Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

H. OF R.]

Berks County Memorial.

[FEB. 24, 1834.

sons who had signed that memorial had some covert and | hastily formed, nor are they hastily abandoned; and, howinsidious object to answer by their proceeding?

Mr. MUHLENBERG denied that he had used such language.

ever a certain set of politicians, to suit their own selfish purposes, may undertake to asperse, misrepresent, or mislead them, yet he felt convinced that, when they should once be made to understand-when the light of truth should once penetrate, and the great questions, of paramount importance to them, which now agitated the whole Union, should be presented to their strong and discrimito a just and proper decision by any such intimation as the honorable gentleman had thought proper to make. No, sir, (said Mr. W.,) let the light of truth once shine upon them, and they will not stop to ask whether it has Mr. BINNEY asked to be informed by the Speaker come from the Philadelphia school; nor will they permit whether the memorial presented at the Clerk's table was any one to insinuate that it has sprung from a corrupt or exclusively in the English language, or whether a coun- degrading source. They know too well what is due to terpart, in German, formed part of the memorial; and, their own dignity as freemen. Sir, the day of retribution upon being informed that the memorial presented was is at hand, when those who have ventured so long to tamaltogether in the English language, he said, that as seve- per with the honesty and best interests of an upright peoral of the petitioners understood German better than Eng-ple will be taught a lesson they will not shortly forget. lish, and some, perhaps, did not understand English at all, In conclusion, Mr. W. remarked, that he had prohe was induced to ask the member from Pennsylvania pounded the question, and felt assured that his colleague who presented the memorial, whether, when it was given would answer it, with the candor and manhood which to him to present to the House, the memorial was not in formed part of his character. both languages?

Mr. MCKENNAN said that his object was merely to meet and resist an attack which he supposed was made upon gentlemen, with some of whom he had the pleasure of an acquaintance, and as to whose character for integrity, intelligence, and worth, he would feel it his duty nating minds, they would not be prevented from coming to bear testimony, whenever or wherever attacked; but, as his colleague had disavowed the use of the language which he supposed he had used, he was called upon to say nothing more on the subject.

Mr. MUHLENBERG replied that there were two copies of the memorial-one in English, and the other in German; which last, for convenience, had been detached. Mr. BINNEY would further ask, whether it was so detached by the gentleman who presented it?

Mr. MUHLENBERG: Certainly.

Mr. MUHLENBERG: If my honorable friend will take care of his own district, I will take care of mine. I am responsible to my own constituents for my course here, and forbid any interference of the kind. I have spoken respectfully of my constituents. In using the term "covert," I intended to convey the idea that signers to the memorial were obtained with a view to the reMr. WATMOUGH rose and said, that he was happy charter of the bank; whereas there was not one word in that his friend and colleague from Washington county had the memorial about the recharter of the bank. If the put to the honorable gentleman from Pennsylvania the question was put to his constituents, whether they were question, which so naturally occurred to him on hearing in favor of General Jackson, two-thirds of them would what had fallen from his colleague who had just presented say-yes; and if they were asked whether they were in the memorial from the citizens of Berks. He was equal- favor of a recharter of the bank, two-thirds of them ly happy that his colleague from Berks had so promptly would say-no.

replied, and repudiated the idea supposed to have been Mr. MCKENNAN said: My colleague now admits that conveyed, and which struck him (Mr. W.) with so much he used one of the offensive terms which I had attributed pain. There was, however, yet one part of the remarks to him, notwithstanding his previous disavowal. He adof the gentleman who had presented the memorial to which no answer had been given, and which appeared to him to be infinitely the most objectionable of all that had been so strangely uttered. Mr. W. desired to be informed whether his colleague, in the concluding remarks of his speech

The SPEAKER here interposed, and said it was not in order to propose interrogatories to members.

Mr. WATMOUGH persisted, and said he wished to be informed correctly, whether his colleague did mean to say that the subscriptions to the memorial had been obtained by improper and dishonorable means. The honorable gentleman evidently conveyed this idea; and said further, that the doctrines expressed in the body of the memorial were such as could alone have come from a certain quarter, to which the people were not accustomed to look, and upon which they could not be induced to rely.

mits that he attributed to the memorialists a covert design; and I have to regret that his memory and mine differ as to his having used the term "insidious" in the same connexion. But, I ask, how is he justified in alleging that an attempt was made to mislead and deceive the people; and that the object was really to effect a recharter of the bank, under the cover of a pretence to procure a restoration of the public deposites? Where is his evidence? There is not a word about the recharter on the face of the memorial; and he would undertake to say, that many of the gentlemen who had signed the paper would spurn the suggestion that they had attempted any deception.

