H. OF R.] Patents to Aliens. [JAN. 6, 1831 the House, than some other gentlemen. He bowed with Mr. EVERETT, of Massachusetts, asked to trouble the deference to their superior experience; but to him it House with a word of explanation. The gentleman from seemed a new thing, that personality should be imputed Virginia [Mr. BARBOUR] says I committed a great erro when a member objected to the report of a committee of (which he is good enough to think unintentional) abou the House. If such were the sentiment of the House, the memorial from his State; and, to prevent the delusion and if the chairman of each committee considered his from spreading, has undertaken to set me right. I hav personal feelings involved in such a manner with all its no doubt the gentleman thought I said something errone reports, that to question the correctness of a report or a ous. But the amount of what I said was, that Virgini bill reported by them, or to move the reference of them asked us to pay her large sums of money, on account o for further investigation to another and appropriate com- the services of her soldiers in the revolutionary war. mittee, is an imputation upon the integrity of the chair- purposely used this general language. Now, sir, I hol man, or of any member of the prior committee, it seemed the document in my hand. It begins thus: "The Gene to him that the freedom of speech in this House would be ral Assembly of Virginia, believing that their State has a thereby not a little restrained. The fact was new to him; valid and substantial claim on the United States for various he knew it not as a parliamentary principle, nor did he large sums of money, which have been paid, and which know it in the remotest degree as a principle in his own that commonwealth may be to pay, on account of the ser heart. There was no individual in the world in whose vices of the troops of her State line during the war of the honor and integrity he had a more perfect confidence than revolution," &c.; and the last paragraph runs as follows in those of the chairman of the Military Committee; but "Your memorialist [the agent for Virginia] asks, in conhe had supposed it to be the privilege of every member clusion, that all sums of money, which the State of Virgi to question the substance of any report or bill presented nia has paid since the passage of the act of Congress of to the House. To give this explanation, had been the 5th August, 1796, entitled An act to provide more effectprincipal reason of his rising at this time. He had but ually for the settlement of the accounts between the Unitone or two words more. ed States and the individual States,' to officers of her State line or of her continental line, on account of her engagements during the revolution, may be refunded to the commonwealth," &c. The House, said Mr. E., can judge of the extent of my error. Mr. BARBOUR observed that the memorial expressly disclaimed any desire to open the settlement which had been made of revolutionary claims. The question was now put on recommitting the bill, and decided in the negative by a very large majority. FRIDAY, JANUARY 6. PATENTS TO ALIENS. Mr. TAYLOR, from the select Committee on the Patent Laws, reported a bill concerning the issuing of patents to aliens for useful discoveries and inventions. It was read a first and second time. It had been observed by the honorable Speaker that the merits of the question had not been entered into. He certainly bowed with submission to the declaration of the Chair, but otherwise he should have thought that the merits of the question had been much entered into-not by him; he had carefully abstained from touching that part of the subject. He had stated that he wished every dollar of the claim might be allowed. He had made no question as to the allowance of blankets--the poor men who had performed the service were entitled to covering, and he was incapable of objecting to the allowance. He only desired, as one of the guardians of the treasury, that the claim should be sifted to the bottom, so that none might hereafter be able to raise a voice against the allowance. The distinction he had made between the duties of the different committees of the House, had been this: that it was the peculiar and special duty of the Committee of Claims to inquire into the moral obligation of the Government to pay Mr. T. said that the act of 1800 authorized the issuing money; and the equal justice they were obliged to dis- ing of patents to aliens who had resided two years in this pense to all claiming money, rendered it desirable that the country. By the first patent law, passed in 1790, the claim should go to them. Other committees regard, prin- same privileges were extended to aliens as to citizens, folcipally, the service on which the claim before them rest-lowing in this respect the example of the British law. By ed; and decided each claim on its own grounds alone, and a subsequent act of 1793, these privileges were limited to not according to any general rule. But the Committee citizens; but by the first section of the act passed in 1800, of Claims, who had fifty or a hundred cases before them, they were extended to aliens who had resided two years were obliged to decide them all on one general rule, ap- in this country, on their making oath or affirmation that plicable to all other cases of a like nature. The justice such invention