SENATE.] Ontario County (N. Y.) Memorial.—Hanover (York County, Pa.) Proceedings. [APRIL 25, 1834. the proceedings of Sunday. He had no doubt that there were, among the assemblage, men of the highest respectability. But, admitting this, he must also say, that he could not doubt that these gentlemen had suffered the excitement of the moment to render them forgetful of their duty to their country. The memorial was then referred to the Committee on Finance, and ordered to be printed. HANOVER (YORK CO., PA.) PROCEEDINGS. Mr. CLAY presented the proceedings and resolutions of a public meeting in the district of Hanover, in York county, Pennsylvania, against the removal of the deposites. On presenting these proceedings Mr. WEBSTER said he had understood the honorable gentleman from Georgia as confining his remarks to the meeting which took place on Sunday last; and if he (Mr. W.) had not expressed himself so explicitly as he might Mr. CLAY rose and said: I am made, Mr. President, have done, he certainly did not wish to misrepresent the the organ of communicating to the Senate the resolutions honorable member. He would, however, tell him that and proceedings of a respectable meeting of the citizens he would do well to refrain from indulging in such re- of Hanover district, a part of the highly important counmarks as he had used, in reference to the Baltimore ty of York, in the State of Pennsylvania. Hanover is a meeting, and with which he had found so much fault. beautiful valley on the east side and near to the first range With respect to what the honorable Senator had said of mountains as you proceed westwardly, distant from about Governor Snyder, he (Mr. W.) would merely say Baltimore about forty-five miles. These resolutions emathat he had never the pleasure of knowing Governor Sny-nate from an orderly, moral, industrious, and estimable der. He had, however, always understood him to be a community, embracing farmers, mechanics, and persons stern and inflexible friend of liberty, a man of strong engaged in most of the busy vocations incident to our ensense, honest purpose, and warm patriotism. I have never terprising people. They express themselves in the man(said Mr. W.) heard those qualities denied to him; and I ly language of freemen, firmly and fearlessly, but decohave no doubt his worthy descendants inherit these char-rously. acteristics; and, for this reason, I cherish for them re- The meeting express their conviction that the removal spect and regard. of the deposites, on the responsibility of the President, Mr. LEIGH felt no desire to take part in this conver- was an assumption of power which ought to be resisted sation, but he could not forbear remarking, as one of the by every American citizen, under any circumstances; and prominent "signs of the times," the introduction of re- that they will, to the utmost of their power, resist Execuligion into the political affairs of the Union. The other tive encroachments and usurpations. They declare that day, he had heard a gentleman in another place drawing the restoration of the deposites would not only be an act a parallel between the present times in this country and of justice to the bank, but would contribute to the revithose of Charles I and Oliver Cromwell in England. He val of the public prosperity of a country almost ruined by could not but wish that the gentleman from Georgia had the Executive. They express their opinion that the charbeen present. That gentleman had alluded to the meet-ter of the bank ought to be renewed; and they condemn ing which took place at Baltimore on the Sabbath. The the conduct of the Governor of Pennsylvania as vacillahonorable Senator, with his genius, he was sure, could ting and time-serving. I concur entirely in all these sennot fail to discover one point of resemblance in that timents of the good people of Hanover. parallel. Mr. President, Pennsylvania has been ever distinguish He (Mr. L.) did not mean to defend any irregularities ed by her ardent attachment to democracy. I, too, was on the Sabbath, or to vindicate the people of Baltimore educated, and have always followed, in the same school. for having assembled on the Sabbath. The President was All my principles have been drawn from it. But my dea very religious man-so was the gentleman from Geor-mocracy has taught me that civil liberty was its prime obgia! He had no doubt of it-not the least. And, as he ject, and free institutions and great measures of national (Mr. L.) should not interfere between the consciences of policy were its means. It has inculcated on me a steady those individuals and their God, so should the gentleman and firm adherence to first principles, without regard to not interfere between the consciences of the people of men, or any individual man. It has enjoined me never to Baltimore and their God. He (Mr. L.) could not resist renounce my principles for the sake of any mortal being. telling a story. A clergyman, remarkable for his piety, It has instilled into my mind jealousy of executive pow was speaking in the presence of a stranger, who did not know him, in terms of charity, of some irregularity, folly, or vice, which that stranger thought very enormous, He then asked the clergyman this question: "Sir, have you any religion in your heart?" The clergyman replied, "None to talk of." er, executive patronage, and executive influence. In a conflict between power and