Mr. MUHLENBERG rose to explain, and said that he had no doubt that many men whose names were on this paper would spurn the suggestion that they had attempted to make a false impression, or had practised any deception; but that there were some underlings, who would not be so particular about their conduct. He said he would like to know how many of the names subscribed to the memorial were known to his colleague?

Mr. Speaker, (said Mr. W.,) as a Pennsylvanian, feeling deeply the importance and dignity of my native State, and resolved, at all hazards, and upon all occasions, to stand by and protect her from insult or insinuation, from what quarter soever they may come-on the present occasion, a proper regard to my own constituents, as well Mr. McKENNAN resumed, and said: I will answer as to the highly respectable individuals whose names were the inquiry by propounding another to my colleague. appended to the memorial, induces me to reiterate the I will ask him to name the underlings, to whom he underrequest made by my honorable colleague who spoke first. takes to attribute the charge of fraud and deception. It Sir, (said Mr. W.,) I know full well the honesty and in- is due to the House, and due to the persons implicated. tegrity of the people of Pennsylvania. No State in the A course of this kind will enable his constituents to Union has been more highly distinguished for the sound judge of the correctness of the imputation, and, if unpolicy of her administration, and none more for the fixed just, would afford the persons so seriously implicated an and settled purpose with which she has carried that pol- opportunity of acquitting themselves of so grave a charge. icy out. The opinions of her people, it is true, are not He said it was not for him to interfere between his col

FEB. 24, 1834.]

Berks County Memorial.

[H. of R.

Mr. MUHLENBERG had no objection to it, and should comply with the request. He also stated that he had no objection to the printing of the names. Mr. WATMOUGH demanded the yeas and nays on his motion, and they were ordered.

league and his constituents, as to the nature or binding have signed it if the German copy had not been apinfluence of their instructions; but he wished to vindicate pended, it was a sufficient reason for presenting the Gerthe character of respectable individuals from an unjust man copy with the other. imputation. He must, however, be permitted to say to his colleague, and to the House, that a memorial signed by upwards of eighteen hundred persons, scattered over a congressional district, and their signatures obtained in a very short time, was entitled to serious consideration. He would submit to his colleague whether, under the Mr. TURRILL objected to printing names of this, or circumstances, it was not a full, and loud, and powerful any similar memorial. It was time to put a stop to this voice of his constituents; and, as such, ought to be re- kind of operation. We had already printed half the names spected? in Philadelphia, at the public expense. What was the ob

The SPEAKER asked whether the gentleman from ject? Not to enlighten the members of this House in re Pennsylvania intended to embrace the names in the motion to print.

Mr. MUHLENBERG said he did not.
The memorial was then ordered to be printed.
Mr. WATMOUGH moved the printing of the names
appended to the memorial.

gard to the question: any one who wished to see what
weight was attached to the names could go and read them
in the Clerk's office, without drawing any money from the
treasury. In the first place, the bank gets up its panic
meetings, and then they come and ask us to pay the ex-
pense of printing and circulating their proceedings, me-
morials, and even the signatures. He could see no pos-
sible benefit to result from printing the names.
tlemen who advocate the printing would give a reason for
it, he would withdraw his objection.

