The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-10


the government depests-the removal of Secretary Of
the Treasury for refusing remove the deposits from the
bankthe consequent condemnation of General Jackson
by resolution Of the Senate-the passage OF the bank
charterGeneial Jacksons veto-the universal panic
from the dying struggles Of the bankthe expansion OF
the State banks upon the basis Of thirty millions or gov
ernment specie-the consequent dsmoraIzng aud wide
spread epidemic Of speculation and extravagance-
the sub treasury-she withdrawal OF the deposits
from the pet banks, and tho terrible financial
collapse OF 1887, all familiar matters OF
history with the readers OF the HERALD. 1t
in this upon the monster bank declared in 1922
fairly commenced in 1884, and practically closed up with
the senste's expungipg resolutions Of 1871 was In
this terrible war OF the Tftans that Colonel Benton
achieved his highest renown as senatorial debater, and
the steadas saunch and earnest supporter Geaera
Jacksons administration His highest distinction and his
greatest victory, with such Clay Webster and
Calhoun battling against him for life and DEATH
the passage Of the famous "expunEng resolution" Tho
Senate had passed years before, as already men
toned, resolution condemning the removal OF the de-
posts &C. high handed executive acts "n deroga.on
Of the constitution Of the United States" Bsnt,ns reso
luons the other hand being passed black lines
drawn around the aforesaid resolution of emnaton
and the words "expungcd by order Of tho Senats
written the face Of IL, and 30 the record remains
upon the Journal to this day.
fierce and most exciting debate (Janua'y H. 1887,
in which the whole strength of Calhoun, Webster and
Clay brought bear against tho expungng proosss
had carried the days sitting far into the night and wha.
followed thus described by Colonel Benton in his Thirty
Years View, I" pages 81
Midnight was now approaching. The dense mssses
which filed every room in the lobbes and the galleries
remsined immova6le. No one wen. out-no one could
get In The floor OF the Senate crammcd with prvi
legged persons ana IL seemed that all Congress there
Expectation and deter mason TO the conclusion
depicted upon every countenance Il evident there
Was to be DO until the vote should he taken
until the deed done; and this aspect OF ioviucibe
determination had ts ect upon the ranks OF the oppo
gon. They began TO fAer under useless PERSISTENCE
for they alone did the speaking and while Mr. Web
ster was yet recng his protest. two Senator'S from the
opposite SIDE who had been best able t) maintain their
equanimty, round the author OF this view, and
said "rhs question rs degeBerated into trial of nerves
and muscles. 1t has become question Of physical
endurance and in wearing our
selves out 10 keep of for q few hours longer
what has TO come before separate We that you
able and determined to carry your measure, call
the vote as as you please. We shall say no more"
Mr.. Webster concluded. No rose. There was
pausea dead silence and An intense feeling Presently
the Silence invaded by the single word Question:
the para meDtary ca for a vosersng from the seats OF
different Senator's one blank in the resolve remained TO
be fed-the date OF its adoption II was done. The
acting President of the Senate Mr. King Of Alabsms then
directed the roll 10 be called. The yeas and nays had
been previously ordered and proceeded to be called by
three Senator's were present. answering; I've absent
The yeas were
das.ag an. Rs n sS
Morris Nicholas Nes Page, Rives Ho o,inson, Rugges,
X.ysaMessI. Bs,srS. BlseE Calhoun ci.s; 6rieaa.n.
s Wse sfe'''n N00''n' S00'nafo s"'' i'h''n "e0Ssf
The passage Of the resolution was announced from the
chair MIR. Benton rose and faid that nothing now re
NAMED but the order OF The Senate which he
moved be done forthwith II was ordered accordingly.
