Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-01-24
EDITORS CORRESPONDENT.

" and unnecessarily pressed upon the House, was
Yesterday decided, by Indefinite pos,ponemet, the a
mendmcnt relative TO the inclusion Of Banks and 9th
er State corporations after various attempts TO evade
a direct vote upon 1t having been first attached TO
it. The object of the amcndatoy resolution is not
rectly stated by the Enquirer twas not offered with
any design cmtarrss the question, Tut with eovic
,ion then and still entertained that if the subject
acted upon at all, which tic author Of the amendment
thought wholly unnecessary, it proper to the
,rboLe ground Indeed he believes and he is not sin
gular in that opinion, that the principle involved in the
amendment is far important than that embodied in
the original resolution itself while entirely ger
,nane to the other-involvng. does, grave const
iutiona question: which in its bearings, affect directly
the most vital interests, and trench upon the heretofore
admitted rights Of the States of this confedcracy The
sentiments embodied in the amendment were quoted from
speech delivered by Mr.. Van Buren, in the l.. s. Sen
ate. in Il think the year 1927, when Bankrup, Law
was before that body. and motion made subject
Banks to the operation of its compulsory provson-pla
cling it in the power Of officer Of the federal govern
mcn under certain circumstances, to declare State Banks
nsolven to close their DOORS and to take charge of and
administer their assets Mr. Van Buren, then denounced
the proposition in the unqualified terms as palpa
ofSta,e Rights True, Mr. Van buren, undar til. f-rct
Of certain political influences, has since changed his opn-
ions, and now approves Of the policy which he then CON
dcmncd; but he has been able show tha, the con
Hion has been altered to adapt itself his caprces
that the States Possessed any rights in 1927 which
do not belong to them in lS42. Besides, Mr. Ben
ton it is we'll known, has recently moved the com
mi,ment of the existing Bankrupt Law in the Senate
with instructions not to repeal it, but to postpone the Pc
riod at which it shall 60 int operation and ,oengraf up
it this offensive and dangerous feature; and it is under
stood that the Law with thai provision, Will be accep-
table to him. This feature Mr.. Calhoun a, once de-
n1unced, Mr.. Van Buren, did in 1851 as an outra-
geous and alarming assumption o power. NJtwtstanl-
the fact il will be seen, by The yeas an nays in the
House of Delegates. that nearly every member Of the
Loco Foco party voted against the amendment-from
which nigh, naturally be inferred that they coincide
in opinion with Mr.. Denton, and Of couse repudiate Mr.
Calhouns authority exp1under Of the constitution,
and champion of State Il Th!s. Watcher this inference
be just not, donot knov Il is possible tina. some Of
those who voted against did from Discrimination to
couple it with the original ution and because
they ddnot approve Of the sentiments it embodied II
however the vote be accurate exponent Of their opn
ons it is manifest that Mr.. Calhouns pse Dirt has but
little influence with the Loco Focs Of Virginia In any
event. we learn from it that that party, which is always
pldng itself upon the unity Of its doctrines and the uni
fmy of its rules ofcon:.tutiJnl con5raetioa, this
question at least present divided front Both Of the d
visions canno; be the 'red Sin1a Pucs." If Nh Ben
ton be right then Mr.. Calhoun is wrong II Mr.. Cal
nouns opinion be correct then Mr.. Benton, and those
who with him, seeking TO subject State institutions
10 the compulsory action Of federal commissioners Of
bankruptcy, neither State Rights strict
structonsls! 10 my mind it is clear that power so
oonndess in extent and 81 fatal in its practical effects,
has ever before been claimed BY the federal government
or advocaedby the most lat,udnous commentator upon
The constitution Benton, in this least. out iEamtons
even Alexander llamilton,-his eternal bugbear
The next step after the federal government shall get the
State Banks under feet wlbc seize upon other corpo
ra''ons hnayupon the State governments themselves
Inc proposition is the very essence of Ceusm and if
based upon the assumption that the federal government
Is omnipoteut-the States its mere s,ipendarcs Such
Is the result pushed to its consequences of this Ben,o
man doctrine of strict construction ana State RIGHTS
IL have stated in terms too strong, throw myself for
defence behind the ample shield Of John C. Calhoun
Surely. the great head of the State RIGHTS party par cr
feuence, ought not to be deemed an unsafe leader on
such theme.
have been confined my room since Friday last and
as did not hear the dohates the three last days. can
not pretend to sketch its outlines. But the finale
enough. The HOUSE has been engaged for seven days.
nearly exclusively, in debating resolution in form
or other, which is at last indefinitely postponed Seven
Gays have thus bern lost, and some or 1000 dollars
with them--And for what !? Was there any necessity
'o the Introduction of any resolution the subject p?
pld people send their Delegates to Richmond, for
"e purpose of passing judgment the of the
extra session Ii any question Of great interest and alb
'''ohs magnitude were pending before Congress,
m 'erc was good reason to suppose that Senators.
N"nom alone we have any shadow Of right to nsruct,)
would vote upon it adversely the wishes If majority
" he people ofNrgnia there would be prcteX for
."suning the time Of the Legislature in action upon
"'e'ch under existing circumstances, when an empty
u'as'ry and high taxes the people in the face.
u' mere question in reference which not only do
senators concur in opinion with majority of the Peo
s"o Vi virginia, but Representatives. also, almost
unanimously agree with that majority likewise Why,
'"en IN the name of reason and popricty, why throw
"dy seven days in eventually aborve effort to pass
''eSo'u'on, which, its warnost friends admit, could
~ oy possibility, have exered one jot of influence
ppm INC decision Of Congress That body knows
,''' In wha, light Virginia regards tho Bankrupt law
nearly unanimous voice at her delegation in both
si-'hcs oiCongre.s could have left NJ Doubt Of HI Il