If gen

Mr. BINNEY said this motion was connected with the inquiry previously made by him, as to the memorial in the German language. As many of the names would be found in the German character, he wished to have the German original before the House, as an answer to the Mr. MILLER was indifferent whether the names were suggestion, whenever and wherever it might be made, printed or not; but he was at a loss to imagine why this that the memorial was submitted to the subscribers in a system of catechising members was introduced. His collanguage which they did not understand. Since the alle-league had stated, expressly, that the memorialists were gation of insidious and covert designs had been made, many of them highly respectable men. The effect the production of the German memorial had become es-that the memorial was intended to have could be seen by sential to protect the petitioners, or some of them, from any one. He believed, himself, that it was impossible to misrepresentations, designed or undesigned, that they draw a distinction between the question of a restoration did not understand the paper which they had set their of the deposites and the recharter of the bank. Who names to. He said that, while up, he would avail himself could doubt that the restoration would produce a recharter? of the occasion to say that he did not admit the theory And he had understood his colleague, [Mr. BINNEY,] with of the gentleman who presented the memorial--that he his accustomed frankness, to avow the opinion that, unless had such a property in his constituents as to warrant him the bank were rechartered, the restoration of the deposites in saying (as in substance he had said) to his friend from would be of no avail. In regard to the duplicate memorials another district in the same State, [Mr. WATMOUGH,] we were contending about, they were both the same, and that he should mind his own business, instead of interfer- it was of no consequence which was presented to the ing with the district of the gentleman who presented the House. memorial. He did not admit the theory; but, on the con- Mr. MCKENNAN said, as he was referred to by his coltrary, when a body of most respectable petitioners were league, [Mr. MILLER,] who had thought proper to come subjected to the remarks which the House had heard, he up to the defence of the gentleman who had presented the should at all times assert the right to interfere for their memorial, he begged leave to submit a few observations protection, whether they belonged to his own district or in reply. He says that my honorable colleague had borne not. Several of the petitioners he knew as among the his testimony to the respectability of the memorialists, and most respectable inhabitants of Berks, itself one of the had treated his constituents with perfect fairness. I wish most important counties in Pennsylvania; and he also to call the attention of the House to the language of my knew that they were as much above the employment as colleague on the presentation of the memorial. It is true they were above the influence of underlings for insidious that he stated that the memorial was signed by upwards and covert designs of any kind. Unless the German of one thousand eight hundred persons, many of whom original was annexed to the English memorial, the print- were respectable-some of them persons who had belonging of German names might become the occasion of mis-ed to the Jackson party, but who had seceded since the representation. veto upon the bank bill; and some of them were still ad

Mr. MUHLENBERG rose only to explain the circum- hering members of the party, who differed from the adstances in connexion with the separation from the memo- ministration on this particular measure. But, at the same rial of the German translation. The original memorial, time, he undertook to impute to those persons, in whose as brought to him, was written in English and German. favor he had thus testified, a covert and insidious motive. It was so much mutilated, that he handed it to the per- This, in my view, sir, is giving a character of his constitson from whom he received it, to make a new copy for uents with a vengeance, and one for which, I venture to presentation to the House. It was not proposed to him, say, they will not thank him. I feel it my duty, on benor did he think it necessary, to present also the Ger- half of many of these memorialists, to pronounce the imman copy. He had no objection to the presentation of putation an aspersion on their character, and to call upon the German copy. If gentlemen wished it, they could both my colleagues to produce the proof upon which the charge is attempted to be supported. But my colleague on my left [Mr. MILLER] puts it to me and the House to say, whether all do not believe that, if a restoration of the deposites should be effected, the recharter of the bank must necessarily follow. For myself, sir, I will undertake to answer that there is no necessary connexion. Gentlemen may, in order to justify themselves before their constituents for supporting a high-handed, unjustifiable, and destructive measure, use their efforts to connect it with a

have it.

Mr. MERCER said that the memorial directed to be presented was written in two languages; and, therefore, when the German portion of it was withheld, the House was not put in possession of the whole memorial.

Mr. BINNEY would simply request the gentleman to hand the German copy to the Clerk.

Mr. WAYNE said, if it could be supposed that a single individual who had signed the memorial would not

H. OF R.]

Berks County Memorial.

[FEB. 24, 1834.

