Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-04-16

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But, sir, while our Wing %neighbors in adjacent
States charter s~windllng ragocracies, We IN Indiana,
to keep their corrupt currency frUm among US, must
devise means, through some kind of continuance, to
supply our own shlDpiasters. We prefer our own
monopoly to those Of other States, because we can
watch and govern them, and keep them under. Cir
cumstances alter cases and when we cannot control
the circumstances, we try to make a case to suit the
circumstances as well as we can. We make our
own shin-plasters in self-defencc. On the same prin-
ciple, were a cold water man TO be compelled TO
transact business for hours in a liquor shop, where
every ones breath smelt of liquor, | would hold 1t no
violation of his pledge were he to take a small dram
in selfdefence; on the same principle an exquisite
might eat garlic without impeachment TO his gentility.
So strong. sir, is the feeling of our people in Indi-
ana on this subject, that when we make a democratic
bank director to watch the doings of the batch of
banks composing our State bank, or when a democrat
is chosen director of one of our branches, 1t has sell
dom failed, to some good extent, to shake the conf
dence in him, and to bring him into \ questionable
position-often, no doubt, unjustly.
MIR. Chairman, | shall not discuss this bill. Its
principles and details have been before those who are
your masters and mine since 1897. They were dis
approved of at first but, after a reconsideration,
nave been adopted by the American people. They
have sent US here to pass the same into a law, and In
a few days we shall do Sd. To the gentlemen on the
other side of the House | desire to say, that you can
make nothing by a discussion of this bill. My col
So=a1 i09 SoN NAh0C1 ~
senior editor of the Union, to show that some eight
or ten years ago he was opposed to this bill. Well,
what then! 1t only proves that the senior editor of
the Union is a thinking and conscientious man, and
not a pertinacious fool, and therefore has a" second
thoughts" and sometimes changes his mind.
So, too, my colleague has read an extract from a
speech of the President, to prove that long ago, before
the State banks took to breaking in so furious a man.
ner as they did since then, he (the PresIdcnt) held
State banks In considerable respect, and preferred
II - c. Ill NIL
now, | reckon he did say something OF that kind but
il was when the grand object of the Democracy was
to break down the United States bank and, as | have
said before, the State banks had not then made a full
development of their capacity to play the devil. Let
my colleague call on the President at 3 O'Clock, p. M,
when he (the Presidency receives his friends IN a free
and easy sort of way, and ask him what he nOU thinks
Of State banks after several years experience of them.
My word for it, he will receive a very courteous and
very plain answer. The President, like all wise men,
has been enlightened by facts.
/ tell you gentlemen OH the other side of the house,
that you can make nothing out of this bill in the way
of political capital. 1t is an old subject-stale-fully
understood, and decided upon by our masters. In
opening the discussion Of this bill with so ingenious
and able a speech, my colleague has thrown away his
ammunition, like a young hunter out West, who fol-
lowed a deer all day from dawn till twilight, when,
being unable to overtake the deer, and determined TO
have a shot any how, he pointed his rifle, took care
full aim, and-ired at the track.
And now a word to my friends on this side Of the
house. The people have sent US hear to do certain
things. We are responsible, not only for the success
of those measures indicated by the public will, but also
for the time within which they may be acted upon.
The country is anxious and impatient. We are
accused, | fear justly, of needless delay. In 1914,
we told the people that James X. Polk was a "Young
Hickory that he had force of character, and would
- go ahead"
And now, sir, the good democrats of the land, hav.
rn~ knn, E.llu Aan.A-. - -. e
Congress that he Is what we represented him, are
nevertheless, saying that loe, in this and the Other
hall, are any thing but prompt in our action. They
give US credit for our good speeches, but l believe
they would rather see our measures. The assembly
in the other hall, they are of opinion, I" creepS on TIT
trigger" to a painful extent. 1t is time we were
doing, as well as talking and it is to be hoped tina
some of the I" old salts" Of the house will spring
resolution upon US tomorrow morning to close thi:
debate. | repeat 1t, that we on this side of the house
are responsible for delays, for measures passed, ant
for measures neglected. We are enough, if united
Our constituents are united. We ought to be so.
Mr.. LEAKE did not intend to make a speech, bu
merely to set right the gentleman from Indiana, MI
Smith, upon a few matters of fact. The gentlemen
asserted that the Baltimore Convention, in its resolu
lions, had made no allusion to the sub-treasury. Blu
the eighth resolution of that Convention declared
emphatically that the party was in favor of the great
fundamental principle upon which this bill is based
that 1t was in favor of an entire separation of thu
government from all connection with the banks Of
the country fact which he presumed the gentleman
overlooked in his eagerness and great zeal to arraigr
the democratic party.
Again the gentleman adverted to the dedication
or the detection rather, of Samuel Swartwout in 1897
and of Harris, Boyd, and others, as arguments agains
the independent treasury. The gentlemen was, Of
ought to be, aware that these defalcations took plac,
two years before that measure was adopted, and under
the operation of the bank system. As soon as Sam
Swartwout defalcated, he turned Wing, as he (Mr
L. understood.
Another fact not one cent Of the public money
was lost while the sub-treasury system was in opera
ton.
But the gentleman told them that whilst it remained
on the statute book 1T was a dead letter, and never
was carried out. Then certainly the evils he says
are incident to this system do not belong to ii, but are
the concomitants and results of the bank system
He informed the gentleman that now they intended t
carry it bona fde into operation.
The gentleman entered his protest against the hur
rying of this bill through under the previous question
He asked the gentleman under what circumstance
the independent treasury was repealed by the Wing
In the memorable extra session of 1S41! The
hurried it through in the shortest time possible; anC
their = hscality bank bill was introduced one da,
and passed the next Legislative day. And be it al
ways remembered that 10 the Wings belonged thl
paternity of the one-hour rule, which a Democratic
Congress, not very much to their credit, as he con
sldered, had adopted.
Some conversation took place between Mr.. T. B
King, Mr.. Seaborn Jones, and Mr.. Leake, as to tn
precise time, allotted to the consideration of the repea
of the independent treasury.
MIR. HoUsToN inquired of Mr.. King how long tn
first bank bill was allowed 10 he discussed by tn
Wing majority in the 9th Congress!
Mr.. KING. The gentleman will very easily ascer
tain by referring to the journal.
Mr.. HoUsToN was glad that the gentleman's memo
nv was so servicable when it would help his party
and so defective when the facts would go agains