Newspapers / The Weekly Standard (Raleigh, … / May 2, 1838, edition 1 / Page 2
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A very skilful causist might allege, and per I rowing mpney far its own use, while it extends 3 !3 .1; 1 l.ans successfully maintain, that a man miaht be excused or justified in refusing to perform s du ty, where some greater and more obvious good would groW out or the refusal than out ol the 'performance,- This, by the way, is precisely the ground upon which Satan tempted our common mother J and ail must admit that it is a narrow bridge, over a yawning chasm, which none but -:' .. " tJ ' :.i a very sieaay. Drain may expect io pass wuuuui reeling, and the danger of falling. Yet this, if 1 am. able to understand him, is the position in which the president places his bank Now what is the good to be accomplished by a refusal on the part of the banks to exercise their power of tesumpuon f in me nrsi piace, n is siuieu "they have no; funds not already lent out to the people, of whose industry and property they are the reore3ejtfative& They are only other names for the farms, the commerce, the lactones and the internal improvements of the country; and the inquiry whetherthe banks are ready to resume, isonly another mode of asking- whether the peo- pie are reauy to pay men ucuia iu mc uuuno. And i. it indeed so, that all the farms, the com merce. the factories and the internal improve menis of the country are virtually in pawn for the rfflmntion of the bank naner. and that their. tro- prietors only, wait the fiats of the banks for their faith, this independence of morality, this con e..rrnr?or? Ti T not an It is one of the delu- tempt for the law. is to be shown. And who is mn r.M-nsed unnn nonular eredulitv. The'1 this thrice mentioned enemy who is to leave not rnnnt;nn nr mr inHhtH tn ihe hnnUs is much onlv the field, but the country ? Will it be be- smaller than is generally supposed, and is found iieved by the American people, although the mainly among the mercantile and speculative president of the bank himself has declared it, that classes. But allowing, for the argument, that it enemy is no other than the Government of the is true, why, I would ask, did the banks place United States i VVe surely must Have an "eaten themselves in thit situation? why did they lend of the ins sue root," or the "moon must have u; raoooo ii.Viii ttinr L-npui that Kw sn An. come nearer to the earth than she is wont, and ing, they would be forced to break through all made men mad," that such language should be their sacred engagements? or,.if disdaining every used by an American citizen, applauded by thou-thitio- but political considerations, (as seems to be sands of others, & silently listened to and brook- ih unni nf nmnrihm. nt ten! l ivhv did thev. rd bv tne residue. v nai is irea&uu " - ' J . J ' . , , credit to them-for its revenue, which they hold. And the ingratitude- is aggravated, in a great many,, by reproaches to the Administration for its poverty, and the emptiness of its Treasury. For this unhappj fact some manifest n savage joy, and overlay their patriotism and pride of country beneath party rancor and the lust of e molument and power. But there are two other'sentences, short in themselves, which should be taken in connec tion with what has been before cited, fully to comprehend its force. .The one is as fol lows : "Now, under such circumstances, is it wise for the banks to disarm themselves in the pre sence of their enemy ?" The other is about the close of the letter, and sounds very much like such an encouraging sen tence as might conclude the bulletin of a general to his army on the eve of a battle : "The American banks should do, in short, what the American army did at New Oilcans, stand fast behind their cotton bales until the ene my has left the country." , It i?, then, to drive an" enemy from the field, or to bring him to terms, that this violation of Is Chang- its upon among which exists, definitions? or does the crime de the nature of the iveapous used? i. n t..m(r fill thp nnnirv u-ithn rirmlntion insr bv force the established Government of a , ivhiih the writer nf the letter snus i hnsheen his country, or rebellion against that effort to banish "an irredeemable paper curren l .rv ?" Nothinor he declares is either safe or tol- nend erable as a currency "but the precious metals & or have . we any notions of such a thing as mo I noies always convertible into them." The truth ral treason ? or may a man disclose treasonable ! is, this convertible paper currency is the phrase of purposes, and hang out Us banner, who. has too 1 ""lamour" which has conjured into existence the much prudence to commit- the overt act and be i whole paper system. It is what nobody , would found with its usual weapons in his hand? 'I hese -.