Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-08

L
| lasted for years. not
ably that over the "expunging' resolutions
| Of Senator Benton. Senator Benton's strug-
| gle lasted for three years, and was dramatic
| in the extreme. "Old Bullion" could do
nothing without being dramatic. whether
IT was fighting a duel. engaging in a street
brawl or addressing the Senate. He was
man of unquailing courage, logged per-
| sistency, full of resources, keen and sagac-
ious in management of any question, and
he did everything in the most dramatic
| manner possible. At one time he and Gen.
Jackson had engaged in a street brawl. in
which both were badly wounded, and they
remained bitter enemies for many years
but during Jackson's occupancy of the ex-
| ecutive chair he had no warmer advocate
and defender than Senator Benton.
| The causes which led up to the famous
| expunging resolutions were connected with
the controversy over The United States
Bank. Gen. jackson was an avowed enemy
| of the great fiscal institution of the country.
holding that the granting of the charter by
| Congress was unconstitutional, and that
| the bank was an enemy to a free press and
to the purity Of the ballot box. One of his
| first messages to Congress contained
passage arguing against a renewal of the
| bank charter, which had nearly expired.
had taken no steps to secure a renewal
| of it's charter. But Pr esident Jackson bided
| his time. renewing in subsequent messages
| his opposition to the bank.
The House appointed a committee to in
vestigate the matter. The Senate followed
| suit. Both committees reported In direct
variance with the views Of the President.
declaring that the granting of the charter
was clearly within the purview of Congress-;
that 1t had been sanctioned by Washington,
who had signed the original charter; that
| II had fulfilled the ends for which it had
been established, and that expediency and
a due regard for the public interests would
dictate its continuance. In 1882 the bank
asked for an extension Of its charter for
another terms Of fifty years. The opposi-
ton to the bank had been growing in the
meantime. under the continual attacks of
the President, and a majority Of the Sen
ate committee reported against the bank.
charging 1t with violation Of its charter
by illegal transactions, but the Senate
passed the bill granting the extension, and
soon after the House also passed It.
The Government Deposits.
The majority in each house was small
The President sent in veto strongly con-
demning the bank. and its friends were not
powerful enough to pass the bill over the
veto. By limitation Of time the charter
would expire in four years, and the bank
but that did not suit the President, who
was determined to absolutely crush the in
stitution. BY its charter 1t was made the
depository of the funds Of the government,
which had been the basis of its operations
and credit. During the recess of Congress
the President determined to withdraw the
government deposits. Mr.. Duane, his Sec
| rotary of the Treasury refused to issue the
order. holding 1t was illegal. Mr.. jackson
immeditely removed Mr.. Duane from office
| and appointed Roger B. fancy, who at once
| made the order. With the withdrawal of
the deposits the bank was compelled to
| close it's doors.
This proceeding Of the President caused
| the most intense excitement throughout the
country and on the reassmbling of Con-
| gress the Senate led by Clay, Webster, Cal
houn and others, adopted resolution of
censure declaring that The President, in
the late executive proceedings in relation
| to the revenue, assumed upon himself au-
| thority and power not conferred by the
Constitution and laws. but in dercgation of
both. President jackson sent to the Sem
ate a fiery ana indignant protest against
| the resolution, but the Senate refused to re-
ceive 1t or permit IL to be entered of record.
| The wrath of the President was something
terrible, and his friends were soon up in
arms in his behalf. Senator Benton was
| his most powerful friend, as he was the
| most persistent. At the very first oppor-
tunity he presented a series of resolutions
ordering the censure eXpunged from the
journal, and declared his unalterable resolu-
| ton to renew his attempt to have the OBJ
| should crown his efforts, or he should end
| his political life. His resolution rehearsed
| the principal events Of the controversy, and
| then declared:
THAT the said resolve be expunged from
the journal; and that for that purpose the
secretary of the Senate at such time as the
Senate may appoint, shall bring the manu-
script journal of the session, 1S33-34, into the
Senate, and in the presence of the Senate
draw black lines around the said resolve,
| and write across the face thereof, in strong
| letters. the following words: .Expunged by
order of the Senate this - day of -, in
The Long Contest.
For three years SUCCESSFULLY Mr.. Benton
brought forward his expunging resolutions,
| and again and again suffered defeat The
| debate at each time was Of the most bitter
| kind. Clay. with his indignant and burning
eloquence. inveighed against the proposed
| Dissertation Of the journal; Webster
brought all his ponderOus eloQuence and
logic to bear in the same direction, while
Calhoun attacked the proposition with his
| scathing satire, but still the Missouri Sem
ator would not down. Finally, in 1887, vic
| tory perched upon his banners. There had
been changes m the Senate, and the friends
Of jackson were slightly in the ascendant.
Benton determined to push the matter to a
final conclusion, and, to succeed, he saw II
would be necessary to have the friends Of
the measure agree to hold q continuous ses-
sion until vote was reached. He knew
| that the minority was powerful enough to
a
sent to sit 1t out
He also knew that some of his friends
were growing a little shaky over the con-
tinued struggle, and would have to be con-
ciliated On Saturday, the 14th of January
| 1897, he invited all the friends of the meas
| ure to a supper at Boulangers famous
restaurant. 1t was convivial entertain
ment, and lasted until midnight, Wright of
New York, Allen of Ohio and Linn Of Mis-
souri, being the most active leutenants of
Benton. Serious differences arose, but be-
fore the evening ended all was satisfac-
torily settled and the following Monday
was agreed upon as the great day Of battle
1t was agreed that the resolutions should
| be called up Immediately after the morning
hour, and that no adjournment should be
had until the whole matter was completed
and that there should be no speeches in favor
of the resolutions except by certain chosen
ones. The burden of defense was principal
ly to be left to Rives, Buchanan and Niles.
1t was intended that the proceedings of the
meeting and the agreement reached should
be kept secret, but as such things usually oc-
cur, long before Monday morning came
the rumor began to be circulated that the
great struggle would be renewed on Mon
day, and long before the regular hour for
opening the session arrived the small gal
leries were crowded and hundreds were
clamOring for admittance.
End of the StruR0le.