or discovery had not before been made in of allowing one claim, not admissible by the legal rules this or any other country, in this respect making a differ equally applied to all demands adjusted by the account-ence between the alien and citizen, the latter of whom was ing officers of the Government, must often depend upon only required to swear that he was the first inventor. the allowance of another. The principle applied to one Since the passage of this act, at least seventeen laws had should be applied to all. The claims are all equitable, not been passed dispensing with the provision as to two years' legal claims. All legal claims are adjusted and settled at residence, and authorizing the issuing of patents where the treasury. But if similar clains should be sent to dif- the petitioner was resident here at the time of his applica ferent committees of the House, the complaint would at tion. To remedy this evil, and prevent the necessity of last be applicable here, which was made against the ad- repeated applications, which were never denied, and could ministration of the court of chancery in England, and the only tend to load the statute book, the committee had House's equity would come to depend on the length of framed a bill on the principles of those seventeen acts, authe Chancellor's foot. He disclaimed entering into the thorizing the issuing of patents where the applicant was merits of the claim: he had not, and he would not, enter at the time a resident of the United States, had complied into them. But as one of the representatives of the peo- with the naturalization laws by declaring his intention, ple of the United States, he wanted a principle that should and had further complied with the act of '93, by swearing be the same, whether the claim to be allowed by the House or affirming that his invention or discovery had not been were the claim of a sovereign State, or the claim of the widow and the orphan. Mr. BURGES made a brief explanation in reference to his previous remarks, especially that part of them in which he had replied to the remark of Mr. ADAMS, in relation to the chairman of the Military Committee, [Mr. DRAYTON.] before made in this or any other country, and that he was the true inventor or discoverer. He thought, as such were the provisions and objects of the bill, no objection could be made to it. He moved that it be engrossed for a third reading. The motion was agreed to. JAN. 9, 1832.] Claims for Captured Property.--Bank of the United States. CLAIMS FOR CAPTURED PROPERTY. Mr. COOKE, of New York, offered the following resolution: Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the expediency of making further provision for extending and the more effectually carrying into effect the provisions of the act of Congress entitled an "Act authorizing the payment of property lost, captured, or destroyed by the enemy, while in the military service of the United States, and for other purposes," passed 9th April, 1816, and the several amendments thereto, and that said committee have leave to report by bill or otherwise. Mr. WHITTLESEY, of Ohio, doubted very much the propriety of adopting such a resolution. The result of doing so would be to open all the cases respecting the loss of property during the late war, and to discuss and decide upon all the claims which had undergone the investigation and decision both of the Executive Departments and the Committee of Claims. In 1824 or '25, the subject had been fully discussed, and a bill had passed for the reinvestigation of a certain class of claims which came under the notice of the commissioners, and were referred by them to the Third Auditor. He believed also that the bill went as far as was necessary, and the appropriation for the purpose of it, 250,000 dollars, was now expended, or nearly so. He was not aware of any reason for the appointment of a select committee in the matter. Both the Executive and the Committee of Claims understood the principles on which they had acted in all the cases referred to them for their decision. The phraseology of the resolution, Mr. W. went on to say, appeared to him to be defective; it would be opening the statute of limitations, and overwhelming the House with a deluge of long settled claims. It is true we have an overflowing treasury, but that is no reason why it should be opened to every one who might choose to put his hands in it. He preferred that the money should remain in the public coffers, rather than scattered abroad in the lavish manner to which an action by them upon the resolution would tend. In conclusion, he observed that the subject deserved the full consideration of the House before they should thus lay open the statute of limitations. [H. of R. infantry of the militia to the same allowance for such loss. MONDAY, JANUARY 9. Mr. McDUFFIE presented the memorial of the president and directors, on behalf of the stockholders, of the Bank of the United States, asking for a renewal of their charter. BANK OF THE UNITED STATES. After the above mentioned memorial was read, Mr. McDUFFIE moved to refer it to the Committee of Ways and Means. Mr. DAVIS, of South Carolina, moved to refer it to a Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. A motion was also made to refer it to a select committee. Mr. JOHNSON, of Kentucky, said that in 1816 a bill Mr. WAYNE, of Georgia, said that he had on a former