The Kanzas news., 1859-02-05
"Reminiscences Of the Old Senate Cham
berthe Bank War.

A correspondent of the n. 7. Tribune, at
Washington, has an exceedingly graphic let
ter running over the main incidents in the
history of the Senate during the occupancy
Of the chamber it has Just vacated. which
it first took possession of in 1819-forty
years ago. We copy from it the following
stirring feminiseence of the Bank War:
The passage of bill reebartering the
United States Bank, and its veto by the
President, and the tumult which followed,
and the reelection of Jackson, and the
brawl soon after on the floor of the Senate
between Clay and Benton, when each gave
the other the lie, and used language which
would disgrace pot -house-are not all these
things written in the Thirty Years View?''
During these stormy times many renown-
ed party chiefs gathered in the Senate
Though Hayne, Holmes and Livingston had
left the Chamber, the coming in of Clay,
Calhoun, .Grnndy. Dallas. Buchanan, John
Davis. Wright, Tallmadge, Leigh, Rives,
Southard, Mangum, Preston, Forsyth.
Poindexter. Crittenden, Ewing, Walker and
Hill, enabled the Senate to still more impe-
riously dominate Congressional proceedings
during Jackson's last term. By the by, it
was Hill that introduced into Congress that
worst of nuisances, the reading of manu-
script essays nuisance whiee continues
undated. and grows more noxious with ev-
cry session. s.5s5s 5. .,fs, .-..i..
In the Autumn of 1898 Jackson removed
Duane because Duane would not ssremove
the deposits from the United States Bank ;
and he appointed Taney in his place be-
cause he would. Vhis was the boldest act
ever ventured npon even by jackson. The
Secretary who did his bidding was, two
years afterward, rewarded with the ermine
so long worn by the illustrious Marshall.
The '.Bank War" now ragged furiously on
all sides. the Senate Chamber being the prin-
cipal field of combat Calhoan had descend
ed to the floor, and Van Buren presided in
his place. The union of Clay, Calhoun and
Webster was hkened to the conspiracy of
Cesar. Pompey and Crassus. They were
called the '.Triumvilate." Clay offered his
famous resolutions denouncing the removal
of the deposiisss The debate vas of surpas-
sing interest. Iniammatory public meetings
were held even on Sunday, there being s'no
Sabbaths in Evolutionary times" "aone rolls
Of memorials-the visit of numerous com
mittees to Washington--the fulminations of
the Press-the resolutions OF, State Legis-
latures stimulated the Senatorial combatants.
Gays proud crest toEerei high over the
held. like the plume of Henry of Navarro
Al the battle of Irvy. As usual he was i'm
perious and brilliant ,swhile Webster was ar
gumentative and majestic. Benton learned
and an, dogmatic. Wright logical and dighi6ed.
Woodbury. statistical and respectful But
calhoun stung by Jackson's preferences for
Van Buren, and driven to the opposition by
nus Proclamation, he hissed out through
compressed lips his scathing anathemas of
the President and his protege. After three
months debate, the resolutions were adopt
Cd. Then followed the celebrated Protest
OF Jackson against the Senatorial proceed
ings. No sooner was the paper laid on the
sserstary's desk, than ..sOld Poins.' = fas the
galleries used to call Poindexter.) made a
motion that it be not received. The debate
now broke out afresh. and after raging with
rare yiruleHee three weeks, resolutions
strongly eondemning the Protest were adopt
ed. II is Webster's speech against the Pro-
s ,est that contains the graphic figure. where
ne speaks of our revolutionary fathers con-
ending against az power which had dotted
over the surface OF the whole globe with her
P0ssessions and military poass, whose morn