Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-05-06

sons, would be to sanction, consummate
and perpetuate prescription. But if it
could be regarded as prescription. who is
to be justly reproached with beginning
prescription in this country"
mo man felt more profoundly than he
did the evils which were likely to grow
out of struggles for the prize of Govern
ment, with the distribution of all its hon
ors and offices exclusively confined TO the
successful party. He doubted whether
our system could long endure the conse-
quences of such struggles. But he hoped
that a remedy would hereafter be found,
either in the amendment of the Constitu-
ton 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 by the establishment of
National Bank. There is one circumstance
connected with that history that has been
generally less understood, and more grossly
msrepresented than any other. We re-
fer to the 18th section of the Bank Bill
its character and the cause Of its adoption.
This was explained by Mr.. Clay in clear,
lucid and satisfactory manner. The sec.
ton itself reads thus:
"And the said directors may also estab-
lish one or more competent offices of dis
count and deposite in any territory or dis
trict of the United States, and in any
State, with the assent Of such State; and
when established, the said office or Offices
shall not be removed or Withdrawn by the
said directors prior to the expiration of
the charter, without the previous assent of
Congress. Provided, in respect to any
State which shall not, at the first session
of the Legislature thereof held after the
passage of this act, by resolution or other
legislative proceeding Internationally as
sent or dissent to the establishment of such
office or Offices within it, the assent of the
State shall thereafter be presumed; and
provided, nevertheless; that vhen 1t shall
become necessary and proper for carrying
into execution any of the powers granted
in the Constitution, to establish an office
or offices in any of the States whatever
and the establishment whereof shall be di.
rectcd by law. it shall be the duty of said
directors to establish such office or Offices
accordingly"
The question of the assent of the States
Mr.. Clay argued, was one of expedency
alone, and did not involve the Constitu-
,ional power of Congress to establish a
Bank. That power was claimed and ex-
ercised in the establishment of Bank
the privilege of Branching was matter
entirely distinct, and might be conferred
subject to any restrictions upon the Direc
tors Congress might see fit to impose, anc
those restrictions could not, by any fail
construction, be understood as a conces-
sion on the part of Congress, or an aban
donment of its constitutional power. But
the last clause of the section Mr.. G.. affirm
ed rendered the matter beyond all dispute
that Congress, so far from yielding or even
seeming to yield its constitutional power
to establish branches in the several States
expressly asserted the power to exist anc
declared its intention to exercise it when
ever it might become, in the words of the
Constitution. necessary and proper fol
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 regarded i
as question of expediency and not as ;
matter of principle, and as the Bill coulc
only be passed by retaining this feature
the great body of the Wings were willing
to yield this minor consideration for tn,
sake of securing the passage of the Bill
and furnishing to the country a sound anc
uniform currency.
Upon the questions of the Tariff, ane
the distribution of the public lands, Mr. c
conclusively showed that the Wings il
, Congress had done every thing that coulc
be expected of them. They had succeeded
in passing Tariff which, while it aff,ord
sufficient revenue to meet the wants Of al
Economical cd OF tinp Of tho Eoyarp