prerogative, on the one hand, and freedom and liberal principles on the other, it does not allow me to doubt the course which I ought to take. It requires me to regard men in power as mere instruments to accomplish the salutary purposes for which Govvernment was instituted-the safety, welfare, and liberty of the people. And it enforces on me to abandon them when they are false or faithless to their high trust. Mr. FORSYTH said, that of the religion of the President he did not think it proper to speak. He knew little or nothing about the matter, and therefore should not interfere with it. But of his own, as the honorable Sen- The meeting in Hanover district denounce the conduct ator from Virginia had referred to it, he might say some of their Governor as vacillating and time-serving. Sir, thing. He regretted to inform the gentleman, that, with there was a moment, during the present session of Conrespect to his religion, as well as many other topics con- gress, when all eyes, and all hopes, and all hearts, were cerning which he had heard him express himself, he was turned towards Harrisburg. Governor Wolf almost held greatly mistaken. He (Mr. F.) was very, very sorry, he in his hands the fate of the constitution, and of the counwas not a religious man. Now, with regard to the gen- try. He had repeatedly expressed himself in favor of a tleman's story: he really did not understand his point, sound currency, and in favor of the Bank of the United and could not make any reply to it; nor did he understand States. If he had been a man of consistency, of firmness, his allusion to the days of Charles I, and of Cromwell. He and of patriotism, there remained for him but one clear had certainly done nothing to imply a suspicion that he line of conduct. But how, at this critical juncture, did had attempted to address himself to the false feelings of he fulfil the general expectations? He shrunk from his a certain class of the community. He had seen such duty, and, lending himself to executive usurpation, joined things done here several times, at which he had felt much in denouncing the conduct of that bank which had been mortified; but, nevertheless, he treated such efforts with the object of his previous commendation. As the organ the most profound contempt. of Pennsylvania, he should have boldly stood up for APRIL 25, 1834.] Hanover (York County, Pa.) Proceedings. [SENATE. Pennsylvania rights, Pennsylvania policy, Pennsylvania | Magistrate, sustained him by vast majorities. The elecprinciples. Three important points have characterized tion for her Representative came on a few days ago. On Pennsylvania, prior to the administration of Governor the side of the administration was the old member, a Wolf: Internal improvements, the American system, and gentleman whom I well know, whom I personally esteem, a sound general currency, supplied through the agency of excellent character and high reputation, of great perof a bank of the United States. sonal and hereditary popularity. He was the grandson of Patrick Henry himself, and the only surviving son of one of the most eminent judges and jurists of his day— the lamented Spencer Roane. On the other side was a gentleman who had never served in public life; never been, I believe, a candidate for office. He was, it is true, of pure and unsullied character and fame, and of high moral and intellectual attainments. The Governor has stood by and seen, with silent acquiescence, or at least without manly resistance, the first paralyzed by an unintelligible jargon about national and local objects; the second insidiously assailed, sought to be secretly undermined, and only saved from complete destruction by the compromise; and he has joined in the personal and party war which has been so unnecessarily waged against the third. Well, sir, we heard yesterday from Cold Harbor and His Excellency reminds me of an anecdote. Some the Court-house, and there the administration was beaten, years ago a most worthy gentleman, but of blustering horse, foot, and dragoons. Cold Harbor and the Courtmanner, with bold and brave words in his mouth, and no house could stand a great deal from the modern Roman, courage in his heart, was at a Virginia watering-place. but they could not stomach the protest. It remained for He lodged in one of the out-houses erected for the ac- us to hear from Negro-foot, which included two other commodation of visiters. One night, whilst he was in bed, districts, Long-and-Hungry, and Hell-town. There was wide awake, a thief broke in, and deliberately rifled his some congeniality between these names and the protest, purse of its contents, without any resistance. The next which induced me to fear that old Hanover might not susmorning, at the place of general rendezvous, the Spring, tain her ancient whig principles. But, sir, we have got he was relating the incident; and some of the company the tidings to-day, and glorious tidings they are. asked him if he did not see the thief. See him-why ver is herself again. The protest stood no chance at yes, I thought he would have taken the shirt off my back. Negro-foot, Long-and-Hungry, or even in Hell-town. His Excellency has seen Pennsylvania stript, one after And the descendant of Patrick Henry, and the son of another, of all her leading principles but one, and he has Spencer Roane, after proudly walking over the undispuquietly laid by, wide awake, until