had been reported by the Military Committee on the sub- occasion expressed his objection to the reference of this ject, but it would be recollected that its provisions were subject to the Committee of Ways and Means; and he to expire in eighteen months or two years, he could not should not trouble the House by repeating now what he precisely say which. Since its expiration, cases which had advanced at the commencement of the session in fawould have come under its operation had been referred vor of the appointment of a select committee; but he to the Committee of Claims, which had uniformly acted called upon gentlemen to consider what was the attitude upon them in the spirit of the law, and had reported spe- of the Committee of Ways and Means in reference to the cial bills in favor of all those applicants whose cases would bank question, and to compare it with the attitude in which have been reached by the act, had its existence been pro- that question had been presented to the House by the Prelonged. He begged the House, before they opened an sident of the United States; and he would ask whether it avenue for a mass of business which they never could get was not manifestly proper to submit the memorial to a through, and most, if not all of which, had already been committee entirely uncommitted upon the subject. But acted upon before, to look at their docket, where they this was not the object for which he had risen; the prewould find as many perhaps as two hundred orders to be sent question had not come upon him unexpectedly; he considered, and to reflect also that more than one month had been aware before he entered the House that a meof the session was gone. Many of the cases of claims morial of this kind would this morning be presented; and which were advanced, were acted upon by the Govern- when he looked back upon the occurrences of the last ment under precise rules which embraced whole classes; four weeks, and remembered what had taken place at a and he thought it would be better to leave all such to their late convention in Baltimore, and the motives which had decision, instead of bringing the investigation of innume-been avowed for bringing forward the subject at this time, rable individual cases into that House, which would follow he must say that gentlemen ought not to permit a petition if they passed a bill founded on the resolution before them. of this kind to receive the attention of the House. Who It was a task which the whole number of members of the could doubt that the presentation of that memorial was in House could not perform, unless by the neglect of more fact a party measure, intended to have an important opeimportant duties. In 1816, a bill passed making provision ration on persons occupying the highest offices of the for the reimbursement of property lost during the late war. Government If, however, it should be considered neIt was based upon two principles, one recognising the cessary to enter upon the subject at the present time, Mr. justice of paying the volunteer cavalry for the loss of W. said he was prepared to meet it. But when gentlehorses when in the actual service of the country, and the men saw distinctly before their eyes the motive of such a other admitting, in like manner, the claim of the mounted proceeding, he hoped that, notwithstanding there might 1503 H. OF R.] GALES & SEATON'S REGISTER Bank of the United States. [JAN. 9, 1832. be a majority in the House in favor of the bank, gentlemen What would be the effect of refusing to renew the charCould ter, or to act upon the subject, till two years, or till a would not lend themselves to that kind of action. it be necessary to take up the question of rechartering the single year, before its expiration? Could the gentleman bank at the present session? Gentlemen all knew that from Georgia have reflected upon the consequences? What did he suppose must be the four years must pass before its charter would expire, and That bank had given a credit of $50,000,000 to the people that Congress had power to extend the period, if further of the United States. time was necessary to wind up its affairs. It was known effect of suddenly withdrawing that credit? Its effect, that other subjects of an exciting character must come up not only to the individuals to whom the credit had been during the present session; and could there be any neces- given, but to all others connected with them? It would sity or propriety in throwing additional matter into the be nothing short of utter desolation. Whether the charHouse, calculated to raise that excitement yet higher? He ter were to be granted or refused, the House was bound trusted some individual would follow him who might be in every view of the subject to act upon it now, and to act able to present the subject to the House in a stronger light definitively. A period of four years was not more than than he could. He should be willing, in the very outset, was indispensably requisite to wind up the concerns of to meet it by a motion to lay this memorial upon the table; such an institution. If the consideration of the subject at but he would not make that motion at present, inasmuch this time was necessarily attended with any embarrassas it would preclude a discussion which he wished to see ment, he should regret it; but still he must hold the great proceed. He would, therefore, reserve himself for