Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1843-06-09

pV'l'Co Huu ~ ldT - mT, NIET DbW
pursuing this practice tnat he is di4uJs
slug men whOm he pUl in. not only with
OUT charge, without fault, without any
species OF ltial but with a luI kno WI
edge that The duties Of their Offices have
been dIilg"nty, honestly, and faithfully
executed and putting back 10 their pls
ces men whom he had himself dismissed!
Every consideration OF equality. Of pqul.
~, and Of justice demands (.ald Mr..
Clay that the most lul and complete
repafallon of the injuries done to The
Wing parly should be hereafter made.
Nor would that be prescription. 1t
would be The srVefest rebUke OF pro
scrlp'lon. On theContfsry, TO continue
IN office men who had been pu there by
the dlsmssion Of other and better men
for political reasons, would ba to sane
ton. eonsumate, and perpeluate pro-
scriptlon. But il il could be regarded as
prescription, who is to be justly reproach
ed with beginning prescription 10 this
country? No man felt more profoundly
than he did The evils which were likely
TO grow out OF struggles for the prize Of
Government, with tie distribution of all
Is honors and offices exclusively conf
ned 10 the successful party lie doubt.
ed whether our system could long en-
dure The consequences of such strug les.
But he hoped that a remedy would be
hereafter found, either 10 the amend
ment Of the Constitution or The law, 10
guard against these evils.
Mr.. Clay entered at some length into
the history Of The efforts OF the Wings
during the extra Session to restore the
currency Of the country in the estab
lishmenl Of National Bank There is
one circumstance connected with that
history that has been generally less un
dersIood and more grossly misrepresen
ted than any other We refer to the
(6h section of the second Bank Bill, its
character, and the cause Of its adoption.
This was explained by Mr.. Clay, in
clear, lucid, and entirely satisfactory
manner. The section itself reads thus:
"And the said directors may also es
rabIlsh one or more competent Offices Of
discount and deposle IN any Territory
or district Of the United States; and
in any State, with the assen, Of such
State; and when established the said
offices shall no be moved or Withdrawn
by the said directors, prior TO the expi
ration Of The charter, without The previ
Gus assent of Congress: Prorided, IN
respect 10 any State which shall not, at
he first session of the Legislature there
OF held after The passage OF This act. by
resolution or by other usual Legislative
proceeding UNCONDITIONAL assent or dis
sent to The establishment of such office
or Offices within 1t, the assent OF the said
State sha thereafter b. presumed: And
prOUidcd neUeriheleSs, That whcn IL shall
become necessary and proper for carrying
into execution any OF the powers grant
ed in the Constitution to establish an
Offi:e or offices III anv Of the States what
ever. and The establishment whereof
shall be directed by law. II shall be the
duty Of the said directors TO establish
such office or offices accordingly.
The question Of the assent Of The
States, MIR. Clay argued, was one of ex
pedieucy alone, and did not involve the
constitutional power Of Congress 10 es
tabIsh bank; That power was claimed
end exercised in The establishment OF
lhe bank. The privilege OF branching
was matter entirely distinct, AND might
be conferred, subject 10 any restrictions
upon the directors Congress might see
fit 10 impose, and those restrictions could
not, bV aDv fair construction be under.
stood as concession on the part Of Con
gress, or an abandonment Of its consti-
tutonal power. But the last clause Of
the section, Mr.. Clay affirmed, rendered
the matter beyond all dispute that Con
groSs, so far from yielding, or even seem
ing TO yield its constitutional power 10
establish branches in the several States,
expressly asserted the power TO exist,
and declared its intention to exercise ii
whenever it might become, in he words
Of the Constitution, Unnecessary and pro
per for carrying into execution any Of
the powers granted TO Congress by that
! instrument.
The charter, in this form, was not
such as he himself or the mass OF the
Wings would have preferred; but they
have regarded it as question Of expe
diency, aud not as matter Of of prlnci.
pie; and as the bill could only be passed
by retaining this feature, the great body
Of the Wings were willing to yield this
minor consideration Tor tho sake OF secu
ring The passage OF the bill, and furnish,
ing 10 the country sound and Uniform
currency.
Upon the question Of the Tariff, and
the Distribution of the proceeds Of the
DuhIip lnnIa M ~ oc,cln,,,,I,, - L -,