question of the recharter of the Bank of the United States, claim absolute infallibility, or that he was more than man. and thus cover themselves under the prejudice which is He wished that the names would be printed, that it could supposed to exist among the people on that subject. But be hereafter seen they would be found again, as they had they have no justification in fact for doing so. After the always been, ardently supporting the principles of the passage of the bill for the recharter of the bank, which republican party. was vetoed-and, as I believe, most unjustifiably vetoed- Mr. MCKENNAN said the friends of the administration by the President, I took it for granted, and the nation took had reason to congratulate themselves on the accession of it for granted, that the bank must die; and the only hope a new member to their ranks, and to thank his colleague was, that it would have been permitted to expire in peace. from Philadelphia [Mr. SUTHERLAND] for the eulogy he It would have so expired in a short time, if the measure had pronounced upon the President; that this was language of the Treasury had not been adopted, which has pro- which to him was new, and was such as he was not accusduced so much excitement and so much distress; and which tomed to use in the last Congress. The fact which he stated measure, I feel constrained by a sense of duty to say, is exhibited strongly the propriety of printing the names of most inexpedient and unjust, and has been, and will be, the memorialists. If there were persons who supported most ruinous in its consequences. The plighted faith of the present administration generally, who dared to come out the Government has been violated; and it is the duty of and avow their decided disapprobation of this disastrous every member of this House to vote for the redemption of measure, they ought to be known; they deserve credit for that faith, without any regard to the course which he may their independence and patriotism, and their names ought hereafter feel it his duty to adopt on the subject of the re- to be spread before the public. He trusted their example charter of the institution, which has been so unfortunate would be followed by all others who prefer the good of as to fall under the displeasure of the Executive. their country to the idolatry of a man. Another reason Mr. BINNEY said he would ask to say a few words in why the names ought to be published was, to afford the reply to the gentleman from Pennsylvania near him, [Mr. House an opportunity of ascertaining whether the meMILLER.] He felt himself under the necessity of rejecting morialists were citizens and taxable inhabitants; and, of the praise which that gentleman had awarded him for course, of determining whether any weight was to be atfrankly avowing that, unless the bank was rechartered, the tached to their representations or not. And in order to il restoration of the deposites would be of no avail. He lustrate the force of this reason, he would state a fact in had stated no such proposition. On the contrary, in his re-relation to a petition which had been presented here some marks to the House on a former occasion, he had taken time since from the city of Pittsburg, highly approbating some pains to be so understood as to express no sentiment the conduct of the Executive, and urging Congress not to of the kind. He had then said that, if the bank was not to be rechartered, nor another bank to be chartered, nor any control devised to prevent the currency from running into inextricable confusion, he considered the question of time, and a short respite by the present return of the deposites, as of but little importance; and this was not the remark which the gentleman had attributed to him. As to the part which he had taken in the small catechism to which the gentleman had alluded, he would say that, if it tended to show what was the duty of a representative, as the graver work of that name was intended to show the whole duty of man, it would not be without its use. The gentleman had asserted the right of a member, to whom a memorial was delivered for presentation, to detach a part of it, and to present the residue only, if he thought it to be of the same effect. He could not agree Mr. MUHLENBERG said there was some misapprewith the gentleman. The duty was, to present it as it was hension as to what had fallen from him. He had not obgiven to him, if he presented it at all; and no better illus-jected to the printing of the names of the memorialists. tration could occur than in the present case, in which the He, however, would state that he held a letter in his hand, separation of the German counterpart might give color to signed by nineteen persons, whose signatures were affixed the remarks which had been made to the House. In ordi- to this memorial, in which they expressly state that they nary cases, he should consider it unnecessary to print the had been induced to sign it from some misconception of names; but the principle stated by his friend from Penn- its purport, and they had authorized him to state so to the sylvania [Mr. MCKENNAN] he apprehended to be correct: House. that, where artifice or fraud was imputed in obtaining signatures, it was proper to print the names at length, that the fraud or the calumny might be exposed. For this reason, he had moved, on a former day, to print the names annexed to the memorial from the city and county of Philadelphia, and should vote for the present motion.

Mr. SUTHERLAND said it was rather strange so much should have been made upon so small a matter. His colleague did throw out an idea that there was something insidious, owing to some misapprehension in the signers, in the manner by which some names were withdrawn from this petition. Generally speaking, he wished gentlemen to consider the propriety of having names printed to the memorials as calculated to do little good, except to benefit the public printer. Although there are many persons who signed this and other memorials from Pennsylvania, they were the steady friends of the administration, but who thought that in this matter a mistake or error had been committed by General Jackson, for whom they did not

direct a restoration of the deposites. It had about 336 signatures, purporting to be from citizens of Pittsburg; and the House would be surprised to learn that, on a comparison of the names with the tax list, it was found that 133 only were taxable inhabitants, leaving 200 of those petitioners who were either boys or strangers, or could have little interest in either the currency or the prosperity of the country.

There was still another reason why the names should be published, to be found in the allegation that some of the memorialists had been imposed on. If this were the fact, the fraud and artifice ought to be detected, and the signatures ought to be laid before the people of Berks county, so as to lead to that detection. He hoped the publication would be made.