such leading interests of the country to be paramount to all ultimate action in reference to it as he might consider political and party considerations. If it was in the power of gentlemen to discard all such feelings in considering the proper. great question to which this memorial referred, he earnestly hoped that it might be done. Here Mr. McDUFFIE interposed, and said that the gentleman had entirely misunderstood him; that he had never made any such assertion. He con Mr. McDUFFIE said that, if he even could suppose that the Baltimore convention had had any thing to do Mr. CAMBRELENG, of New York, said that he hear with the presentation of the present memorial, he trusted that he, at least, would be free from the suspicion of act-tily joined in the wish just expressed by the gentleman ing in this House as the agent of that body, if any man from South Carolina, [Mr. MCDUFFIE,] that the subject in the United States could be free from such a suspicion. might be approached without any thing like political exSo far, however, as regarded the president, directors, citement; but that gentleman and himself must live far and company of the mother bank, he must say, that, so beyond the ordinary length of man's life, if they ever far as his situation had given him an opportunity of having live to see that question separated from party considera. any knowledge of them, (and he had had much to do with tions. If his recollection did not very much deceive him, those gentlemen,) he did not believe that there existed that gentleman, in the beginning of the session, had exwithin the limits of this Union an organized body more pressly said that the bank question would sleep in his comperfectly exempt from any just liability to the charge of mittee throughout the residue of the session. acting from political considerations; and so far from having had the remotest connexion with any political movements, either at Baltimore or elsewhere, he should rather come to the conclusion that the present memorial had been presented after a consultation with the party to which the gentleman from Georgia, as well as himself, belonged, than with those of opposite party opinions. He regretted exceedingly that this should have been regarded as a political question; but it was the misfortune of our country, that no subject of any kind could be started, which had reference to the general interests of the people, but it Here Mr. McDUFFIE was about to interpose, when must instantly be converted into a political question, and connected with that all-absorbing topic, a topic which he Mr. CAMBRELENG said he was not going to enter into feared would one day prostrate the liberty of the country--the merits of the general question; but had risen for the the election of a President. Could not the consideration purpose of suggesting to the gentleman from Georgia of any question, referring to the interests of the country, [Mr. WAYNE] not to move to lay this memorial on the He was for himself willing and ready to meet the be entered upon, but it must be to put this man into office, table. and that man out? Could no question of any kind be dis- subject. He wished also to make an appeal to the genposed of with a calm, impartial judgment? He should tleman from South Carolina, [Mr. McDUFFIE,] whether deeply regret if any gentleman, in acting on the present he would persist in his motion to refer the memorial to subject, should be influenced by the question, how its de- the Committee of Ways and Means, seeing that if it He should go to a select committee, that gentleman would cision would touch the election of this man or that. Mr. CAMBRELENG said he stood corrected. curred with the gentleman that the subject ought to be met, but he hoped that, in considering it, the House would deliberate long, and reflect maturely. They would thoroughly examine the great question, whether any bank in the country could have the power to issue a currency from all its branches in every part of the country, payable nowhere. But the con could not possibly see how it could have any thing to do occupy in such committee the same station he held with the matter. Why must this be made a political ques- in the standing committee to which he belonged, and tion at this time more than at any other? Did the gentleman whether he would not consent that the subject of rechar He had joined with that gentleman in from Georgia suppose that the progress of purification tering the bank should go to a select committee, as it had would be such that at any future time personal considera- heretofore done. tions would cease to operate? If, while the present referring so much of the message as related to this subincumbent occupied the Presidential chair, the bank ques-ject to the Committee of Ways and Means. tion must of necessity have a political aspect, was it to be supposed that two years hence, when there were two or more gentlemen candidates for that situation, the discus sion of it would be any more disinterested? No! cried Mr. McD., it is the imperfection of man that presents the difficulty; and until that shall cease, the gentleman from Georgia will never get out of it. The president and directors of the mother bank had been governed, not by political or party motives in presenting this memorial, but by the obligation under which they lay, not only to the stockholders, but to the Government of the