Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1843-11-28
Mr.. Webster's Mode Of Settling the
Rink Question.

Mr.. Webster has very summary way Of putting the
question of the constluonaly Of national bank be-
yond dispute Perhaps may amuse our readers to look
at H. and have therefore detached from the ponder
speech delivered the other day Andover where II
WILL suppose hardly be read by man IN five thou
sand
In order discharge is duty Commerce, Congress
must supennend that which the great agent Of Com
mefcenoney. Congress has power TO regulate the Cur
rency aud according Mr.. Madsons msture judgment
Government must have the power 10 decide what shall
take place of the currency If Is displaced by paper mon
ey shall not at length The Constitutional ques-
ton Suffice il to say that coevsl with the Constitution
that power has been believed exist Those who made
the Cons Tuition did doubt il. General Washington
did not douh, II ard he established bank,
established under his administration. for that pur
pose. Madison did not doubt II; and mention hlm be-
he eminent among those VINO have been supposed
entertain doubts upon the constitutional power. But
Mr. Madison Welded even if his private Judgment had
not been convinced he said every of sense Will
that the thing has been settled by the repeated deer
sions of the Constitutional interpreters; ITS meaning has
been fixed. determined. And the Constitution, like any
other instrument, is capable OF doubt-hu Ike any Other
when its meaning has been fixed by The proper tribunal
it be taken settled enduring and longer TO be
doubted. Now VIC all know that have had bank for
forty years-yet men say it is unconstitutional Nil
they say forty years hence and will they thus go
from generation to generation dspuling question al
ready settled! think not. We must take the inter
probation of Courts. Of States ard of the people all Of
-
ing the actual fixed, definite meaning Of the Cons;u-
shall have any meaning Cor that nstru-
ment.'
Mr. Webster arrives at bis conclusions ly jumping
over at least one half of the he whole history OF
our national hanks has been h story OF ccase's
controversy The national bank chartered in !79l came
into the world like Love in the pastoral
"Begot in tcmpesis and in thunder born"
1t brought forth amidst a mighty contention and
struggle of great of the Hamilton and bis
eminent associates of the federal party on the one side
and JoffersoH aud Madison the other. When the cues
ton of renewing charter came up in ISL another
Struggle took place, IN which he friends OF nallona
bank suffered defeat; the charter not renewed be
Congress deemed itself unauthorized by the constr
tuition TO erect bank. The Thirteenth Congress, at ia
lsIi had before in the House OF Re
resolution TO committee for report
ing plan of national bank which, after debate
in which encountered strenuous opposiiIon indeh
nely postponed. From that time TO isl6 various abo
tive attempts national bank made in Con
gress; and length the charter of 1916 passed
With the history Of that bank Is various attempts to pro
cure second charter, and their defeat either by vote
Congress- the veto of the President readers are IA
miar. AT every step the siltuonality of naona
bank has been denied Ivy the of such nsttu
ton, and finally Mr.. Webster himself obliged 10 con
TESS that the decision of public opinion against it, an'
that national bank to use his own words IAN obSo
leie idea"
With what face can this man now say that the consti
tutionay of national bank. chartered 10y Congress.
settled that the meaning of the Cons tuition has beer
determined in its favor J \ who has had lawsui
against his neghbor pending for many years. and carre
from court court, might well endeavor to persuad
his Antagonist that the dispute settled IN his own Ia
vor because he happened to have obtained in the begin
ming Of the process two verJcts in his favor IL
might well say him, kcmemher' my dear SIR una
some of the Judges were evidently IN my favor, when III
cause first trial Recoles that, at the trst ina
got a verdict; and who should understand tie matte
better than the jury who tried The question when IL wa
fresh obtained the verdict forty years ago, ana ye
you it l. against law. VIII you 60 on from year 4
year, dsputing question already settled J We sha
know what the law is, that rate. Ii Is true thu
that time have got two three vcTdcis agains
me; but what half dozen new verdicts compare
with an old one -
Mr. Webster, appears. when he has had bad cans
10 support, talk absurdly aud weakly enough-N.
Post.