Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-07-13

word, the reasons which would influence his vote on
,b particular question before the Senate and he did
,h;s lar IN other purpose than 10 prevent any mscon-
ccp,ion or misapprrhension as TO The grounds upon
which hs vote woa'd DC paced
/ Mr. p said that after much consideration gwen 10
Tho subeci he was inclined 10 support the amendment
yrh had been offered by The Senator from Virginia ,
and he should do this mol because III agreed with The
honorable Senator in thu constitutional doctrines he
had advanced, Ear otherwise, but Tor other ana VERY
different considerations Ao"He entertained stronger
ar NOR. decided opinon gard 10 The power III Con
r.ss Ia establish bunk the branches vi bank III
the states, without their assent, than hr did lis ne
ser had had and had now, The slightest doubt upon
The subject and he free 10 say that 80 lar IN con
ccrncd is individual up!nons aud wshcs In preferred,
much preferred, the pToPos ton which iir honorable
Senator proposed 10 strike out 10 the proposition he pro-
posed to insert.
Mr. p had no hesitation in saying that tho bill, in It's
pre- nj form, embodied the sound, the true cunsu
tional principle. But Notwithstanding such his
opinion, 1t was known and we'll known that differ
encc of opinion an rreconcilabc difference OF opnon,
this point whether well founded or not mmate
rial existed among the friends OF National Bank both,
in and ont If Congress and upon measure Of such
Importance OF such deep interest tn the country,
he desired TO all the unanimty which spirit Of
compromise without any sacrifice Of principle, might
attain he wished 10 undivided vote OF the friends
Of the measure. He did not think il necessary To
70 In the extremity of the Constitution; he did moi
ton or for any other practical purpose.
Looking, then, 10 the difference ofopinon which
isted among he friends OF Bank and deemnr the
question: lie did, Of not much practical Importance
Mr. F. was disposed 10 30 for the amendments 10 Weld
TO what policy and capcdency, IN the present peculiar
state of things appeared 10 require lie wished 10 say
however that he would by no means do this II The
anne nluent could lie regarded rs surrender Of power
on the part Of Congress. But he conld look upon
il in that light VIVA; was tie amendment; IL pro-
Al, tad
Authority 10 establish branch of the Bank in any
State. with the assent Of the Stale; in other words 10
ciyc the corporation absolute but qualified pow
er ], did rot, by implication, deny the absolute
power Congress; IT merely withheld II from the
porotion, and that not on constitutional grounds but
from prudential motives Congress might hereafter
nj airy enlarge the power of the corporation in this
respect il might directly exercise the power itself
Such shortly NJ. r. view Of the matter He
did not think that any thing surrendered or that
any thing was wanting which essential to the eff
cheney Of the bank and that being the case he felt al
lhertr take the which sound policy under
existing circumstances, seemed 10 him 10 dictate.
Mr. DIXON said lie should vote against the amend.
mnnl Cor the purpose u retaining in the bill Tie mower
Establishing branches in the States with or without
the assent Of the States. Almost every Senator who
had spoken III favor If the amendment had admitted
that they opposed 10 il in principle, ou were IN
favor d! II the ground Of compromise. Impressed
as they with apprehension that the bill could
all admitted that such power should te retained in Tie
bill. And MT. H. believed without that power the in.
situlion would be worse Than useless. When il was
admitted that The amendment wronr IN POINT Of
principle, il seemed 10 him that lis adoption would in
yoye singular absurdIty. lie had supposed The best
rule Of legislative action for the Legislature TO ac
upon its own conviction. What might meet the an
probation Of others Too uncertain matter for cal
cuation Are we to give up a well.scitlci opinion,
and in which We have 10 doubt, because conjecture
that others may &c Of a different opinion: What will
Others think Of the bill when put il forth marked
with our o,sn Interpretations Instead Of making such
bill think may poss bly, become a law he believed
should pass such bill as think ought to become
Jaw. If those who make goods fer public use admit
that they badly made, and Of bad materials they
/ pay poor compliment 10 the Judgment and taste OF
others # they expect them 10 find favorable mar.
ket Is there any thing in this which requires so
strange departure from common Legislative usage-
Or il il 10 become the rule of action here in future tina,
III the enactment Of all future laws Sc are To discard
our opinions and discretion, and lcgisaie enel,
upon what conjecture may br the views of others
II said by honorable Senators this abandonment
Of the power q; establishing branches But the bill il.
self viii be lis best cxposor The b!l itself VIII show
this power 10 ha surrendered Ind when is il to lie
again asserted. Never, SIR Power conceded is rarely
got back. lis course is downward 10 lis drsruc-
ton. while oncroachmcn rises and strengthens in the
agitaiions and commissions Of the world.
\ Mr.. WHITE here and gave his reasons at some
length Tor The vote liz was about 10 give lie sustain
ed with much zeal tile original bill, IS reported from.
the committee
Mr.. WALKER though opposed 10 all banks, sus-
tanned the amendment of Mr.. Rives M the ground
Of State rights. He said, if thai bill became the
law Of our land, we should have the war Of nu
cation renewed before twelve months went their
beads. And asked if there any thing fattcring
IN the recollection o that history that gentlemen would
like 10 il again revived
After Mr.. Walker concluded his remarks. the cues
ton was taken on the amendment Of Mr.. Rives, and
decided III the negative follows:
Ias-Mcssr Barrow Bates. chcac. Mcrck Phelps rren
It's. Preston hives. Walker Hliams-l0
NdtMcs>r> Alien. Archer, enon Berrien, buchanan, Cal
h"nn Clay II Ala tas o n.y. Clayton Culibc Dixon Evans
Fulton Graham, Henderson Huntington, kcrr, kn., Linn, Mc
Roberts, Man.um. Miller Mneead Mccn Nicholson Porte
SEWER Simmons smith I: Connecticut, smith Of Indiana, south
ard, Sturgeon, iaiimadec White Woodbridge, Woodbury.
Wight Iouna-3-
Mr.. HUNTINGTON then said there was trivial
amendment which he would like 10 offer 10 the 9TH
tion viz TO strike out the words "seven millions, and
insert "six millions FIVE hundred thousand dollars Mr.
II explained the object.
Mr. CLAY said the amendment was perfectly proper
ard he hoped would prevail
The amendment adopted.
The Senate then adjourned.