United States. sideration of a memorial which would require the whole as well as Mr. McDUFFIE replied that to do so would not be to JAN. 9, 1832.] Bank of the United States. [H. OF R. comply with the order of proceeding in the House, inas- before the House was a respectful petition on a subject much as the subject appropriately belongs to the Com- every way fit for the action of the House, and ought to mittee on Finance. receive its action. Were gentlemen to be deterred from Mr. CAMBRELENG thereupon moved that the me- the consideration of the memorial by such reasons as had morial be referred to a select committee. been offered by the gentleman from Georgia? He hoped M. COULTER, of Pennsylvania, said that he had not that every man who felt in his own bosom higher and been so fortunate as the gentleman from Georgia, [Mr.nobler principles of action than that gentleman had alludWAYNE,] inasmuch as he had not heard that such a memo- ed to, would not be deterred from the discharge of his rial was this day to be presented to the House, and the duty; that the man who stood there as a representative of only reason he felt any particular interest as to the dispo the people, and felt that he was worthy so to stand, would sition of it, was, that many of the petitioners resided act in such a manner as to show that he was above the within the State from which he came. He had the same reach of such motives. Let him suppose that this House interest in the general subject with other citizens of the was to be wrested from the course of duty and patriotism, country. What was the subject before the House? A and perverted and debased into a mere party machine, petition had been presented from a number of highly re- what, he asked, would be the most direct mode of accomspectable citizens, on a subject vitally interesting to the plishing such an end? He knew of none more directly nation. Had they not a right to address this House? Had calculated to effect it than that which had been now purthey approached it with an address upon a light and frivo- sued by the gentleman from Georgia. If any gentleman lous subject--a subject improper to occupy the attention on that floor chose to become the trumpeter to blow the of the legislative body? No. It was a subject which rally of party, he might perhaps succeed in carrying a claimed the attention, not only of that House, but of the portion of the House with him; yet he must still believe whole Union--a subject which must undergo the action that House capable, in spite of all such efforts, of decidof the Legislature at some period not far distant. And ing national questions on national principles. He had no how was it proposed to treat these citizens? If he had not idea that the gentleman from Georgia intended to rally a misunderstood the gentleman from Georgia, that gentle-party; but whatever were the gentleman's intentions, man had proposed that these citizens, together with the such alone could be the effect of his remarks; nor could subject on which they petitioned, should be contemptu he have devised a fitter mode to effect such an object. ously thrown under the table, and that on the ground He had no doubt the gentleman really felt all the boding that it was a subject not fit at this time to occupy the at- fears he had expressed, but he could not but consider tention of the representatives of the United States. What them as entirely premature. As to the committee to were the reasons advanced in support of this position? which the memorial might be sent, it was to him a matter Why, that the subject of the petition partook of a party of no very great consequence. The only difference becharacter, or that the presentation of the petition was tween send ng it to a select committee, and sending it to connected with certain other political movements in the the Committee of Ways and Means, is this, that in the country. This might be a good reason with the gentle- Committee of Ways and Means he had the utmost confiman from Georgia, as he very possibly was in the secrets dence, but he might not feel quite as much in a select of the party that had met at Baltimore, but as for himself committee. He saw no reason why the subject should he was not. He stood on that floor as a representative of not take the same course which it had hitherto done. The the people; prepared to act on the subjects which in that Committee of Ways and Means was raised expressly to capacity might be brought before him. He was governed consider questions connected with the revenue; and he by no such considerations-he knew of no connexion of asked whether this subject did not naturally connect itself the memorial with any party, or other proceedings at with the duties of such a committee. None could doubt Baltimore. All he knew was, that the petitioners resided it. From the days of Alexander Hamilton, until that day, in the State of Pennsylvania; that they had a right to they had been closely connected-so closely, that, to use present the memorial, and had acted properly in doing so; the eloquent expression of the gentleman from South and a mere allegation that the paper was connected with Carolina, the one might be called the body and the other political movements at Baltimore, formed no reason why the soul. Why should not the memorial go to the Comhe should not exercise the responsibility which had been mittee of Ways and Means? It