Mr. WATMOUGH, understanding all objection to the printing, on the part of his colleague, was withdrawn, was by no means desirous to occupy, unnecessarily, the time of the House; and, on the understanding, therefore, that no objection would be made, he withdrew his call for the yeas and nays.

[Subsequently, Mr. W. observing that an objection was about to be raised to the printing, resumed his call for the yeas and nays, and they were ordered.]

Mr. MANN, of New York, wished to know whether the printing was to be in Dutch, that there might be no cheatery.

The SPEAKER said he had announced his intention of having the memorial printed in the Dutch.

After a few observations by Mr. FELDER and Mr. MERCER,

Mr. TURRILL would oppose, if he stood alone, the printing of all such petitions. It was surprising to him to hear such an unnecessary expense advocated. There

[ocr errors]

FEB. 24, 1834.]

Berks County Memorial.

[H. OF R.

was, among others, a petition already printed on this Mr. CROCKETT rose and said: Sir, as I am the only subject, with sixty-two pages of names, at a considerable person from Tennessee in this House who is opposed to expense. These petitions, he believed, were got up the administration, I hope I may get a few words in-that originally by the bank, and those who procured the sig- I may say what are my own notions on these matters. Sir, natures were paid for their trouble out of Mr. Biddle's I think the member from New York [Mr. TURRILL] who breeches pocket. He felt that it was time for the House has just spoke, has been a little testy in his objections; he to take a stand, and save the treasury from this expense talks much about this, as if it was a great matter. Sir, which was sought to be thrown upon it. It was possible are we to stick at such trifles as a few dollars, in printing that many of those who signed the petitions from the a matter so important? It seems, sir, to me to be somelarge cities were stimulated by the assurance that their thing like loading a twenty-four pounder to shoot a flea. names would appear in a printed book. Sir, is it not so? We are spending three or four thou

Mr. H. EVERETT did not think the member from sand dollars in discussing the printing of a matter that perNew York [Mr. TURRILL] warranted in taking for haps, after all, will not be twenty dollars cost. But, sir, granted that all the memorials presented on account of this is retrenchment; but it is the old rule for retrenching. distress were got up by the bank; and he desired to know I love, sir, to see the petitioners come here, and, my life on if it was the design of gentlemen, by making such state- it, sir, they will come-ay, and from Indiana-for all that ments, to forestal public opinion, and thus prevent them we hear to the contrary; and, from my own State, every coming forward to testify their deep sense of that dis-day my letters tell me they wish this question settled. tress? If such denunciations were made, it must have They know very well. in my district the character of the the effect of deterring, in futute, any petitions being man who, when he takes any thing into his head, will sent. He hoped that the representatives would not con- carry it into effect. They know how I should act in this sider themselves so much the representatives of any par- bank business, for I told them, before I was elected, how ticular district as of the whole people; and that, when I should vote that I would recharter the bank and repetitions should be presented, they would be treated store the deposites. Sir, I get letters every day, from all by members in a respectful manner. They should look parts, which tell me these acts are disapprobated. The to considerations affecting the general good, and ought question is, now, whether we shall continue to live and do to be above those of party. well under the old and happy state of things, or have a despot. Sir, the people have a right to tell their griev ances, and, sir, I tell you they must not be refused. Mr. ASHLEY, of Missouri, said that he could not undertake to state, with any degree of precision, how the people of Missouri were divided on the important question of the removal of the deposites, nor could he account for not having received memorials from his constituents on that subject. Perhaps the people of Missouri have come to the conclusion that memorials, petitions, or prayers of any kind touching this subject, would avail nothing; that, should they be favorably disposed of by Congress, they might be disregarded in another quarter. Mr. A. thought the people of Missouri as deeply interested in this measure as those of any other portion of the Union. The State had been, a few years ago, literally inundated with local bank paper, when every thing in relation to the currency of the country was confusion and distrust. On the introduction of the paper of the Bank of the United States, this unsound and fraudulent currency (local bank paper) gradually diminished, and, at length, entirely disappeared. Since that time up to the present, every thing

Mr. BURGES was astonished at the opposition given to the printing of the names to memorials on the ground of expense, and he advocated it as necessary to establish, beyond question, whether the distress which now agitated the country was real or pretended-was got up by the people themselves, or by the influence, as charged, of the bank.

