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
"After having so expressed myself, which clearly shows that my
object was to use the bank for a time in such a manner as to break
the connection with the system, without a shock to the country or
currency, I then proceed and examine the question, whether this
could be best accomplished by the renewal of the charter of the
United States Bank, or through a league of State banks. After
concluding what I had to say on the subject, in my deep solicitude
I addressed the three parties in the Senate separately, urging
such motives as I thought best calculated to act on them; and
pressing them to join me in the measure suggested, in order to avert
approaching danger. I began with my friends of the State rights
party, and with the administration. I have taken copious extracts
from the address to the first, which will clearly prove how exactly
my opinions then and now coincide on all questions connected with
the banks. I now ask the secretary to read the extract numbered two.
"[The secretary read accordingly.]
"I regret to trespass on the patience of the Senate, but I wish,
in justice to myself, to ask their attention to one more, which,
though not immediately relating to the question under consideration,
is not irrelevant to my vindication. I not only expressed my
opinions freely in relation to the currency and the bank, in the
speech from which such copious extracts have been read, but had the
precaution to define my political position distinctly in reference
to the political parties of the day, and the course I would pursue
in relation to each. I then, as now, belonged to the party to
which it is my glory ever to have been attached exclusively; and
avowed, explicitly, that I belonged to neither of the two parties,
opposition or administration, then contending for superiority; which
of itself ought to go far to repel the charge of the senator from
Kentucky, that I have gone over from one party to the other. The
secretary will read the last extract.
"[The secretary read.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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