he sees, not only with- ted turf for years, has been distanced by a new and unout opposition but with approbation, this last garment tried steed. about to be torn from her. Hano The fate of this protest reminds me of another anec Mr. President, in ordinary times, and under usual cir- dote. Several years ago an inhabitant from Buncombe, in cumstances, I should not have felt myself at liberty to North Carolina, going to Kentucky, met a Kentuckian, animadvert upon the official conduct of a chief magistrate {leaving his State, on the mountains which separate it from of any State. But as Governor Wolf chose, at an eventful the parent State. The Buncombe man asked the Kentucperiod, to throw his official weight into the scale against what I believe to be the constitution and liberties and prosperity of my country; as his intervention was at the moment perhaps decisive in another part of this Capitol; and as the people of Hanover district have expressly alluded to his conduct, I have felt myself justified in the remarks which I have made. kian what was the news in Kentucky. He said, Nothing, but that there had been a great revival and stir in religion; almost every body was converted; and they had driv en the devil out of the State. Ah! says the Buncombe man; and pray, sir, can you tell me where he is gone to? We are not certain, replied the Kentuckian, but according to our latest accounts, he had taken refuge in Buncombe, in North Carolina. Í am sure, Mr. President, he did not long remain in that peaceful and orderly community, and I rather think that, at this time, he has taken up his abode in the kitchen cabinet. Mr. President, will nothing open the eyes of this mad administration, and its infatuated supporters in Congress? Will gentlemen heedlessly rush on to their own destruction, and the ruin of their country? Will they not pause in their frightful career? Will they conceal from them I assure gentlemen that, in adverting to the late most selves the light and the hope which are every where gratifying demonstrations of the popular will and judg bursting forth around us? Are they ignorant of the grat-ment, it is in no spirit of vain boasting or exultation over ifying results of numerous elections, to the North and to their fall. The mass of all parties I believe to be sound, the South, of which we daily receive intelligence? Have well-intentioned, and patriotic; and that of the Jackson they heard of the recent issue of the election in Hanover party as much so as most others. What other interests county, Virginia, of revolutionary memory, that genuine Whig county? As my native county, I shall be pardoned, I hope, for adverting to an event which fills me with heart-felt satisfaction. than those of the character, fame, and prosperity, of our common country, can the mass have? No, sir; it is in no party feeling or party spirit, that I rejoice, sincerely rejo ce, in the signs of the times. It is from motives far, far Hanover county was the first in Virginia to raise its above any party feelings or party spirit. It is because I arms against British oppression. Lord Dunmore, the hail the approach of the day when reason and truth, virGovernor of the colony, was about to transfer, and had tue and justice, the constitution and civil liberty will triactually transferred, a part of the public deposites, in umph over error and delusion, folly and wickedness. the arsenal at Williamsburg, from their lawful position, I move the printing and the reference to the Committo a British vessel in the river. Patrick Henry, a native tee on Finance of the resolutions of the meeting in Hanof Hanover, put himself at the head of a company of over district. Hanover volunteers, and marched towards Williamsburg, Mr. FORSYTH thought it hardly regular to call in to compel a restoration of the munitions of war. And question here the official conduct of the Governors of the Governor Dunmore found it expedient to compromise States. No doubt the gentleman from Kentucky disapthe matter with the gallant and patriotic commander of proved of what the Governor of Pennsylvania had done, the volunteers. Hanover was the early theatre of many because it was a damper. The Senators from New Jerof those eloquent and thrilling orations of Henry that sub- sey had attempted to vindicate their course of conduct sequently aroused his countrymen, and stimulated them on this floor, for having acted contrary to the instructions to the exertion of all their energies in the establishment of their Legislature, by pointing to the indications, on the of their independence and their liberty. part of the people of the State, as being against the opin Hanover, in both the elections of the present Chief ion of the Legislature. That the people of the States SENATE.] Hanover (York County, Pa.) Proceedings. [APRIL 25, 1834. might say what they liked of their officers, and could retrace his steps; and, as he (Mr. F.) had before observsend denunciations to Congress, was perfectly true. He ed, had appealed to individuals here to use their influhad nothing to say against the exercise of their right. ence to induce the President to do that which every man But he would insist on it, that, to take up the official con- knew would not be done-to retrace his steps. Every duct of a Governor of a State, and make it the subject of one knew that it was impossible for mortal man to prevail censure, was not