Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-01-07
EXCnEQUER PLAN.

The Senate theu proceeded to the unfinished
business OF yesterday, being the motion Of Mr.
Tallmadgo to refer the plan of Fiscal Agent to n
select committee OF nine, to be appointed by the
Chair, when
Mr. BATES said The question before the Sc
nate is upon the reference at the report of the Sec
rotary OF the Treasury to n committee. This is
the precise and only question. IL is an important
report, called tor by the Senate; and its reference
matter OF course. IL was to have been expected
that Senators upon the other side of the chamber
should avail themselves of the occasion 10 express
their views OF the report; but have listened to the
discussion, on our slde with great surprise, and.
what is very unusual, with great pain-unmi xed
pain-and that too unmtgatcd by tho consdera
ton that there has been any OF necessity for it,.
1t has filled me with dcspondng apprehension that
nothing will he done in the great particular in which
the country demands that something should be done.
With these views, do not intend, Of course, TO
take part in this premature debate.
The report presents, in an Ineligible form, the
Presidents views upon measure OF vast impor-
to the country in which, subject to the limita
ton, of course, which his known opinion OF the
constitutional powers of Congress imposes, his
Cabinet concur. IL assumes no tone of dictation;
II nrrogates 10 itself no claim to perfection; eN
pressy invites modification. Called for by the
Senate, is submitted to the candor and considera-
ton Of Congtess,' to be adopted, changed, or re.
iccted, rs the wisdom OF Congress may see fit
Surely 1t is entitled TO the most grave, dispassion-
aic, respectful examination and attention at our
hands. IL may be wrong in whole or in part. Ii
proposes great measure, bearing upon tho interests
and destinies of great pcople-a measure, to some
own judgment Of it. My belief is, il will answer
good purpose. BI, | wish to see all the light
which the public mind and the public press can
throw upon the subj ct. wish 10 know what
businessmen think of it. Above all. wish TO see
the report Of select committee OF the Senate upon
il. And then, when that report comes properly
before the Senate, trust | shall I've ms able and
prompt 10 act upon II as other Senators. Why,
:, l. a
by the committee will have little of the ingre
dents of bank in it, so little power TO receive the
depostes, issue notes or bills deal in exchange,
that even the Senator from Connecticut, mir
uuntington,) without doing violence to his own
feelings, may be willing 10 adopt il. Hence the
inexpcdency of this lll-imci discussion on our
part
Sir, what the schoars-iho critics. say Of this
report, here or elsewhere, is not of much impor
lance. Had the power been given me 10 make il,
should care what they said of it. IL is before
the Senate and before the world, and il speaks for
itself. That is enough.
Nir President, the country requires that some
thing be DONE 1t needs it, demands it. Wha,
DO Senators PROPOSED The Senators upor the other
side propose the Sub Treasury as q substitute
What do the Senators who have spoken propose
Nothing. bank of discount, Tor some yeSrs at
least, Is ont CT the question. Are we 10 stay here
Tor SIX months more o. less, and do nothingl The
responsibility OF the position of Senator of the
United States, at this crisis OF our affairs, is appa
ling IL opptesscs me TO sadness. Will you allow
me TO state, in few words, what | think must be
donel In the FIRST place, the country in my opinion,
demands OF us, in the language Of the Senator from
North Carolina, mir Mangum,) that ''we let by
gone things lie by.gone." Sufficient unto the
day has been the evil OF it, Heaven knows, and we
feel, and the country feels in every fibre. What is
past is history. We can neither re-enaci nor re
write it. The scroll is rolled up Tor the fuiuve-I
will not say for the judgment. The country de
mands of us another thing-the exercise Of an ele-
waited patrlosm; that We work ourselves, and sac
rihce ourselves II need be, for It's good our indivi.
dual hopes, specis, and expectations. Duice ti
dtcorum est pro pi'ria MORT, even, is not the mere
poetry of the classics. There have been many eX
amples in illustration Of il, and there will be more
l trust, should occasion require II. Where else
should they be found but in this Republic OF oursl
There are few things to which ] DO reverence"
certainly not, if the Senator from North Carolina
will par on me- TO piece OF bloted paper. But
II there be any thing on earth entitled 10 It, it is the
patriotic Statesman, who forgets his own in his
country's cause. To such man my soul bows
with the proioundcst homsge.