-- a a a-. y f .11 a ' ...L!.L ,IMBat a m fit Ana a. j object to, if the thing existed. Jiut protit in tne are an queMions wmuu eveiy mau muoi au... I issue, and real convertibility, cannot exist in suf- or himself. ' fi,.;..nt imitir m hllnw that ""word of Dromise to But what is the concession demanded of this the ear" to" remain unbroken "10 the hope." cruel and barbarous enemy ? Let the writer of The ph raze " convertible paper," has been used the letter answer : 5be the nnrserv soncr to the "III. The disorders of the currency lie too J- - I"-'. - j o i . . . -h Infant t lulls tn renose. and nrevents those deen for superficial remedies, and these palJit -ripc tvhlch wnnlJ warn friends of danger. &, the lives irritate without curing. Congress, and disease progresses until it triumphs over the coh- Congress alone, can apply ad quate relief. What sfitution. But is it true that the banks have no Mr. Madison said to Congress in I81b, is even ,h f,vnrl thnn thnse referred to? If so. what more true in 1838. .'For the interests of the ' ' FR03I THE GLOBE. ' - - BANK OF THE UNITED STATES., ' The following synopsis has been prepared from the returns made to Congress, especially those recendy called for by the Senate. To those ac quainted with the management of,banks, the ope rations of the Pennsylvania Bank ot the Unned States, since May last, will doubiless afford food for meditation. ... ' - Comparative viei of its condit ion in May , 1837, immediately preceding the suspension oj specie payments, and in April, 1833, after specie pay ments had been suspended between ten and ele ven months. May 1, 1837. April 2, 1833. Loans and discounts 03,552,952 43,070,833 EVti-oirrn hills flf fit- . IfiQIQfil I 2 17201687 change Stock account Balances due from a- gencies Real estate, including - banking houses Mortgages - Total of investments -supposed to yield in -come Specie . - - Notes of other banks -Due from State banks -Due from European -bankers - Total of immediate -means Nett circulation Deposites Dividend unclaimed -Due to State banks -Due to European bank ers Total of immediate lia bilities Post notes Loan in Europe, and - interest Bonds in Europe Due to United States - 6,214,666 10,014,168 1.226,125 147,751 1,505,938 195,207 71,141,494 73,871,717 1,490,968 2,689,470 1,420,393 3,903,213 1,495,262 2,289,569 666,756 5,600,831 8,354,800 7,193,021 2,846,933 75,036 1,753,993 361,418 6,403,426 3.836,572 '105,656 6,853,849 12,230,401 17,199,503 4,446,399 2,45,659 6,814,583 4,318,149 6,875,200 '4,918,281 6,900,411 6,133,560 ! i tection like that of the late Bank of the United Slates have they to sustain them 1 None what- becomes of the declaration of the president, so community at large,' said he, is well as for far as his bank is concerned, that "our prepara- the purposes of the Treasury, it is essential that tions would justify its resumption ?" But once the nation should possess a currency ol equal more: admitting it to be true again.n the above value, credit and use wherever it may circulate. cited declaration, let us try the position by the The Constitution -has entrusted Congress ex standard of morals, and what right, I.vould ask, clusively with the power ol creating and re has a man to forbear doing his duty because it g-.ila'ing a currency of that description.' The may be inconvenient to o'hers to do theirs? Up- only reform in the currency which that body has on the position assumed, if any thing like ruin- yet made, is the issue of ten millions of ir ous distress upon the people would be the con- redeemable paper money, and a proposal for ten sauence of resumption, forbearance might be millions more. Is it worth while, then, so long 'i justified. But this cannot be pretended. Some as Congress fails to exercise its legitimate pow- t temporary and partial inconvenience might be ers, to waste the strength of the country in ef ! felt, but no'.hin"- more. ions to accomplish, wnat we an Know to oe im I a a. a am ' a i I have thus placed first the best argument of practicable lo resume now, without some the president upon the score of expediency. clear understanding with the Government, seems i But it is evidently not the one most relied upon to be throwing away the benefits of experience, ' by him, for it only finds a plice in the recitative and the lessons of misfortune. We have gone part of his letter, and is not among the regular through all the mortification and all the mcon ; deductions from his premises. These, or rather venience of suspension. Let us endeavor to pro j this, is found in the following paragraph, prece- fit by them : to fix the future on some solid ba ded by a formal "accordingly:" which paragraph sis ; have some guarantee of the stability of the aaa a mm a I a a m A cannot be too fully brought to the consideration currency, and not set every thing anoat again, ' of the American people, and I accordingly copy without knowing where we may be drifted. a portion of it : And again -II. The credit system of the United States "In snort WDat reliance have the banks now. n M . l I .MAtAM mwa n 1 Willi HIT I 1 A Fl .11 L I T T. lIUSLIir L 1 1 I liri II V ft V 1 1 11 I 11111 iiuu iiic caliuoi rci y uitrkuiii s vsicm, aic uuiv I " - f -j i r I it in Ih0 holn mcp fn fiio ivil h pach nlhor vi tur tiiiici uiuoi iui-. i ucic tan nc uu . i T . . : . e .? I pgpr oiner usue. il is not a. uuesuun