The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-18
EXPUNGING AND Resembling.

When General Jackson, as President.
undertook to DO anything it was generally
done. The more bitter the opposition he
received, within or without the party, the
more persistent he became in his cndeavors
for its accomplishment. In cases where
there was disagreement of views, he
knew that he was right and was equally
sure that his opponents knew that they
were wrong. One of the objects OF his
hostility was the United States Bank.
Whether his views were right or not, his
hostility was obstinate and unreasoning,
and, at the same time relentless. BY law,
the bank was made the custodian of the pub
lie funds. The President was determined
that they should be removed to certain state
banks, and by the exercise of the power Of
appointment and removal of secretaries of
the treasury, an order was issued, in Sep
TENDER, 1888, for their removal. 1t was
not an actual, tangible removal, but was so
considered and called. because after the
first day of October, of that year. the pub
lie money was deposited in the state banks
Congress was not in session at the time,
but when convened the Senate passed
resolution, e which Mr.. Clay was the au-
thor, declaring that the President had 'as-
sumcd upon himself authority and power
not conferred by the constitution and laws,
bat in derogation of BOTH This is known
in history as the ''resolution of censure.'
1mmel'a ely after its passage Colonel Ben
ton gave nCtcc OF resolution to eXpun &C
it. Tie debate upon the first resolution
occupied nearly five months of the session,
while that on the latter was destined to oc-
cupy more time and extend to more than
one session. Three years after, on the
sixteenth day of January, 1897, the rcsolu-
ton was passed. In closing TIE debate,
Colonel Benton gave vent to his eXultalion,
by exclaming: SOLITARY and alone, and
amid the ieers and taunts of my opponents.
put this ball in motion" The "resolu-
ton of censure" still remains on the Senate
journal, made still more prominent by be-
ing inclosel in black lines, and having
written on its face the words "EXpungcd
by order of the Senate, this 10Th day of
March, 1887" Over years time was oc
cupied in the debate of these resolutions
and what does it all amount TO. The one
resolution expresses the opinion of the ma
jority of the Senate and country at one
time, and it cannot be eiraced The other
expresses the devotion of the majority of
the Sc late and country to one man and,
perhep though we think not, their opin-
ion of one act of a subsequent time.
Massachusetts, has just been delivered
throu I'll similar throes, and upon matter OF
the same importance. A part being some
wha, smaller than the whole, only two years
have been occupied in the agitation. Even
If they have no solitary and alone ball
mover, we congratulate the legislature,
newspapers and people of Massachusetts,
that they have removed the question from
the political arena. Some time ago, Charles
Sumner, as he had the perfect right to do,
presented a resolution to the United States
Senate, having for its object the removal of
the names of the several battles of the re-
bellion from the regimental battle llags of
the regular army Believing it TO be right
in principle, he introduced and advocated
it, but ii amounted to nothing A majority
of the legislature of Massachusetts,, in 1872,
didn't agree with Mr.. Sumner, and so said.
1t may have been a foolish and silly act on
their part, but it expressed their opinions,
and they had right so to express them.
We are bound to presume that they, also,
expressed the sentiments of am?jority Of
the people of Massachusetts, as an attempt
was made to "expunge" it, in 1873, but the
legislature failed to pass such resolution.
Last Friday, the Legislature finally ere
scinded" the resolution, which may be taken
as a somewhat milder form of getting
around 1t than expunging." What does
1t amount to, after all is said and done
The one remains as the deliberate opinion