The country, sir, demands another thing-ihat
We, the Wing patty not only act, but act untody.
!! does not become me, fresh as | am, comparative
ly, III my sea, ut the Senate board, TO assume the
character of an adviser OF my friends But may
be permitted 10 express the hope that this measure
Will receive no more denunciltOry discussion, so
out OF time and out OF place, at our hands. We may
not be able 10 achieve any measure. am for the
obtain the best measure, under the circumstances,
that is aitainabe. And should il fail OF It's object,
IN whole or in part, the lights and the demons ra-
tons ot experience will improve IL. am not con-
teri 10 put all al hazard upon United States Bank
Of discount, any bank, at the end of three four
years, or sub-Treasury, with the contingency thai
we may have neither.
In my judgment, the fate OF the Wing party de.
penis upon course in relation TO The measure in
hand, some measure Of the kind. live are united
IN purpose TO do something for the country and
do what we cam ano the best we can | think the
country will sustain II we are not, think the
country will dsown US.
These ale my views, for the expression of which
thus briefly. and for which only, rose.
MIR BARROW followed in the debate. He said
that he did not expect to add any light to the dis
cusslon. tie did not expect 10 say anything new or
cdiiyIngi but 1t became him American Sena-
tor to say something, and he was n plain man. !
who tried 10 speak 10 the subject, he should not ex
pect to speak long or to say any thing OF peculiar
interest.
lie admitted the question of finance was diff |
cult one; but when he found the country in such |
an exsency as was he felt bound TO say that some.
thing should be done TO relieve it from the Difficult
ties which surrounded il.
lie looked to his ancestors TO obtain some rule OF
action, and when they found the country was nf- |
nicted as II was, they resoned to Bank of the
United States for relief. lie was disposed to con.
suit the fathers Of the church, and was opposed to
any new experiments. Ever since the seizure Of /
the public money by Gen. Jackson, In the removal
Of the deposites, we had had nothing but expert |
ments. After this high.handed event, we had tie !
pct bank system and the Sub Treasury system !
followed. The People condemned this in the cleo
ton Of Gen. Harrison. Was il expected that ,hit
election was to lead but a change Of men, and not
to change Of measutesl No, sir. They expec' cd
change Of me1sufes, and gentlemen who construed
the recent elections favorable 20 n change of
measures since the last election, had wholly misun
dcrstood the matter. There had been no changes
favorable to the party condemned by the People at
tle la,e election.
At future PERIOD too, Mr. B. said he would ende,.
vIcto show that the President was mistaken when he
. I'D that the Constitution stood between him and
u nk OF the United States. Their, was no such
barrier there, as he could show ut the proper time
For the report Of the Secretary Of the Treasury
and the bill accompanying that report he held the
President responsible. When he took the bill ami
report up, II WAS with a desire to obtain something
from II; but he had not read to the second page Of
that paper before he put II down. his cheek bur0ng
with indignation. fIe there found the President
saying he could not recommend at this time Bank
Of the United States. Was there any change in
the monetary or political world which rcuurcd
Bank at the Extra Session which did not require
IL now, or now which did not require IL then. or
had time wrought out any change in the ptincinie
We wcrc told IN the two Executive messages ttat
the President of the United States was governed by
moral and religious scrupIes lie disliked 10 be1r
an Executive make any such remarks The reli
glon oi an Executive, as an Executive, was lie
Constitution and the laws. But he believed the
President was honest in these scruples OF the EItrr
Session, and he endorsed him, and suffered rom
the endorsement II was no, the first time he hnd
suffered from endorseihents and his rule Of action
IN such cases was never to endorse second time for
ul tuW gfNk he to l.. A..