belonged to that commitcommitted to him. It had been said that the bank ques- tee by the rules of the House, and it had always been tion always would be connected with the politics of the referred to them as a preparatory step. Why should it country. If that was true, it was an objection that would not be now? He could see no valid reason. It had, to apply equally at all times. But such was not his view of be sure, been objected that that committee had already the subject. He hoped that the great experiment of a expressed an opinion on the general subject. Very true; representative Government had not so completely failed and that was the very reason why he wished to send it that a legislative assembly could not pronounce upon a there. It was parliamentary to refer subjects to commitgreat subject connected with the interests of the country, tees whose views were favorable; and should not a great without being governed by predilections for men, and by question, on which the wisest statesmen of the country feelings of mere party politics. The moment he should had bestowed their thoughts, and expressed their opi be compelled to believe that, he should conclude that the nions, go to a committee whose views were in its favor, great republican experiment had failed; for it was the when matters of the most trivial moment were subject to same to him whether a despot on the throne domineered that rule? The object in that very proper parliamentary over the country, or some demagogue, who issued his rule was that a measure proposed might be presented in proclamations, from a committee room, or elsewhere, con- the most favorable manner--that it might, so to speak, trolled public opinion, and ruled the country. If great have a fair chance; and, in the language of the books on questions of national policy were to be settled on the parliamentary law, that it might not be committed to a paltry politics of the day, or by a mere preference for nurse who would be sure to strangle it. He did not wish individuals, the people ought to know it. It was because to see this memorial strangled. He wished it to go to a he believed that that House was capable of deciding such committee where it would receive the consideration which a question as this of the bank on purely national princi-it merited, in order that it might afterwards receive the ples, that he believed that the present memorial ought to judgment of the House, unprejudiced and fairly exreceive the sanction of that House. He should not enter pressed. upon any considerations which touched the merits of the Mr. APPLETON said that the subject-matter of the question; he would only say, in general, that the paper petition was one of the deepest interest to the community. VOL. VIII.--95 H. OF R.] Bank of the United States. [JAN. 9, 1832. It was most intimately connected with the commercial in- commendation of this mode was, that it would present the terest, but not exclusively so. Every class and every nearest approach to equality in the contest, of which the section of the country were interested in the question case admitted. whether the charter of the Bank of the United States Mr. MERCER, of Virginia, said it had been conceded should be renewed. He thought that the importance of by all who had spoken, that it was necessary a majority of the interests involved made it proper that the petition the committee should be in favor of the measure referred should be referred to a select committee, who would give to it. All that was contended for was a minority adverse to the subject their undivided attention. The appropriate to it. He thought the object as likely to be gained in the duties of the Committee of Ways and Means had re- Committee of Ways and Means, as by the appointment of ference to the finances of the country, which were cer- a select committee. The fact that, two or three sessions tainly connected, to a certain degree, with this institution; ago, a report favorable to the measure had been made by but, in his opinion, its bearing on the general prosperity that committee, he looked upon as no argument against was a matter of greater and paramount interest. Its re- referring the subject to it now. He wished it to go to lation to a sound currency involved, perhaps, the most the Committee of Ways and Means; and he had looked important question in our whole internal policy. He pretty deeply into the subject. He thought it should go supposed there was no doubt that, whether referred to to that committee, because the terms on which the charthe Committee of Ways and Means, or to a select commit- ter should be renewed, if it were renewed, should accord tee, according to the principles usually adopted in the with those matters and measures of revenue which that appointment of committees, a report would be made in committee had under consideration. Whatever might be favor of renewing the charter. But it was of the utinost his opinion, generally, as to the present administration, importance that a careful and thorough examination he could safely say he had as little to do with party polishould be had, whether some modifications of the exist- tics as any member in that House; but when he saw an ing charter should not be made on its renewal, and what opinion upon this question prematurely obtruded upon should be the terms and conditions. He believed it to them, as it had been by the