ui currerunvr 1 errors or reforming abuses, but of absolute dtv The concession, then, is the charter of a bank struction: not which shall conauer. but which simar to the late Bank of the United States: shall survive. The present struggle, too, must and ,,ith 13 lo De violated, justice disregarded, he final. If the banks resume, and are able, bv law trampled underfoot, and open rebellion pro sacrificing the community, to continue for a few claimed, that the Government may be forced to - .... - J - - - . . Il .'r l TT . In.! months, it will be conclusively employed at the cnaner a oanic 01 tne unueu states, vn lem - next elections to show that the schemes of the pora! Oh mores! What a spectacle is here pre Executive are not as destructive as they will sented to an admiring world 1 This great nation. prove hereafter. But if they resume and again whose flag has floated for near half a century, nre compelled to suspend, the Executive will re- through sunshine and tempest, over every sea: ioice at this new triumph, and thev will fall in who has twice retired victorious from conflict the midst of a universal outer v against their weakness. This is perfectly understood, and strength and prowess have caused every other accordinnlv all the influence nf the Rxeeutive is to shrink from before her, is openly defied, in directed to drive the banks, by popular outrage suited, and denounced, and terms of compromise and clamor, into a premature resumption not a demanded of her, by a handful of her own citi bus'mess resumption, general and permanent, but zens, strenghtened into preternatural and inso a political and forced resumption, which may lent power by the magic of incorporation; pe- place them at the mercy of those in power. nalties threatened against her disobedience, and They who have special charge of these interests eiernai contumacy ueciareu uniess a iaw is pass must then beware of being decoyed from their ea according to their dictation. And what a , Tl ( l -i- I ' One whirh nlac.es the rehels hevnnH th ji lociil pvoitiuu. i iic mc uuiv saic nuu suuug, i . j .... and they should not venture beyond their en- reach of all farther responsibility, and arms lrenrhment while the enemv is in thr ntain h-- them with a power as resistless 85 that of the lore them." sweeping tornado. How very, soon are verified T a. 1 .1 .1 l I f Ko A an 1 a pntiAne rvi irla Vtr ti a in rKii .QunitA Kut r . i musi reniflTK. in nassinr. inai tne nan iz nrp. umiuuwuo hiuv vv a wvuinw u sident here makes the false issue which is al- fe v davs a?- in what we then ourselves sup- wavs tendered bv his nartisans. "The credit posed to be but the language of distant prophecy system of the United Slates." he remarks. "and that the paper system, which we had no means the exclusively metallic system, are now fairly checking, unless disconnected from it, must in the .field face to face with each other." Who, overthrow the. Government. It is for the people I would ask. has nlared them there? Tf the. to choose whether they will be their own mas L " t a I 1 ... r I 1 r 0 I " t I 1 la.tt r r r i .1 n A iittifnp .r l- i-v tiiia a 1 rn A . wmer oi me teuer claims ior nimseuci nis irienus w j,t,u w uo uutaujf :f the merit of this arrangement, I will not dispute spoken. Now is the time to choose. Efe long their claim: but it he imnutes n to the nartv " win De too rate, "in vain," it is said, "is tr.e in favor of an Independent Treusurv. I ut- nel spread in the sight of any bird." But if. , terly deny the charge. That party asks nothing aer the impudent avowals contained in the let- in reiauon to tne oanKs out inai tnev&noaia snr- m uu x-uave uceii tuuuiif uuuir, anv render that portion of the public, treasure which la"ge portion of the people are still deluded, the they already posses., and that they should not real lovers of rational liberty may take up the . be allowed to receive any more. We make no exclamation 01 tne Hebrew prophet: "Ephraim attack except such as we find necessarv to re- ls joined to his idols, let him alone." The ho- sist their insolent claim to be the onlv nroDer Ti'zontal cut will have been made in society, and agents of the public; and if, in showing their a proud aristocracy will - ride upon the necks of unfitness tor this trust, we have been compelled a prostrate and degraded people. to expose their defects, the fault, if any, does . Many things yet remain in this extraordinary not lie at our door. As guardians of the Public letter which I would have gladly noticed, and purse, we nao a auryio pertorm; and in its per- would .lain have been .more lull on the topics formance,; they have thought proper to come treated : but feel that I have extended this corn- forward, and submit themselves to our judgment, munication to an inconvenient length, and must We have pronounced that judgment, nnd it is not for them to complain. But, even it our en mity to i banks were conceded, does it follow that we are therefore opposed to credit ? - Banks are one mode of extending credit : but they are r. ihu onlv mode, and it i eertainlv n fair enK llVb UJW J . " J Jlof necinn vhp.thot than oro tha Ku Few men are the enemies of credit. The chief difference' among, rnen "is relative to its abuses. Teal or supposed; to the beat mode of .preserving it pure and uncontaminated by fraud. But the charge of enmity, and a disposition to ruin them, comes with an ill gTace from the banks and their reluctuantly close. I am, very respectfully yours, - R. STRANGE. Absence of mind. A hen. instead of setting on ner eggs, got upon a heap of pig-iron, .and uiu not aiscover her mistake until She hatched large number of spikes. it 357 fea ,awypr like woman? D'ye give it up? Because he' aw-mal. " Ther x.tA MenHs towards an Administration wh.Vh u..j .mont who sneezes so hi. Kirei to tSmlbenort liberal indulgence, bo7 ITrYei 7 -- he pitches has g Total ties of other liabi.i- 22,454,331 20,415,911 An explanation of some of these items may be proper. . The "stock account" made its first appearance in the return dated July 1, 1837. It was then $13, OH 853, and has gradually swelled- to its present amount. In the return oi mat uaie iue uub. ui inserted among its liabilities the amount ot bonds due to the United States ; and part of the sum included in the "stock account" may be the value of the shares in the old bank purchased by the new h nt from the Government. Mhe residue would appear to have been a mere transfer from the item of bills discounted to this new item "stock ac count." In the return dated June 3, 1837, the whole amount of bills discounted, of bills receivable for post notes, and of bills of exchange, was stated to be 63,5S9,833. In the return dated July 1, the whole amount of these bills was stated to be $56, siQoai. The probability is that no such great change took place in the business of the bank in one month, but only a change in the mode of keeping its accounts. t$ut as the banK has never maae any ex- nlanation of this "stock account " the items that compose it must be matter of conjecture. It may be investments in railroads, canais, or oiner oauits or stock in trade in cotton. The next item that may require explanation is that of balances due from agencies. It is the dif ference between the sums "due from Bank United States and agencies," and "due to Bank United States and agencies," as given in the monthly returns. The commissioners appointed to settle the claims of the United States against the Bank of the United States, wished a statement of the items which constituted the balance due to United States Bank and branches on the 3d of March, 183G, and Avhich then amounted to 81,548,869. The com mittee on the part of the bank replied, that "it would seem sufficient to state that the items com posing this balance are of precisely the same sort as those which compose the balance due by States banks, viz: bills ot exchange, notes, and checks." The amount due to the United States Bank and offices was then greater than the amount due front the United States Bank and offices ; and the ba- ance was, in the final adjustment of the accounts, set down among the liabilities of the bank. Now the balance is the other way, and must consequent- y be reckoned with the assets. It has in the above table been inserted among the investments suppos ed to yield income, from a belief that it includes part of the funds with which the United States Bank is through various agencies, carrying on ope rations in' the South-western and other States. erhaps but part of the amount is of this charac ter. In some returns of the bank, only protested bills have been inserted under the head of "Foreign bills of exchange." No particular explanations of these bills of exchange is given in the late returns from the bank, and the whole amount has been in serted in the table among the investments. As the bank has. since the suspension of specie payments, changed the mode of keeping its ac counts, it may not be easy to give a comparative view of it3 investments yielding income, which may be perfectly satisfactory. They would ap- ear, from the above table, to have increased near y three millions ; but this may be only an apparent increase, from an entry in the "stock accounts," to . i J I 1 .1 .1 IT.:..j balance tne entry oi uouus uue iu me unueu States Government. When the new mode of . m 3 t i . keeping accounts was miroaucea, viz: juiy i, 1837, the various items given in the table under the head of investments supposed to yield income, amounted to S77,606,791. ' This shows, that from July 1, 1837, to April 2, 1338, there was a reduc- tion in the business ot tne nan& oi neany ioxr mu- ions. If the foreign bills of exchange, or any part of them, are returned, dishonored oius, mere nas oeen ' . . . . . i .i a further reduction m me active easiness oi me bank ; and if any part of the balance due from "agencies" is not employed in the way intimated above, there should be a further reduction from the amount of investments supposed to yield income. What amount will ultimately be realized, the di rectors themselves cannot tell. In the settlement hetween the commissioners and the committee, a deduction of about ten per cent, was made from the annarent amount ot investments yielding in come in March. 