decorous. The Governor of Pennsyl- on him to undo that which he believed it was his duty to vania had, however, proved, by the practical operation do. Why, then, these personal appeals? He would tell of his message, that he understood the true interest of his gentlemen, it was for the purpose of causing public exState, under the pressure which was produced, not only citement against the President, who had indisputably the there, but in all portions of the Union, by causes which power to do what he had done. it was not then necessary to refer to. All the great and Mr. CLAY said, the venerable Senator from Georgia magnificent works that were going on in Pennsylvania, [Mr. FORSYTH] inquires in which of the sections of Hanunder her own laws, had been stopped, and might have over described by me was I born. I apply to him that remained so for ever; but the stand taken by the Govern- epithet, because he recently told us that he had witnessor produced the funds necessary to carry on the improve-ed the salutations and the shaking of hands between ments, in despite of an institution which he had had the General Washington and his fellow-citizens, on his Southhardihood to denounce. ern tour, during the first term of his Presidency. If I The honorable Senator from Kentucky seemed to think am not mistaken, that was about forty-two years ago; and the conduct of the Governor highly censurable, because as the Senator appears to recollect, with great particuhe had united with the President in regard to the Bank, larity, even a shake of the hand, he must have enjoyed at he having believed, twelve or eighteen months ago, that that time faculties very nearly mature. I was very young the institution ought to be re-chartered. Now he (Mr. at that period, and must suppose the Senator my senior. F.) would ask, what were the reasons which had pro- As to the exact spot of my nativity, it has been a good duced this change in the mind of the Governor? If honor- while ago, and it will be readily conceived that I was very able Senators imagined it was man-worship, they did young at my birth. The place where that event hapthat officer great injustice. Could gentlemen blind them- pened, which enables me to stand before you, was beselves to what had taken place in Pennsylvania, to the cir- tween Black Tom's Slash and Hanover Court-house, or, cumstances that had wrought so great a change there? to fix the spot more precisely, between the Merry Oaks Let Senators ask themselves what had produced the rev- and the Court-house, about half-way between them, and olution which had taken place in the Legislature of that not very far from St. Paul's church, at the vestry-house great State? If they believed it was a mere disposition of which I went to school several years. for man-worship, then they were unjust to the State, the The honorable Senator thinks it not proper or decorGovernor, and the Legislature. The gentleman from ous to refer to the official and public conduct of the GovKentucky seemed to derive great gratification from what ernor of Pennsylvania, whose course, he says, was sushe had heard in regard to the elections in Hanover coun tained by the majority of the Legislature; and that it is ty, Virginia. It had been said that the glorious spirit of not treating the State of Pennsylvania with due respect. Hanover had been aroused, and it was true that the peo- As to what is decorous towards the Governor, I cannot ple there were turning to Clay. Well, if that circum- consent to be governed by the sense of the honorable stance could give the honorable Senator so much gratifi- Senator, or by any other than my own. The Governor cation, then all he (Mr. F.) would say was, that the gen- is a public man, whose official acts have exerted an imtleman had derived consolation from a very small source. The Senator had amused them by alluding to some districts, the names of which were most singular; but he (Mr. F.) need not repeat them. Now, he should like to know what district had the honor of giving birth to the Senator from Kentucky. portant influence, at a highly critical moment, upon the deliberations of Congress. They were probably put forth to produce effect, and they produced great effect. The Senator himself acknowledged that they operated as a damper. Have I not a right to examine them, and to compare the Governor with himself? Have I not the The gentleman had appealed to certain Senators, for privilege, as a public man, of scrutinizing the conduct of the purpose of inducing them to use their influence with another public man, and showing that it ought not to the President, to prevail on him to retrace his steps, and have the weight which has been unfortunately attached to restore the constitution and laws of the country. What to it? Have I not as much right to comment upon the can we do, said Mr. F., who are in a minority? The hon-course of the Governor as the Senator has to criticise the orable gentleman, and those who acted with him, had violation of the Sabbath by citizens of Baltimore, and to the power; why, then, did they not do something to re- upbraid them for a disregard of the duties of a religion store the constitution and laws? At the commencement which he admits he does not profess? No one respects of the session, it had been said that action was unneces- more highly the great, powerful, and patriotic State of sary, as every thing was going to ruin; and