Mr. LANE believed that the statements they had heard, that these memorials about distress were got up by the bank, were justly founded. They had been known to originate almost at the doors of the bank, and only from those places directly under its influence. There was no voice of distress from Indiana or Illinois.

Mr. EWING corroborated the statement that there was no distress felt in Indiana; and he maintained that there was a general feeling that the people should have some benefit from the profits derived by the bank; that they thought these profits should not be monopolized by any institution which properly belonged to themselves. As other memorials had been printed, he would vote for the printing of this, both in German and English.*

*HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
February 27, 1831. S

for the benefit of a few, and had reason to believe, when their authority was not exercised for the benefit of all, it was abused; that, Messrs. GALES & SEATON: inasmuch as corporation banks belong to a few, the authority of Gentlemen: I am sorry to be required to correct every notice this Government, founded upon the equal rights and equal privitaken in reports of what has heretofore fallen from me since I have leges of the people, should not be conferred upon such institutions, occupied a seat, or, by silence, suffer the most obnoxious misrep- nor would the freemen of the country rest satisfied that power thus resentations to go forth to the world. This is the case more par- conferred would not be abused to all eternity; that I viewed a comticularly in a perversion of my sentiments expressed on the 24th bination of State banks yet more dangerous and much more subinstant, as republished, from the Globe of yesterday, in the Intel- ject to abuse, for they are unconstitutional monopolies, and beyond ligencer of this morning. It may arise from the position of my the reach of the power of this House; that I could not sanction seat, that I have not been distinctly heard by the reporters; but such places of deposite, except temporarily, until a proper substi what is not heard should not be reported without inquiry. And I tute can be organized; that, although the opinions of the President find my consciousness confirmed by every member I have con- are reported to be fixed, yet that fact, situated as matters now sulted, that, when I followed my colleague on the occasion advert-stand, is not to control the action of the representatives of the ed to, I did not corroborate his statements, but, on the contrary, people; it leads to his own accumulation of power, and I should felt myself called upon, (and so stated,) as Indiana had been referred to in a way to impress a wrong belief of no dissatisfaction or apprehended distress existing there, because remonstrances were not obtruded upon Congress, to avow that many letters had reached me, manifesting great dissatisfaction and fear of approaching pressure; that the want of a safe and sufficient circulating medium is felt, and that the effect of recent measures, touching the deposites and the United States Bank, could not be experienced until the produce of the last season be sent to market, which will be in the month of March; that it was known I was the advocate of a national bank, to be constituted upon principles very different from those of the existing corporation; that the people did not confer power

give to Cæsar only what of right he is entitled to; the control of the purse the people deposited with Congress, and in Congress this power must be kept; that, however desirous I felt to agree with the President, I would not be tempted to abandon the rights and interests of the people and the union of these States, which a uniform and safe currency is essential to promote; that the people must have the control, &c., &c.

I need add nothing more, as I here give you enough to show to the world what is known to every member of the House, that I have been entirely misrepresented in the report published. Respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO. EWING,

[blocks in formation]

in relation to the currency of the country had moved on: smoothly; but he feared, from present appearances, this state of things would not long exist.

Mr. LANE made some explanations in reply to his colleague, [Mr. EWING.]

The question was then taken on the motion to print the names signed to the memorial, and decided in the affirmative-Yeas 111, nays 91.

MEMORIAL FROM CHESTER, PA.

Mr. POTTS presented a memorial of inhabitants of the county of Chester, in the State of Pennsylvania, praying that the deposite of the public money may be restored to

the Bank of the United States.

On presenting this memorial, Mr. P. said that he had presented six memorials from citizens of Pennsylvania, his immediate constituents, of a character similar to many others presented to the House.

[H. of R.

Mr. ADAMS moved to suspend the rules for the purpose of enabling him to submit a motion; (the assent of two-thirds of the House is necessary to the suspension of a rule;) on this motion the division was, ayes 88, noes 52. So the motion was not carried.

[The reporter is enabled to state that the resolution which Mr. ADAMS was not allowed to move was in the following words:

"Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to report to this House a statement of all the sums denominated, in the Treasury accounts, unavailable funds; specifically designating the several banks or individuals indebted to the Treasury therefor; the time when each debt first became due; the time when failure of payment thereof first occurred; the security, if any, which the public have for payment thereof at any time; and the prospect of such eventual payment."]