Chief Magistrate, he must be susceptible of improvement, and hoped a committee condemn him, as he had done his predecessor, when he in would be appointed who would examine the subject advance declared his opposition to measures of internal thoroughly, uninfluenced, if possible, by party considera- improvement. The Chief Magistrate never ought to make tions, which certainly ought not to be connected with this public his opinion as unfavorable to a subject, till brought subject. before him as a matter of legislation. He regarded the Mr. ARCHER, of Virginia, said he did not rise to ex- bank as a public institution, and not in reference to its tend, but to make an effort to repress the discussion. If stockholders. The subject of a national bank had been he had doubted the propriety of avoiding discussion, the thrice discussed by men of ability--in time of peril, and portion we had just heard would be sufficiently instruc-in time of peace; after which it could hardly be said that tive on that point. It had shown that, in the event of its the House now required additional illumination on the subprotraction, we should have, prematurely, not only the ject from the researches of a select committee. He hoped controversy on the main subject, but the party altercation therefore that the memorial would be referred to the supposed to be mixed up with it, which, if displayed here, Committee of Ways and Means. could bring no credit to the House. His [Mr. A.'s] object in rising was principally to make a suggestion to his friend from Georgia, [Mr. WAYNE,] in relation to his own suggestion that he might be induced to make a motion to lay the memorial on the table. He [Mr. A.] should re- Mr. INGERSOLL, of Connecticut, said, the turn which gret to see this course pursued. Like the gentleman the debate had taken, and the frequent allusion made by from Georgia, he was the determined adversary of rein- different gentlemen to the committee to which he becorporation, in every form in which the proposition for longed, would warrant him in troubling the House with the purpose could be presented. He could not consent, a few remarks before this question was disposed of nevertheless, to meet the memorial by a motion to lay on It was to him, individually, a matter of entire indifthe table, as that would not be the mode of encounter to ference to what committee this petition should be sent, which he was disposed, and which was alone correspond- though he believed that parliamentary usage pointed to ent with the character of his friend from Georgia; that is the Committee of Ways and Means as the appropriate one, to say, a direct mode. If such a motion were made, ad- since that direction had been hitherto given to all other versary as he [Mr. A.] was to the object of the memo-matters relating to the Bank of the United States, as well rial, he should vote against the motion. As regarded the as the finances of the country. Why are gentlemen so disposal of the memorial, it appeared clear to him that a sensitive on this matter of reference? Some time ago, we select committee would be the proper one. This had were told that the parts of the President's message bearbeen the disposal adopted with all former memorials. ing on the bank should not go to the Committee of Ways Why vary the mode now? The subject was of a magni- and Means, because the gentleman from South Carolina, tude to entitle it to a special committee. As regarded the [Mr. McDUFFIE,] the chairman of the committee, had forCommittee of Ways and Means, with its important func-inerly made a report favorable to the bank: but now it tions, were not its hands to be regarded as too full for seems to be conceded, said Mr. I., by my friend from the great attention which this matter must demand? It was Georgia, [Mr. WAYNE,] and is distinctly admitted by the to be remarked, too, that this committee, at a former ses- gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. ARCHER,] that if a select sion, with little variety in its composition, had, in the most committee is raised, the gentleman from South Carolina formal manner, expressed its opinion on the great ques- should, as a matter of courtesy, be placed at the head of tion involved. We ought not, as had been said, to put the it. They are willing to take the chairman of the Commemorial to a nurse which would strangle it. Neither mittee of Ways and Means--our chief-if they can dispose would it be proper to send it to an inquest in which its of him in their own way, and all the present struggle is fate had been prejudged. Let it go to either the Com-to get rid of the rank and file. For his own part, said Mr. mittee of Ways and Means, or a select committee; the chair- I., as one of the Committee of Ways and Means, he should man of that committee would stand as he ought, in the be glad to have the proposed labor transferred to other same relation to it. If the last disposal were adopted, too, hands; but the House should understand the facts as to the majority of the committee would consist, under the how the committee stood on this question. It is objected usage in that respect, of friends of the measure. The re-that they had reported favorably of the bank two years Mr. DAVIS, of South Carolina, to put an end to the debate on a question of mere reference, moved to refer this memorial to a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union. |