now gentle-Pennsylvania than I do. But neither the Governor nor men asked for a measure of relief. How many months the majority of the late Legislature are the State monhad they been sitting there, and what had they done? archs. The late Emperor of France, a former French The only measure of redress which had been proposed, King, may claim to be the State; the President may was the bill of the honorable Senator from Massachusetts, imagine that he is the Government-but I am not preparand which now lies dead asleep on their table. He would ed to subscribe to these doctrines. If the people of Pennrepeat, What consistency was there in making those ap-sylvania shall sanction the course of their Governor, and peals which they had so frequently heard from some hon-of the majority of their Legislature, no one will be more orable members? Why did not gentlemen exercise the ready than I shall be to bow with all deference to the depower which they knew, and the people knew, they pos-cision of the people; but that remains to be pronounced. sessed here? Let them produce their measure of relief; The Senator asks, Why don't the majority of the Senate let Senators do their duty; and let the consequences, if do something to reinstate the laws and restore public prosthe measure proved a failure, fall upon the heads of those perity? We have been before taunted in the same manner. who are responsible for it. He hoped honorable Sena- What can the majority of the Senate, without co-operators would spare their appeals, and content themselves tion, do? If it expresses its opinion, in the form of a with the exercise of that power which the constitution resolution, instead of conciliating co-operation, it pro gave them, for it was amply sufficient. The gentleman vokes a protest. Why will not the Executive, instead of from Kentucky had complained that the President did not transmitting to us an unauthorized protest, send us a con APRIL 25, 1834.] Hanover (York County, Pa.) Proceedings. [SENATE. stitutional recommendation, adapted to the exigency of though the Governor should be characterized as vacillathe times? The gentleman says that every man knows ting and time-serving, he would not give himself much unthat the President will not retrace his steps. He will not easiness on that account. True, the Senator from Kenretrace his steps! and why should he not? Why should tucky had enlarged upon the expressions in the resoluhe be above the reach of public opinion? No Emperor tion, and even with that he was not disposed to find fault; nor King in Europe, dare disregard public opinion. And it was the gentleman's province to do so. The Senator yet we are told that our President (and who is he but the from Virginia, on his right, [Mr. LEIGH,] said, the other servant of the people?) will remain unmoved in his ruin- day, that he would not defend Virginia, for the very fact ous course. He has himself, indeed, declared that nei- of an attempt to defend, implied defect of character. He ther the voice of the Legislature, nor the people them- was pleased with the maxim, and would adopt it on this selves, shall divert him from his purpose. But we have occasion. The character of the present Governor of recently seen that he can retract, either voluntarily or by Pennsylvania could not suffer from imputations cast upon the influence of others. He sent us a protest last week it by gentlemen here or elsewhere. There was, howasserting the exclusive right of the Executive to the cus- ever, one allusion upon which he wished to say a word. It tody of the public treasury. He claimed, indeed, that was said that Governor Wolf held different opinions, at the possession of all the public property of the nation, different periods, in reference to the Bank of the United and the public purse, as well as the sword, belonged to States. Mr. McK. said, at the time first alluded to, he him, and not to Congress, and that Congress could not stood in a relation to the Governor which gave him an deprive him of it. On Monday last he transmitted a supple- opportunity of understanding minutely his opinions on mental message to the Senate, disclaiming the doctrines, the question of re-chartering the Bank of the United in this particular, of the prior message. Unless the af-States, and it was almost the only one upon which they firmative and the negative—can and cannot―yes and no-differed. However, he was at that time opposed to the mean precisely the same thing, he can retrace and has bank-and he stated, as a matter of his own knowledge, retraced his steps. How he did it would be a matter of that Governor Wolf was then, and is now, in favor of a curious secret history. I have heard and believe (al-national bank, and he believes the fiscal concerns of the though I will not vouch for the accuracy of the statement) Government cannot get along without it. He does think, that the supplement was prepared by some of the parti- however, that recent developments in relation to the mansans of the President, collected at a certain house on Sat-agement of that institution, are sufficient to create doubts urday night last, without consulting with him, and after as to its influence upon the public morals. ture. FIE, and BINNEY,] and had, by name, received the strong approbation of the public meeting whose proceedings were then before the Senate, he thought that some supernatural agency must have been employed