material for the assault
When, Mr.. Speaker, ! heard the gentleman declare
former occasion, that he intended TO prove III.
Executive guilty Of these odious charges, thought
that he speaking under momentary excitement,
and that time for reflection and good counsel would IN
ducc him TO pursue different course ! could not be.
eye it possible tina, tie gentleman would persist i'll q
ra pahy unw,se and improper
Whatever private greis and personal enmlt.es lie
might entertain, could not believe that tbs Hall
would be selected as fitting place for their avowal
md exposure.
Anticipating as | had debate upon the merits Of
lhc Till before rs, had prepared myself with
guinents meet 4 fair and open discussion of lis prn
cpts and tendencies. had also taken some pains 10
cnilect authorities, judicial and financial, 10 lntan
the positions which had assumed when that bill
before the House 1t would be worse than useless to
present them now. This House not in fitting mood
10 listen 10 argument question of finance; and
from The manner Of opening tins debate by the gentle
man from Virginia, (wlo appears to have done 80 by
universal consent Of the friends with whom he acts
THIS qnc.tion know that Il would be vain to ask dig
passionate and calm attention. shall, them al
proceed To notice the gentleman remarks. lie COM
mcnced by nnrming that his pteatiar position
required him 10 speak al this time; aud, in another
part ef his speech he alluded 10 the fact OF the Pre-
sdant having returned 10 linn letter which he
had addressed 10 him the subject Of certain
celebrated communication, generally dcnomina,ed the
,J..n.n all md.
stand, Mr.. Speaker, that the gentleman should
terrain feelings OF personal enmty towards the Pres
dent as also feeling Of modification al the publication
Of his unfortunately loose correspondence. But Sir,
what interest has this House the country i'll his ptcn
linr p0si0n2 What have we ID do with his personal
feelings towards the Executive; hat does the
try care about the published unpublished correspond
ence of the gentleman In this free land of ours
write what We please. TIE gentleman can publish his
opinions Of the President either political personal
character. lie couch those opinions III the form Of
letter and direct il TO whom or to what hc p.eases
few days since, he gave hs views OF tie President
10 the public in the iorm Of circular. lie can I'd.
dress another communication to the public. None Of
these opinions would then require receive
But hen the gentleman thinks I'll 10 select this Hall
as place in which 10 harsh and denunciatory Ian
puare towards the PRESIDENT and this grave and So
lemn occasion time proper Tor the display OF hs
personal feeling. he must expect to be answered,
though the friends of the President should do reuc-
family. We protest against it us a wanton waste OF
time We protest against this Hall being converted
into an arena for the display OF the gadatoral feeling
Of pnrty violence personal rancor But, Sir we have
no choice left We have duty to perform. As
Representatives. we must nat suffer the public To
be abused, As the political friends Of the President,
we will no, permit his public life, and character, and
conduct and motives 10 be misrcpresenrd: and, as ms
personal friends We will sit silently and hear
his private character traduced Thus II IS, Sir that
the gentleman responsible for The tenor OF tins dehae
have said Sir, that the gentleman glanced at The
message now before Us, and his criticisms on Il were,
ms thought marked by spirit Of extreme uniarness.
He SAYS sthat the Constitution limited the Exccu
tive 10 his objections, he should consider all the POM
made by him as constitutional objections to the bill
Now Sir without further comment, what will any IL
he raj and candid man think Of this declaration Does
il not evnce spirit Of nnfarness too plain 10 permit
a moments misunderstanding Of the spirit in which !,
is made /:
The gentleman next finds G1ult with the President
for saying 81 distinctly declared that my own opinion
had been uniformly proclaimed TO be against the power
of Congress TO create National Eank 10 operate PER
So over the Union What language would The gentle
nan have the President 10 make nf more expires
syc of his objections lie objects 10 bank, which
af itself through lis own inherent power, by It's very
creation. can operate throughout the Union. ] am
sure Sir that more comprehensive expression could
not be found And, however much %e may differ with
President The power OF congress "
bank we complain that his objections are cloth
ed in ambiguous language. Whether the President
proclaimed those opinions previous 10 his election, |
shall examine in Inc course Of my remarks.
The gentleman has, in the next place, made enc or
two small criticisms, which it is quite unnecessary 10
notice. There is one, however, 50 garingly unjust,
that will allude il. H. says that tho word 'nbiie
revenue is objected to, being in the title Of the bill
and the gentleman presues that iftie word prtratc
had been used it would have suited the President $
constitutional objections. Now, Sir. the message makes
no objection of the kind stated by the gentleman and
his prescriptions are therefore, entirely gratutous-
The House will pardon me for auding 10 these very
small Matters hut it is necessary 10 expose them, as
proof of The unhappy tone and temper with which We
liza We to contend.
Another criticism Of the gentleman will give in his
own words "The next objection was, that the prov'-
sons Of the bill did not contradc, lis title Now, Mr.
Speaker, is not this also palpable
o! the message; The President makes no such ONCE
ton and Kill not insult this House by referring them
To his message now before will merely say, that
think this captous and ault.fnding spirit is too
Mainly manifested 10 effect the object which the gen
l!eman seems SO anxious to accomplish. The Pianes'
man in the land WILL when comparing his speech WITH
The message, Immediately detect the errors into which
led by bitterness of his enmIty towards