Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-08-18

NY Oh uOln parties III tnaI OodF, WIN Col
rIed through this important measure a.
gainst the most formidable opposition
This, then, is not one among the sources
OF the existing difference, nor IS y a mea-
sure for which Congress will sustain re-
sponsibilIty TO itself, and in which The Ex-
ecutiye has no share.
The next measure, proposed as the first
and most immediate remedy for the iorlotn
condition 10 which the nation had been
reduced, was the establishment of Ma.
tional Bank. That was one OF the con-
ditIons on which the Wing party had come
into power. What did Congress dol II
passed an act establishing a National
Bank. And what did The Executive do
He vetoed il.
What next did Congress do 7 |, pass
ed second nc. to meet and TO remedy
the Presidents objection against the Grst,
and that under the universal impression
Of a formal pledge, tsuch as any honest
man in the like circumstances would have
considered himself as having given, and
how was this received? 1t was vetoed
also. Here was "veto and ditto"
Now the Administration Of Govern.
ment has for its first object the welfare OF
the People; and it was the honest, the
conscientious conviction Of d majority oil
the two Houses OF Congress, that the bank
bill was one of the most important and
most vital measures that could be devised
for the relief Of the People. Will my COL
league, (Mr. Cushing,) or will the gentle
man who told US Of the formidable and
terrible battle we shall have to fight before
the People, Mr.. Marshall will they say
that this was one of the measures calcu-
lated to PROSTATE the country No, sir,
they will not say that. recolleci that
the latter gentleman and myself both vot-
ed against the first Of the two bank bills
on the express ground that it had been too
much accommodated to the preiudices, |
may say to the passions, Of the Executive
head that too great sacrifice had been
made TO SUIT it 10 the will Of the Chief Ma
gistrate, who was TO sign il. On tha,
ground the gentleman, as well as myself,
both spoke and voted against the BILL
That, at least, was my motive, and then
understood and still presume that his was
the same. Our votes certainly agreed,
and it was my impression that we concur.
red in our ground of objection TO the bill.
In the first bill for bank we gave to
the institution we attempted to establish
an honest name: a name which belonged
TO thing which we intended to create
We called it bank, and the attempt to
establish it was the act Of Congress.
There may be, and undoubtedly is, d.
verslty Of opinion in the House on the
question whether such an institution would
restore the prosperity Of the country: but
what was the rejection of it? Mere neg.
atlve action al best; the refusal 10 the
Legislature Of the power to make an ex-
pertinent which had twice been made be-
fore, during period Of twenty years, and
with the most entire and perfect success.
The acton Of the Executive was prevent.
i've merely: it did, at most, but ward off
an evil: it did no positive good it left
the country under all its difficulties and
Was that a thing for
which the country ought TO feel grateful
Or was the failure of the attempt a thing
for which Congress is responsble7 No.
The responsibility, for good or for evil,
rest, entirely on tho head Of the Execu-
tive.
Now, when we 60 into that fearful bat
tie before the People, Of which the gen.
tleman from Kentucky seems to have such
an alarming anticipation, when the Presi-
dent has his part to defend and we ours,
what can he say, and what can we, as TO
who is responsible? Common sense gives
a prompt reply. We acted: he forbade
action. Did he propose any substitute
for the bill Yes, he did and when his
own substitute was brought to him, writ.
ten down, to tine very letter, as dictated
by himself, he vetoed again. That is the
state Of the fact: of which more than one
member row on this floor has proof still
more full and explici, than is in my own
possession.
In reference to this second bill, it will
recur to the memory Of every individual
that the views and opinions of the Execu.
tive were INDUCED to an extent such as
never before was conceded by a Legisla-
ture to an Executive since our Govern
ment had an existence. even TO the chang
ing of the name to be given TO the nstiu.
ton proposed /: it was to DO called {" Fis-
calty," "Fiscal Corporation, an "Ex-
chequer of Issue, any thing but the obi.
Gus and terrific name of Bank. But all
was vain. And now | ask who is respon.
sible for this will add no more on that
point.
And what came next7 Re,renchment.
This enters into the general operation of
the two Houses; and in regard to 1t
may be permitted to say that the spirit Of
retrenchment has perhaps in some in
stances been overacted. Many think so.
We have had from gentlemen from Vn.
GINA, (Mr, Summers minute report on
the expenditures Of this House, cutting
them down 10 the lowest point abridging
numbers OF trifing conveniences which
had always heretofore been extended to
them, aud going down to matters the most
minute. We had had some three or four
select committees on the subject before.
The thing has been carried through of.
lectlvely, and report from the gentleman
from AIbemarle, (Mr. Gimer,) remains,