FORTIFICATIONS.

The House then resumed the consideration of the bill

were ordered.

The memorialists represented that a most severe pressure existed in the moneyed concerns of the community; that public confidence was greatly impaired; and that the making appropriations for certain fortifications of the currency of the country was becoming daily more and United States. more unsettled and deranged. They represented that The question being on the motion of Mr. McDuffie to hundreds of their fellow-citizens, whose business was de-recommit the bill to the Committee of the Whole on the pendant on a regular market, public confidence, and the state of the Unionusual accommodations incident to mercantile and com- Mr. McDUFFIE explained that his only wish was to mercial pursuits, were on the verge of ruin; that they recommit the bill in order to have its provisions more were excited to inquiry as to the cause and the remedy fully investigated; he asked for the yeas and nays, which for a state of things so alarming, and so destructive of the best interests of the country; and that they felt themselves bound to declare that, in their opinions, the distress and difficulties experienced in the moneyed concerns of the community were fairly ascribable to the removal of the public deposites from the Bank of the United States. They, therefore, called upon Congress, whose province they believed it to be, to provide the remedy; to place the currency on the same sound foundation in which it was known to stand on the 1st of September last. That, whilst they expressed their doubts of any measure short of the restoration of the public moneys to the Bank of the United States having the desired effect, they, at the same time, declared themselves impressed with the deepest conviction, and fullest assurance, that, by the adoption of that measure, public confidence would be restored, the currency be redeemed from its debased and vitiated state, the distress that now prevails would be relieved, and the

ruin that now threatens be averted.

Mr. POLK reminded the House of the fact that there were four works introduced into the bill for which small appropriations had been previously made. One of these forts was in Boston harbor, another at New Orleans, a third for the defence of Pensacola, and the other at Throg's Neck, New York. The Secretary of War deemed it necessary that these works should be completed. The aggregate appropriation was about sixty-six thousand dollars beyond that of last year.

Mr. WILDE said that the fact of these appropriations being for the benefit of the great commercial ports would secure their passage. He adverted to the project for a defence of the seacoast by General Bernard, and to the classification and estimated expense of the various works. The armament of these fortifications would consume a great amount of money, would require much time, and would render necessary a large augmentation of the military force. To show this, he referred to information Mr. P. said that he fully concurred in opinion with the communicated to Mr. Hamilton, of South Carolina, when memorialists as to the cause, the extent, and the remedy he was chairman of the Military Committee of the House. for the existing evils; that he believed that, by the remo- He stated a few other facts to show the importance of a val of the public treasure from its proper and legitimate full examination. depository-an act by which public confidence had been Mr. CAMBRELENG said he thought that a less amount deeply shaken, and credit, the active, vivifying principle could not properly be appropriated. He said that the of trade and business, had perished--a blow had been evil which existed did not grow out of the appropriations struck, heart deep, at the prosperity of the country; that, for the navy and the army, but out of the expenditures with them, he too agreed that it was peculiarly the prov- beyond these objects.

ince of Congress to place the currency upon a sure and Mr. PINCKNEY said that he desired the recommitment stable foundation; but that that subject would be left to of the bill, and, if it were not recommitted, that he should be regulated by the Legislative Department of the Gov-be compelled to vote against the bill. He was not op ernment, he confessed he entertained many and strong posed to fortifications, but the annual appropriations had doubts. He would, however, forbear further comment, increased until they had reached an amount which he and move that the memorial be referred to the Committee thought too large, in a moment of profound peace, and of Ways and Means.

when economy ought to be an object of attention and purAfter the reception of sundry other memorials, the suit. In the present state of our finances, we could not House adjourned.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25.

After the reading of the journal,

Mr. ADAMS, of Massachusetts, asked the unanimous consent of the House to make a motion; (such consent being requisite, under the present arrangement of the rules of the House, to enable any member to make a motion.) Objection being made to this request,

afford to make extravagant appropriations. The Presi dent had recommended to Congress to avoid such appropriations.

The CHAIR called the gentleman to order, as going into a range of debate which the question did not permit. Mr. PINCKNEY then stated that his object was to move an amendment. He remarked that there was a fort in Charleston harbor called Fort Moultrie, of which the Carolinians had been proud, and for which they had never

« ZurückWeiter »