1836. Times have changed since then, and different individuals will make different . ' i. . i p . i I r .1 . f estimates ot tne vaiue oi mis cias oi me assets ui the bank. . The other items in the account stand less in need of explanation. It appears from them, that hetween Mav 1. 1837. and April 2, 1833, the bank : - . f ' i. . increased its specie in tne amount oi neany two millions and a half; its immediate means a little more than two millions, or t wo millions and three Quarters., including what is due from European bankers: and its immediate. liabilities nearly five millions. . - . In the same neriod it has diminished the aggre crate of its debts due on time, in the amount of two millions. But as part of thesedebts fall due about this season, they are probably, what at thU moment produces the greatest pressure on the bank. Du-; ring the same time it deserves special, notice that the bank has increased its debts to the. State banks more than" five millions beyond what it was in May last. . - :; : The operations of the United States Bank since the suspension of specie payments," afford a striking contrast with those of the New. York banks. We have, in addition to the returns made to the Safety iTiindcTlnmmissioners. those Trom. the Manhattan Company, in all from ninety-four banks and two branches. ; From these it appears that their invest ments, supposed to yield income, amounted, on the 1st ef June, 1837, to- $50,143,620, and on the 1st of April, j 838, to $65,351,800. ' Their immediate liabilities, on the 1st of June, 1837. were 50,881,535 j on the 1st of April, 1838, 41,405,560. 1 " ' Their immediate -Ineans have, in the same period, been increased from $23,618,894 to $26, 691,114. .' ' And their debts, due on time, have been reduced from $9,489,862 to $6,501,787. .. , . The investments of the United States Bank sup posed to yield income, exceed its nominal capital in the amount of thirty-eight millions: those of the New York banks only twenty-nine millions. The New York" banks have, since the suspension of specie payments, reduced their immediate lia- hilities ten miuions. jtne uniieu owiHwam ua increased its immediate liabilities nearly five mil lions. The New York banks have made an addition o three millions to their immediate means; and the ot the United States an addition of little mnre than two millions or two millions and three quarters, if the sums due from European bankers be lhciuaeo. Th ITnited States Bank has made at least an apparent increase? but perhaps a real decrease, o nonrlv three millions in the amount of its invest ments supposed to yield income.' The New York banks have made a real decrease of nearly fifteen millions in the amount of such investments. The debts due on time by the New York banks, are only six millions and a half,' Those of the United States Bank are upwards of twenty mil lions. . . , The different New Yorks banks have to their credit in notes of ot her banks on hand, & in sum due from other banks, an aggregate of $20.979,055 : & owe to other banks $13,613,690, thus snowing a nett balance in their iavor of upwards of seven millions. The Bank of the United States has in notes of other banks nearly one million and a half, and there is due to it by other banks upwards of two millions, making an agregate ot $J,7o4,bJl : and it owes to other banks $6,853,849,-thus showing a nett balance against it of upwards ot three millions in account with the other banks. A week or two since it was currently reported in Philadelphia, that the United States Bank was in debt to the Philadelphia banks about two mil 1 til -W f . 1 -a- nons anu a nau. n the residue ot its bank debt is owing to banks to the eastward of that city, and if wnai is owing to it in account current, is oy banks to the North and West, what is owing to it by banks, will not afford it the immediate means of discharging one-half of the claim its creditor banks have against it. CONGRESS. SENATE. Friday, April 20. The Chair communicated a report from the Secretary of War, enclosing a report from the Topographical Bureau, together with a map, in answer to the resolution of the Sen ate of the 13th February last, calling for informa tion relative to the Oregon Territory ; and On motion of Mr. Linn, it was referred to the select committee appointed on the bill fox the occu pation of the Oregon Territory. On motion of Mr. Preston, the resolution sub mitted by him, providing for the re-annexation of Texas to the United States, was taken up, and made the order of the day for Monday next. The Senate resumed the consideration of the bill to prevent the re-issue and circulation of the bills, notes and other securities of corporations created by Congress which hare expired, and, after a de bate, in which it was supported by Messrs. Wall, Clay of Alabama, Grundy, Rives, Buchanan, Cal houn and Brown, and opposed by Messrs. Preston, White and Prentiss, it was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading ayes 27, noes 14 as follows: Yeas