Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-02-02

had imbibed from it not individual phrases or .
eloquent as they were. but the in
forming spirit OF his philosophy. He had en-
dcavored to- penetrate the principles which his
great mind had decided the great and impor-
tant legal and political questions which had
been presented to him.
When challenged to present sentence from
under the hand OF Mr.. Webster which went "a
ganst tho project of the Exchequer, as asow-
reputation (and he knew that was but small |
pledge, 3ut it was neatly all he had) that the |
challenges could not find speech an argu
ment OF Mr. Webster's, i'll which he'Consli- |
tuition or policy of the United States was
touched upon, in which there could not be
found principles which went completely to-
overthrow the new currency scheme which he
had stamped with his own great name.
MIR. CusHNC here rose and wished liberty
to present passage from MIR. Webster.
But Mr.. MARSHALL refused TO yield him
the floor. He said the gentleman lad refused
the floor to Others for explanation, and he must
now submit 10 The same rule for himself
Mr.. Webster was statesman. He was not
in the habit of making speeches to suit pre-
sent party purpose. He had fixed scientific
principles in relation TO Government, and that
peculiar form ofGovernment which alone was
adapted to our people and to our peculiar con-
,ditiou from these principles he forever rea-
soned. After the fashion of men who were
real philosophers, he always applied his gen.
eral principles to any particular measure which
happened TO be brought before him. Hence
we found in all the works Of his pen those
mighty universe, truths for which he had uni
formly contended until now.
Mr.. Nj. might possibly attach an importance
to ii hey ond what i; merted, but to Mr.. Nj. it
appeared that Mr.. Webster's Faneul Hall
speech, containing the open ayowal that the
EXcheGuer scheme was his, constituted one Of
the most important political movements of the
day. The features of that scheme were two
First, ii contained the plan of Government
bank and, second, it declared that the powers
conferred upon that bank by American law
were dependent upon Stale legislation. And
this Mr. III. averrcd to be averse not only to
the Constitution, but, in peculiar manner, 10
the constructions which MIR. Webster himself
had ever given TO that sacred instrument
Here Mr.. N. quoted from the Constitution
the following passage.
"This Constitution, and the laws of the United
States which shall be made in pursuance thereof
aud all treaties made, o. which shall! be made,
under the authority al the United States, shall be
the supreme law of tie land; and the judges in
every State shall be bound thereby, any thing in
trary notwithstanding"
This was the Constitutions; now for the
EXchequer bill
'iFhat no agency established in any State, I'M
der the provisions of this act, shall, contrary to
any law which such State may enact, receive any
other depostes than those of the United States !;
or make or sell drafts purchase bills, other than
such as shall he necessary in the collection, trans
fer, and disbursement of the public funds
a., l., I r ~ \.
by the hand of Daniel Webster, creating an in
stitution possessing The most important politi-
cal powers committed TO Congress, for the
discharge fits duties both to the Government
and to the People, and in it he declared that
this Institution was 10 exercise these powers
THrss1on or sac Tegis1aIon. Compare the
two things: there was the Constitution of ,he
United States, and there was Mr. Webster's
bill.
here was, IN one of the ciusses Of This bill,
"a power given TO the Exchequer Board to
transfer the public funds for public uses, and
another TO provide exchanges Tor the benefit
OF the people OF the country one of these
powers was made dependent upon State leois-
laton, while the other was rot. On what
did that distinction proceed (? They all knew
what were MIR. Tyler's ideas on the matter :
that national bark was not absolutely neces-
sary TO the Government for the discharge of
us duties and the due exercise of the constltu-
tional powers conferred upon it and this diff
hculty was avoided by requiring concurrence
OF State legislation with that of the General
Government. The effect of this was to bring
power into existence which was totally un-
known to the Constitution, viz the power. by
concurrence of the two, to do anything what
ever that the Government should choose to do.
"A power more fatal 10 all that ireencn held
Gear could not have been devised by the wit
of man.
In the District of Columbia the General
Government was absolute, (for the President
considered exclusive power as unlimited pow
er;) and, according to the Exchequer bill, this
Government could do the same thing within
State which it could do in this District, pro-
vided only the Safe should consent to il! So
That the Government might i'll this wav anihi-
late any feature Of the Constitution altogether.
IL was to doctrine Ike this tina. Daniel Web
ster had lent his name Eow, as to Gov
ernnient Bank, MIR. IL. might quote any Part
OF Mr.. Webser's speeches in either volume,
and almost at any page you CHANGED TO open
TO, (and Mr.. NJ. had traced them carefully
throughout and you would still find the same
general principles, without single departure.
Ikea rich golden tinscl, pervading the whole
OF his magnificent productions.
Here MIR. NJ. quoted the following passage
''Ihere was yet one other provision of the bill,