to effect so miraculous a result. it was concocted, it was presented to him for his signa- Mr. BROWN said, if his Satanic majesty had, at any time, left Kentucky and taken refuge in Buncombe The Senator speaks of popular excitement, and of county, North Carolina, it was certain he had not always treason. Sir, I hope the people will be excited-I would remained there since; for when gentlemen who had, for appeal to them collectively and individually; I would go some years past, and until very recently, stood as oppoto every cabin and cottage in the country, if it were pos- site to each other politically as the antipodes, had been sible, and awaken all, all to the perils with which we are grouped together, in one of the resolutions which had just threatened. Treason! and what is the treason, or the been read, [Messrs. CLAY, CALHOUN, WEBSTER, MCDUFalmost treason, of the honorable Senator? Nothing more than words-words which, during what was called the reign of terror, were considered as amounting only to sedition. But under this administration, determined to go ahead, and in advance of all others, they are to be regarded as almost treason! The parallels of history, Mr. Presi- The attack of the honorable gentleman upon the Govdent, are remarkable. About the commencement of the ernor of Pennsylvania, was entirely out of place, and unAmerican Revolution, when the patriot and orator to called for. The Governor of that State was accountable to whom I have often alluded (the great uncle of my friend those from whom he derived his official authority, and to from South Carolina, Mr. PRESTON) poured forth indig-none others. The Senator from Kentucky had made it a nant strains in the Colonial Legislature against the tyranny serious cause of complaint against that gentleman, that he of George the Third, loyal members cried out Treason! should continue to support a President who had done treason! and it resounded throughout the ancient capitol much to arrest the internal improvement system, and who at Williamsburg. And now, when the people are de-aimed a destructive blow against the tariff. Mr. B. was nouncing arbitrary acts of the Executive of the present happy to hear justice done to the President on this subday, not less loyal members cry out again, Treason! But ject. It had been attempted, here and elsewhere, to denow, as then, I trust it will be unavailing, and that the prive the President of the merit which the honorable gen. vigilance of the people will continue to be exercised until all danger is dissipated. Mr. McKEAN asked for the reading of the resolution that alluded to the Governor of Pennsylvania; which the Secretary read as follows: tleman had very properly awarded him; and the declaration which he had made, on this occasion, should be received, now and hereafter, as evidence to establish the claims of the present administration to the credit of having done that, for which they were entitled to the highest "Resolved, That while we disapprove the vacillating commendation. The course of the Governor of Pennor time-serving policy of the Governor of Pennsylvania, sylvania, in opposition to the bank, had done him immorwith regard to the Bank of the United States, we highly tal honor. The stand which the patriotic State of Penncommend the course pursued toward that institution by sylvania had taken, had added another just cause of gratiDaniel Webster, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, Horace tude and admiration to the many others furnished by her Binney, and Mr. McDuffie, and their associates in Con-history, for the disinterested and noble example which she has set. Elevated above those mercenary feelings gress." Mr. McKEAN said, he was aware that the public opin- which but too often influence human action, she was opions of public men were public property, and fair sub-posed to cherish in her bosom a proud and corrupt monjects of public animadversion; and if, in these times of in-eyed monopoly, which aspires to bring the country under discriminate crimination and recrimination, it became ne- its arbitrary control. cessary for political effect, to include the name of the "un- The honorable gentleman had congratulated his politiassuming" Governor of "unassuming Pennsylvania," with cal friends on the success of the anti-administration party the other distinguished names in the resolution, even in Hanover, a small county in Virginia. Mr. B. said, if SENATE.] Hanover York County, Pa.) Proceedings.-President's Protest. [APRIL 25, 1834. the friends of constitutional liberty were destined to wit-dence throughout the country, to produce general embarness the overthrow of those principles, in quarters from rassment, and, by means such as these, to effect a politiwhich they might have expected a voice animating and cal change in favor of the party now out of power. cheering them in the great contest which was now waging, Most of the information which he had received from in opposition to the mighty power of the bank, it was a that State confirmed him in the opinion that the condition source of the highest satisfaction to perceive, that the of her citizens generally, in relation to pecuniary affairs, spirit of the great democratic party in our country con- was sound and healthful, and that the prosperity of her tinued firm and invincible, and that the great body of the independent farmers and planters never rested on a