Messrs. Allen. Benton, Brown, Bucha nan, Calhoun, Clay of Alabama, Cuthbert, Fulton, Grundy, Hubbard Linn, Lumpkin, Lyon, Niles, Norvell, Pierce, Rives, Roane, Robinson, Ruggles, Smith of Connecticut, Tipton, Trotter, Wall, Wil liams, Wright, and Young 27. Nay3 Messrs. Clay of Kentucky. Clayton, Crit tenden, Davis, King, Merrick, Nicholas, Prentiss, Preston, Robbins, Smith of Indiana,. Southard, Swift, and White 14. The Senate adjourned over to Monday. Monday, April 23. The Special order of the day, Mr. Preston's Resolution, proposing the an nexation of Texas was postponed to take up the United States Bank Bill, upon its final passage. Mr. Buchanan addressed the Senate at length, in favor of the constitutionality and expediency of the bill. Mr. Clay replied. On the question of the pas sage of the bill the votes were as follows : " Yeas Messrs. Allen, Benton, Brown, Bucha nan, Calhoun, Clay of Alabama, Cuthbert, Fulton, Orrundy, Hubbard, Lann, L.umpkin, Lyon, Morns, Niles, Norvell, Pierce, Rives, Roane, Robinson, liuggles, Smith of Connecticut, Tipton, Trotter, w imams, w right, and x oung 37. Nays Messrs. Clay , of Kentucky, Clayton. Crittenden, Davis, King, Merrick, Nicholas, Pren tiss, Preston, Smith of Indiana, Spence, Swift, and White 13. Tuesday, April 24. On motion of Mr. Trotter, the Senate took up the bill supplimentary to the act entitled "an act to amend an act for the appoint ment of commissioners to adjust claims to land un der the 14th article of the treaty of 1830 with the Choctaw Indians." The amendments were agreed to, and the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. The resolution submitted by Mr. Preston, for the re-annexation of Texasto the United States, was taken up as the order of the day. - Mr. Preston addressed the Senate until past 3 o'clock on the subject of his resolution. The Senate went into the consideration of Ex ecutive business ; and when the doors were open ed, Adjourned. Wednesday, April 25. The Senate was occu pied to-day, says the Globe, with the discussion of the bill for the appointment of commissioners to hear private claims. The Senate adjourned with out coming to any decision. Thursday, April 26. The Senate was occupi ed almost exclusively to-day, with the discussion of the bill for the appointment of commissioners to adjust private claims. The bill, after the adoption of several amendments, was ordered to be engross ed by a vote of twenty-hve to eighteen. Friday, April 27. The Senate to-day, took up the bill to establish a board of commissioners to ad just claims against the United States, which was read a third time and passed, Also, the bill to pro vide for the security of the emigrating and other Indians west of the Mississippi. A long discus- I sion ensued, and several amendments were adopted. The Senate adjourned until Monday next. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Saturday, April 21. Several Committees made reports. The House then proceeded to the unfin ished business of the morning hour, which was' Mr. Hopkin's resolution. for separating the Government from all connexion with" the public, press,' which was under discussion, when the - morning hour ex pired, and the subject lies over. . Mr. Graham, of N. C, moved, that the bill ap pointing Commissioners of Private Claims, be made the special order of the day for Friday next, but it was not agreed to. Mr. Toucey, from the Select Committee on the late duel, by leave, made a report, the consideration of which he moved should be postponed to two weeks from Monday next, and that it be printed. He said this motion was made by the unanimous order of the committee. . , Mr. Grennell, in behalf of himself and Mr. Rari den, members of the committee, presented a writ ten statement of their views, which he asked might be printed with the report. Mr. Elmore, not being able to agree either in the report of the majority or minority, ask leave to pre sent in writing his own views, and that this paper might be printed, with the rest. v, - Mr. Robertson said that having understood that this report "would probably be brought into the House to-day, he had examined the parliamentary law relating to the subject. -The subject was of importance, not merely as it related to the parties implicated, but as it bore upon the privileges of the House. The result of his examination was a con viction that it was the duty of the House to re-cam mit these reports to the select committee from which they came, with instructions, that if any member or members of the House should be im plicated, the committee should forthwith report that fact to the House, and await its further order on the premises. He quoted Jefferson's Manual. to show that such was the law of Parliament as laid down in that book, viz. That the committee could not proceed a step on its own authority when the character of a member of the House was in volved ; because it was the privilege of the House itself to take cognizance of the conduct of its mem bers ; and of every member to have such cogni zance exerted by the House alone. He was utter ly ignorant of what might be