Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1843-04-25


the United States,
Mr.. CLAY:-Mr. President: When
the subject involved in the motion now
under consideration was depending be-
fore the other branch Of the legislature"
a disposition TO Acquiesce in their decls'
ion was evinced. For, although the
committee who reported this bill had
been raised many weeks prior 10 the de-
termination Of that House on the propo'
sition 10 re-charter the bank, except the
occasional reference to it of memorials
and petitions, we scarcely ever heard OF
il. The rejection, it is true. OF a measure
breupht before either branch Of Congress
does not absolutely Preclude the other
from taking up the same proposition; ;
bnt the economy ofour time, and Just
Difference for the opinions OF others,
would seem to recommend delicate and
cautious exercise Of this power. AS this
aubiect, at the memorable period when
the charter was granted, called ior'h the
bsst talents Of the nation-as It has, on
various occasions, undergone the most
thorough Investigation, and as We can
hardly expect that it is susceptible otTe'
ceiving any further elucdation, 1t was 10
have been hoped that we should have
bSen spared an useless debate. This
was tho more desirable because there are
Tconceive. much superior claims upon
US for every hour of :he small portion OF
the session yet remaining TO us. Under
The operation Of these motives, ! had res
solved 10 give a silent vote, until Tell
myself bound, by the defying manner OF
,he The arguments advanced in support oil
the renewal, 10 obey the paramount du'
ties owe my country and its constIiu'
tion: 10 make one effort, however feeble,
to avert the passage of what appears to
me most uniuslifiable law. Alter my
honorable friend from Virginia Mr.
Giles\ had instructed and amused US
with ihe very able and ingenious argu'
ment which he delivered on yesterday,
IshOuld have still forborne to trespass
on the Senate, but for the extraordinary
character of his speech. He discussed
both sides OF the question with great a.
bility and eloquence, and certainly DEM
onstrated 10 the satisfaction OF all who
heard him, both that it was constitutional
and unconstitutional, highly proper and
improper, TO prolong the charter OF the
bank. The honorable gentleman appear
TO me in the predicament in which the
celebrated orator Of Viaginia, Patrick
Henry, is said to have once been placed
Enpaeed in most extensive and lucraN
tive practice Of the law, he mlstook, in
one instance, the side of the cause on
which he was detained, and addressed
the court and jury in a splendid and con-
Victing speech in behalf Of his antagonist
His distracted client came up to him
whilst he was progressing, and interruP
ting him, bitterly exclaimed, "You have
ruined me!'' "Never mind, give your
self no concern, ,''said .he adroil advocate
and, tuning to the court and jury, con
tinusd his argument by observing, "Mal
il please your honors, and you, gentle
men or the jury, I have been stating t
you what presume roy adversary ma
1rpe on his side. | will now show yol
how falIacious his reasoning and ground
less his pretensions are" The skllliu
orator paoceeded, satisfactorily refute,
every Argument he had advanced, an
gained his cause! A success wit
which / trust the exettion OF my hoRor'
be friend will, on this occasion be crown
cd. tga dido .F
Il has been said by the honorable ger
4Iemun from Georgia, (Mr. Crawford
that thishashaeB made a party questiO
galthongh the law incorporating the ban
pwas passed prior to the formation OF pa
ties, and when Congress was not biasst
hylParty pTeiudices. (Mr. Crawford e
planned: He did not mean that It h'
been q party question in the Senate.'
His. allusiOn was eIsewbefe.) ] do n
think il altogether fair TO refer to the d
m "A Rill for The same nurnosa was