Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-27
The American Congress
Versus the Senate
Bv Frederic L Haskin

lDe ciluIlplOn OF Jackson IN Ine senate,
he went to the White House and was
planned that the surgeons We're cutting
a bullet OUT of the presidents arm.
Then I'll go in and see 1t. / was
present when the bullet went in" said
Benton, striding past the servant and
| into the house,
Clay, supported by Webster and Cal
| houn fought Benton to the bitter end
Once Benton was persuaded to permit
the amendment of the resolution by
striking out the word "expunge" and
| inserting "rescind, reverse and make
null and void" Webster then made
the mistake of gloating over this
amendment as an anti-Jackson victory
! Webster's speech renewed Benton's
| courage and determination, and he inn
mediately offered the resolution in its
original form with the Objectionable
word in its old place. The fight was
on again.
The issue before the country was to
expunge or not to expunge. Leeisla-
lures elected senator's with that ques-
tion in mind and gradually the Jack
son forces became stronger and stron-
ger. The bank war was carried on
into the next presidential campaign
when Jackson practically ordered the
people to elect Martin Van Buren in
MS Sledu. IHG NnlBS were ubHlOTdl-
lied and the Jackson forces again
swept the country in spite of the eff
fort to stem the tide with another war
hero--Gen. William Henry Harrison.
The election over, Benton renewed his
battle in the senate. 1t was apparent
that the hour of victory had come, the
three great chiefs. Clay, Calhoun and
Webster, fought on. Senators came TO
the capitol armed, in anticipation OF
violence. Washington was practically
divided into two armed camps, bank
men and Jackson men.
But the winning eloquence OF Clay,
the icy logic of Calhoun and the pro-
found reasoning of Webster were not
equal to the popularity Of Jackson
marshalled under the admirable cap
taincy of Benton. On January 10,
1887, the resolution to expunge was
adopted by a vote of "a to 10. The sec
retary of the senate produced the jour
nal and in the open senate. in the
presence of the Democrats, nearly all
the Wings had left the chamber, he
drew n series of broad black lines
around the resolution of censure and
wrote across it's face the words Eek
plunged by order OF the senate this.
the sixteenth day of January, 1887"
That page is one of the most inter-
esting things TO be seen In the cap
itol today. and the slip on which the
Toll Gdl WAS Hbltu ny liib tlti M -
on exhibition in a glass case at the
library of congress
This was complete vindication of
jackson by congress for his action in
defying the win of congress, but it did
not end tbe bank war. Van Buren,
failed of reelection, being defeated by
the Whig hero General Harrison, whom
he had defeated four years earlier. Clay
considered himself the leader of the
Whig party, however, holding to the
old notion that congress was supreme.
Harrison, unfortunately for the Whig
plans, lived but a month and was sue
oeeded by John Tyler, whom the Wings
had nominated for vice president in the
hope of conciliating the old "nulliier'
element. Clay made the mistake of
ignoring Tyler, and set himself up to
lead and rule the party and to dictate
to the president Tyler was incensed
with Clay, and he listened to promises
of reelection from the men who sur
rounded him. Congress passed bill
to charter bank and another repeating
the Independent treasury act. Tyler
signed the treasury repeal bill and We
toed the bank charter. He pointed out
his objections carefully In his veto
The Whig congress, led by
the enraged Clay, passed another bill,
meeting Tyler's objections. But Tyler
vetoed it also.
The influence OF Andrew Jackson was
strong in Washington then, and that
influence supported a president who
was openly despised by the leader of
the Wings. Tyler vetoed the bank bill
to be revenged on Clay. Thus, for the
second time, Clay had delivered a body
blow to the national bank by over
his own powers and under
estimating those of his chief enemy.
In the tragic record of the defeat of
clay's ambitions it is a remarkable
fact that it was Clay's speech against
the recharter of the first Bank of the
United States, delivered in 1911, which
caused Jackson to question the consti-
tutionality of the bank in his first
to congress. That Clay was
light In the main features of his con-
.ention for the necessity of the bank is
now generally admitted. But he was
most unfortunate in the conduct Of his
for his cause.
The second veto by Tyler ended the
oank war as a live issue A greater
question had come to the front, and the
was about to be plunged into
he strife of the struggle over slavery.
Jackson regained domination OF con-
;ress, and he nominated and elected
Polk president. His organization was
and the Wings were never
lble successfully to wage war against
t. although they did once again elect
PRESIDENT. But the bank was dead, and
t Is only now, more than half century
ince Old Hickory's death, that seri-
us proposal has been made to establish
national bank Senator Aldrich is
low fighting the ghost of Andrew Jack
on. The issue of the battle is for the
uture TO reveal.
TOmOrrOw-The American Congress:
VI-The Great Slavery Battle.