the contents of the voluminous report made by the committee, but whatever they might be, he hoped they would not be sent to the world till this question should be duly considered. He therefore moved that the report and all the other papers be laid for the present upon the table. Mr. Fillmore called for the reading of the resolu tion, if any, which the majority oi the Ccanmittee- had reported to the House. Mr. Boon moved that the House adjourn; which motion prevailing, ayes 86. The House thereupon adjourned. Monday, April 23. The House was occupied in debating nearly the whole day, the motion to print the several reports of the Duelling Committee, without coming to any conclusion. A message was received from the President, transmitting documents in relation to the attack on the steamboat Columbia, by a Mexican armed ves sel, in the gulf of Mexico. On motion of Mr. Adams, referred to the Com mittee on Foreign Affairs. The House adjourned. Tuesday, April 24. The House resumed the consideration of the motion of Mr. Toucey, made under the unanimous direction of the committee appointed to investigate the causes which led to the death of the late Mr. Cilley, to print the report of that committee, and postpone it till next Monday week. The motion was under discussion, when Mr. Calhoun of Kentucky moved an adjournment, and called for tellers, which were ordered. Mr. Lincoln asked for the yeas and nays, but they were refused," and the question being taken by tellers, was decided in the affirmative yeas 90, noes 58. The House adjourned. Wednesday. April 25. The" House, after read ing the journal, took up the report of the duelling Committee, and discussed it, until the House ad journed. - Thursday, April 26. The Speaker, on leave, aid before the House sundry communications, viz : 1. From the Secretary of the Treasury, trans mitting a report of the amount received from the sales of public laads in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, in reference to the Cumberland Road, together with a statement of the amount of money appropriated for the Cumberland Road, &c. On motion of Mr. Briggs, laid on the table. . 2. A communication from the Secretary of the Navy, correcting an error in a former report in re lation to the date of appointment of the scientific corps of the Exploring Expedition. On motion of Mr. Ingham, referred to the Com mittee on Naval Affairs. 3. From the Postmaster General, in relation to the number of failures of the New York express mail, to the first of January last. On motion of Mr. Cushman, laid on the table. 4. From the Postmaster General, transmitting a report of the irregularities and failures of the great western mail, - between Washington City and Wheeling, within the last three months, together with the causes thereof, so far as they are known to that Department. . On motion of Mr. Montgomery, laid on the table. The unfinished business being the report of the select committee appointed to investigate the caus es which led to the death of the late Hon. Jonathan Cilley, was then resumed. ' The question, still pending was on the motion of Mr. Toucey, under the unanimous direction of the committee, to print and postpone the same till Mon day week. Mr. ToUcey was entitled to the, floor, but before he proceeded, Mr. Wise called for the reading of the remainder of the reports, being the testimony taken in jthe investigation. The Clerk proceeded till about a quarter past 3 o'clock, when the Chair announced . that a message was in attendance from the President of the United Slates, and said that with the unanimous consent of the House it would be received. . tne Jtiouse unanimously gave their consent, and the message was received, by the hands of Abraham Van Buren, Esq. the President's private secretary. v Mr. Howard gave notice , that, before the House adjourned to-day, he should ask leave to have the message read and referred. The reading of The testimony in the duel inves tigation was then resumed, and proceeded in till shortly after 4 o'clock, when, on motioh of Mr. Wil liams of North Carolina, - The House adjourned. . -V. FROM THE WESTERN CAROLINIAN. Mr. Editor: As a friend to the late and present administration of the Federal Govern, ment, I have often been surprized and amused to see Editors, and yourself among the number who are opposed to me in politics, discantin upon the influence exercised by the forty thot sand office holders. The administration giving all the offices to its partizans. And the pr mises are as incorrect as the conclusions drawn therefrom are false. 