more people were on the side of the country and against the bank. solid basis than at this time. The honorable gentleman had, in the course of his remarks, appealed to what he had been pleased to call the whig party, and urged them to exertion in the great contest which was now going on between the parties which divide the country. He had been informed, from sources in which he placed the most implicit reliance, that drafts on the North could readily be obtained from the Bank of Cape Fear, at the small premium of a quarter per cent., that being on terms as favorable as the United States Bank had ever transMr. B. would recur for a few moments to the history of acted business of that kind, so far as he was informed. parties in England and this country, to show what claim This fact afforded abundant proof, not only of the entire this new-fangled and self-styled whig party had to the ap competency of the State banks to conduct the fiscal conpellation which they were about to assert an exclusive cerns of the Government, but of their ability to afford title to. In England, if his memory did not much deceive the same facilities to the commercial interest in carrying him as to the history of parties, the high tory party had on the business of exchange between distant portions of generally been among the strongest supporters of the the Union, as those afforded at any time heretofore by great moneyed monopoly which had so long existed in the Bank of the United States. that country, and which had been a part of that formida- Mr. B. said, that every means which ingenuity could ble government machinery, whose power and influence devise, had been industriously seized on, and dexterously had been so effectually and successfully exerted to keep used by political partisans, to withdraw the true question the many in subjection to the will of the few. at issue, and to make erroneous impressions on the public In the writings of the illustrious Jefferson, published mind. The opponents of the administration, well aware since his death, he expresses the opinion that the Secre- that the conduct of the bank cannot stand the test of tary of the Treasury, in 1791, favored the introduction scrutiny before the public eye, with that skill and address of a national bank in the United States, with a view of which have often been resorted to with advantage in miliplacing in the hands of the Government a powerful en-tary operations, seek, on every occasion which presents gine to subserve party purposes, and to assimilate our itself, to make a diversion in favor of the bank, by attackGovernment, in its practical operation on the people, still ing the acts of the Executive, and misrepresenting both more to the English system of government. Mr. B. his conduct and his motives. Mr. B. said, that, for himsaid that two great epochs had occurred in our history, self, he should keep steadily in view the great question between which and the present period, he thought he which he considered really at issue, which was, whether could perceive many points of resemblance. When the the pretensions set up by an arrogant moneyed aristocrapeople of this country had solemnly determined to throw cy, and the political party supporting it, should prevail in off the yoke of the British government, there was a party the conflict; or whether the cause of the country, and the then, who endeavored to alarm and intimidate them, by Chief Executive Magistrate, who was defending the citadepicting the ruin and distress which would ensue from del of our liberties against the most dangerous assaults, it; but instead of listening to those panic-makers and should be sustained. alarmists, they were willing to encounter any degree of On motion of Mr. WILKINS, who desired time to supply danger and distress rather than surrender their rights as himself with a copy of Governor Wolf's message concernfreemen. They persevered and finally triumphed, when, ing the bank, and with the consent of Mr. CLAY, the subif they had listened to those who were continually project was laid on the table. claiming ruin and distress, they would have remained in inglorious bondage. In the late war with England, the PRESIDENT'S PROTEST. same attempts were made by the opposition party as now, The Senate then proceeded to the consideration of the to overawe the Government and the people, by repre- special order, being the modified resolutions offered by senting the distress which an attempt to vindicate the Mr. POINDEXTER; rights of the country would bring on its citizens. The The question being on the motion of Mr. BIBB to mission, that they would be overwhelmed in ruin if the Mr. BIBB rose and said: The best administrations have To perform what he considered a solemn duty, he entered upon this discussion, and he would be untrue to his feelings, if he did not declare that he felt no gratification in being impelled to the task. He felt called upon by the occasion, to prevent, as far as his powers would serve, Mr. B. said, he felt gratified that the condition of the the vital spirit of the constitution, and the essential prin State of North Carolina was such as in a great degree ciples of civil liberty, from being lulled by the outward placed her citizens above the reach of the great efforts forms of the constitution, and drowned in the circling which had been for some months made to destroy confi-leddy of executive power. |