The secretary thereupon produced the original manuscript
of and n vi
tanned condenstory Of March 2s 1884 pro
ceedcd in open Senate To draw square OF broad black
lines around the sentence and TO write across It's face In
strong letters these words"Expunged by order or the
Senate this 10th day Of March, 1897 Up 10 this
down upon The senate, though sullen and Inena
CHG in their looks had made no manifcs
tat.on of feeling and IL was doubtless not the
when he referred " their numbers. and expressed
his ignorance Of the focing with which they would
the deed done which he 50 much deprecated Doubtless
intended 10 excite that crowd mainly nposcd
usual since tho bank question began OF friends OF h4.
ustuton but ts appearance becsc such tina, scna.or
Jones since Senator from Iowa. and others sent and
brought in arms other friends gathered about him,
amcpg them Mrs. Benton who, remembering what had
happened 10 General Jackson, and knowing that, after
him. her husband was most obnoxious 70 the bank party
had her xiety sufficiently excited TO wish 20 be
him in This concluding scene OF seven years contest
with that great moueyed power. Things In this
state when the Secretary Of the Senate began TO perform
the expungng process on the manuscript journal In-
ssnty storm Of Kisses, groans and vo:erat
from the left wing OF the circular gallery, the heal
Of Sepaor Benton. The presiding officer promptly gave
the order which the rules prescribe such cases ccar
the gallery Mr.. Benton opposed the order, saying
hope hs gsrsrs. win not be cleared . many innocent
0i sSS Sv nG
sncs alone se punished 1 let hem BE- -Pprsasnd,a hope
and .s1e the raans aseerslnng who they are ia the bes
BAR Of ba senae Let KIN ss1e he bank g1s rsns bope
hsi hey Win no, now Be suffered nsut hs sen.se hey
States shep r,.Ds with arms upon hsm nsued US with
ieIaie Bere one just above that may easily be hen
Mr. Bsn,Sn new that he was the obe Of this outrage
and that the WY treat these subaern wreches
defy and seze them, and have them dragged criminals
dIaiey h head and had evidently collected into
that place. His motion was agreed TO. Tho or
der 70 clear the galleries was revoked; the or.
der 10 seine the dtsurbers given, and i'm
mediatey executed by the energetic Sergeant alarms,
Mr.. John shtckford, and his assist,nts. The ring
leader was seized and brought to the bar This sudden
example n, lated the rest and the expungng process
performed 10 quiet The whole impressive
but no part Of SO much SO 70 see the great leaders
who for sever long had warred upon General Jack
son, ard thu.and times pronounced him ruined, each
rising in hs pac, with pain and reluctance, TO confess
themselves vnqulshed-to admit bis power and their
~eakness-nd 10 exhse their griefs in unavsiling
proscbes AMI impotent deprecaons II n tribute 10
his Invnc,ely which cast INTO the shade all the euo-
son was estrerne he gave q grand dinner TO the cx:
punfers " they were called) and their wives, and
being too Eesk TO st at the table he only met the com
pauy, PLACED tho "head expunger In his chair and with
drew 10 s siok chamber That cxpurg ationl-a the
"crcwnirR mercy Of his civil as New Orleans had been
OF his military, life
"soliiry and alone set this ball In notion" IS ex
prcstior Of Bentens which, years ago, was as IA
milar With every schoolboy "househod word" The
GROWING result WIS the greatest political achieve
mert the Senator. With the passage OF the expungug
resolution the victory ocr the Bank coalition wr com
plete and Benton the zenith ofhs glory The pen
which did the "expunghg" scni by Mr.. Benton a. a
mir 10 General Jackon, and the old chief przcd
hshy ss does the Emress Eugenc the casles quill
with which the high contrasting parties ratified the peace
with Russia In the late treay OF Paris.
But the rejocngs Of the dmocracy over the cxpungng
resolution were brief IN great revalsioa Of 1857
upon them. In March oithsi year Martin Van uren
into the Presidency IN anouted successor Of Old
Hickory The bank rag and hinplaster imitation brought
about by Gen. Jacksons pet box system had reached rs
utmost tension, and the inevitbe collapse hand
The specie circular Of 1880, reqring all dues 10 the 60
10 ho rS.tl t,