1 challenge you or any 0f your opposition brethern to the test, that in the Western Counties of North Carolina, three fourths of the offices in the gift of the Federal Government and its departments, are held by opponents of the administration, I am not g0in to preach you a sermon on this subject; buj merely call the attention of your readers and yourself to the injustice bf the whig clam0f about the influence of the office-holders. It be that tbesubordinatefof the Federal Govern, ment do exercise an undue influence in th9 Elections of the country, but not in favor of the administration, v V A REPUBLICAN. THE STANDARD. Wednesday, May 13 THE PEOPLE against THE BANK. - - The Editor of the Standard is now absent. All communications requiring his personal alten- tion, will be promptly noticed at, his return whic! will be in two or three weeks. April 13. " . MR. STRANGE AND MR. BIDDLE. ' We invite the attention of our readers to the f Letter of the Hon. Robert Strange, in answet ta j Mr. Biddle. The great length of Mr. Biddle's let- jj ter prevents our giving them together. Buitltfr, S. has done Mr.B. no injustice in the quotations he has made. Our readers will fully understand the- i merits of the controversy, from a perusal of thedocu- . ment .we lay before them on our first page. The j position of parties is daily becoming more disiiacu ( ty visible ; Mr. Biddle avows his determination to , continue his hostility 'till the Government yields to his dictation. If it is now obliged to submit, its . entire prostration cannot be far distant. y The mo. ney autocrat will strive against the prosperity off the country, and exert his vast power in deranging! the currency, in the hope, of operating upon the fait elections; vainly flattering himself that his: bau,. ness will be so far concealed, as to baffle the dis- t cerntnent and avert the indignation of the people, till it will be too late 'till the arm of patrionsa shall be unnerved by the paralysis of bank infhi- ence, and the voice of freedom hushed by the man date of the Bank Aristocracy, WHIG CALUMNY CONFUTED. To show with what avidity the "Whig" part, press every thing into their service, however pre- posterous, we subjoin the following letter from the I Baltimore "Chronicle" : " Wilmington, Del, April 23, 183S. To the Editor of the Chronicle, Sir I deem it proper to inform you that on mj ? passage from Philadelphia to this place this morn- ing, Dy tne steam Doat xeiegrapn, l ascertained f that there was a Van Buren agent on board, who was taking thirteen persons to Baltimore to vote at your election this week. Their passages through were paid by this agent. I hare ; no doubt that ; these persons are a squad of the itinerant voters of the loco foco nartv. who have voted in New York, f and that job being performed, are now going on to Baltimore tor the same purpose. 1 hey lelt here in the cars this morning for your place. Look out for them you. have no registry law to protect the honest voter from the rogue, and you must defend yourselves." . The fact of the case is this, the Commissioners for re-building our State Capitol, authorized David Paton, Esq., the Architect, to write to Jno, STBtrrH ER3, Esq., of Philadelphia, to employ thirteen hands to come and work on the Capitol he did so, and according to agreement payed their passage. These persons arrived here, in the Northern stage on Wed nesday the 25th ulr., the day on which the Balti more election was held, so that it was impossible for them to have voted at the election. But in or der to disprove the vile slander of the "Chronicle's" correspondent, they have signed and sworn, before the proper authority, to the following . CERTIFICATE : The undersigned, believing that thev are the thir teen persons alluded to in the Baltimore "Chroni cle" of the 25th Apiil, in reference to their passage being paid by an Administration agent, in the steam Del., for the purpose of voting at the late election in lialtimore and knowing that, if they are the pet- sons alluded to, the allusion is false and iniquitous ' do for the purpose of repelling the same, make the i fnWnwintr statement vi-r . v That on Saturday, the 21st AoriL at about II o'clock, an agreement was entered into bv us with John Strdthers, Esq.. of Philadelnhia. to cooie and work on the State Capitol, at Raleigh, N. Caro- una mat we lett rhuadelphia, at a quarter De fore 7 o'clock, A. M., on Monday, the 23 J April, in fha steam K-i t olAm U C .J : : -nf arrived at Baltimore, at 1, P. M., on the same day, Norfolk, at 4X P. M., the same evening. -John McLellan : Thoma3 Sunderland; Philip Hirgeson; Rob't Boyd. Jr.; George Zell j ' John M. Owen ; William Hurleck, Jr. Anthony Stewart ; William VVray j J. T. Boyd ; Charles Leighton ; Joseph McLellan ; Alexander Johnston ; The foregoing statement, was sworn to and sub scribed before the undersigned, an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Wake, w North Carolina, at the City of Raleigh, this 30th day of April, A. D., 1838. M. COOK, J. P A pause which requires such miserable props as the foregoing letter, to supportlt is unworthy of thc support of a free and intelligent people. But it i all in character with Clay- Webb- TT.ltggery. Cf We are indebted to the politeness of de Hon. Robt, Strange and the Hon. Bedford Brow of the U. S. Senate, and to the Hon. Henry Conner and the Hon. Wm. Montgomery of the House" of Representatives for several valuable Speeches and Congressional Documents. n
The Weekly Standard (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 2, 1838, edition 1
2
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