The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-06-07
HARVEY BIRCH.

HARVEY BIRCH.
FOR THE MADIsoNIAN.
MR. Editor As great an oulcry has been raised
against Mr.. Tyler, by Mr.. Clay and his friends, for
mol changing his opinions on the Bank question, as
if MIR. Clay had never changed his, Mr.. Clay is al
older man, by some Is or IL years, than Mr. Tyler,
and consequently an older politician In the year
1884, Mr.. Clay delivered speech on the Bank ques-
ton which probably had powerful influence in
bringing Mr.. Tyler to the conclusion that National
Bank was both unconstitutional and dangerous the
liberties of the country. Since then Mr. Clay has
changed his opinions but Mr. Tyler has not. Yet
Mr. Clay would have the wings despse President
Tyler for inconsistency and laud him the skies Gas
his friends do) for consistency. la 1911, MIR. Clay
held the Bank to be unconstitutional; and his great
speech on that occasion has perhaps had greater in
fuence in bringing the People to his Chem conclu-
sions than any thing else; yet he, and his friends,
consider 1t reasonable, in Wing not TO boast Of Nj
Clays consistency, and to yield up their long cher
ishej opinions upon The Bank question.
The truth is, sir Mr., Clay and his friends do not,
intend, if they can prevent ii, that any thing shall b.
done for the country under Mr.. Tyler's AdmnstIa-
tioni they want TO see distress and ruin perrading
the rhoe country with hope that the People may he
induced at last TO accept the services of who ha.
promised them so much. They intend to straddIe tn,
old hobby Ga National Bank) booted and spurred with
all the implements, which were made use Of when
Mr.. Clay candidate against Gen Jackson
together with all the thunder and fury they can pour
out on the head of Mr. Tyler and after all these
ertions made, the great "Harry Of the West, I"
will, in all probability, get the vote Of Kentucky and
erhaps ''little Delaware" As the speech of Mr.
Clay in 1871 may be recollected by many of your
readers, you would be doing great service to
them and the country, by publishing it eutire
at least month, during the next three years.
have it before me, and will give few choice extracts
from it. This speech was delivered in the pure days
of the Republic, when but little was known of the
corruption, vany, rascaty, favoritism, and danger
Of Banks; but, after our experience in regard to
their conduct can be possible that the free People
of this Union will ever consent for Mr. Claws bene-
fit to have such Monster as he desires, again fas-
tened upon them. Mr.. Clay says in his speech in
1911, If, on this occasion, my worthy friend from
Georgia, (Mr. Crawford has gone over into the
camp of the enemy (meaning into the ranks Of the
friends Of the Bank) is it kind Il, M to look back
upon his former friends and ,ebuke them for the Il.
lily with which they adhere to their old principles y
This is the very language that Mr.. Tyler can truly
apply to his old friend, Mr. Clay and he might add,
is it kind to denounce me as "weak vacillating and
fathless," because | have held fast to my old OPT
mons, whilst you have deserted yours Again, Mr.
Clay says, "Ths pagran po,oer to erect Bank after
having wandered throughout the whole Constitution
in quest of some congena spot to fasten upon has
length been located by the gentleman from Georgia
on that provision which authorizes Congress to lay
and collect taxes sc. In 179l the power is referred
to part of the instrument in 1911, to another.-
He will now, suppose, prove that the power exists
in the distress clause ofthe Constitution. Sometimes
it alleged to be deducble from the power to regu-
late commerce. Hard pressed here it disappears,
and shows itself under the grant to coin money
The sagacious Secretary of the Treasury in 1871,
pursued the wsest course-he has taken shelter be-
hind general high sounding and imposing terms
Mr.Cay is now adopting the Secretary's course and
finds the power to exist under weak, vacillating
and fathess President" " He has declared in the
preamble to the act establishing the Bank that it will
be very condcire to the successful conducting of the
national finances, will tend to give facility to the OBJ
tanning of loans, and will be productive of considerable
advantage to trade and industry in general No au-
sion is made to the collection Of taxes.
What is the nature ofthis Government 1t is en-
phatically Federal YES ed with aggregate ospeciied
power tor general purposes conceded by existing
rsgnties, who have themselves retained what is not
SO conceded 1t is sad there ale occasions in which
1t must act on implied powers This is not contro-
verted but the implication must be necessary and OBJ
viously flow from the enumerated power with which
II Is allied The power to charter companies is not
specified in the grant, and contend is of nature
not Transferable by mee implication 1t is oflhe
most exalted attributes of sovereignty In the exer-
clse OF this gigantic power have East In
dia Company created which has carried d.smay desc
alion and death throughout ofthe largest portions
OF the habtable worj-a Company v hch is, in ITSELF
aso,ereigny-whichh has subvcrted empires and set up
new dynasties--and has not only made war, but war
against its legitimate sovereign Under the influence
OF this power, we have seen South Sea Company
and Mississippi Company, that distracted and on
vulsed all Europe, and menaced total overthrow Of
all credit and confidence, and universal bankruptcy
Is 1t to be imagined that power vast would have
been left, by the wisdom ofthc Constitution to doubt
full inference ~
Again he says "A Bank is made for the osensble