Thirty Years' View (Vol. 2 of 2): or, A History of the Working of the American Government for Thirty Years, from 1820 to 1850Benton, Thomas Hart
History
Thirty Years' View (Vol. 2 of 2): or, A History of the Working of the American Government for Thirty Years, from 1820 to 1850
Benton, Thomas Hart
United States -- Politics and government -- 1815-1861
"The political and personal relations between myself and the senator
from Massachusetts [Mr. WEBSTER], were then not the kindest. We
stood in opposition at the preceding session on the great question
growing out of the conflict between the State I represented and
the general government, which could not pass away without leaving
unfriendly feelings on both sides; but where duty is involved, I am
not in the habit of permitting my personal relations to interfere.
In my solicitude to avoid coming dangers, I sought an interview,
through a common friend, in order to compare opinions as to the
proper course to be pursued. We met, and conversed freely and fully,
but parted without agreeing. I expressed to him my deep regret
at our disagreement, and informed him that, although I could not
agree with him, I would throw no embarrassment in his way; but
should feel it to be my duty, when he made his motion to introduce
a bill to renew the charter of the bank, to express my opinion
at large on the state of the currency and the proper course to
be pursued; which I accordingly did. On that memorable occasion
I stood almost alone. One party supported the league of State
banks, and the other the United States Bank, the charter of which
the senator from Massachusetts [Mr. WEBSTER.] proposed to renew
for six years. Nothing was left me but to place myself distinctly
before the country on the ground I occupied, which I did fully and
explicitly in the speech I delivered on the occasion. In justice
to myself, I ought to have every word of it read on the present
occasion. It would of itself be a full vindication of my course.
I stated and enlarged on all the points to which I have already
referred; objected to the recharter as proposed by the mover; and
foretold that what has since happened would follow, unless something
effectual was done to prevent it. As a remedy, I proposed to use the
Bank of the United States as a temporary expedient, fortified with
strong guards, in order to resist and turn back the swelling tide of
circulation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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