Richmond Enquirer

OHIO LEGISLATURE.
REPORT.

Your committee to whom was referred a resolution of the general assembly of the state of Pennsylvania, proposing an amendment to the constitution of the United States, declaring that "Congress shall make no law to erect or incorporate any bank or other monied institution, except within the District of Columbia, and every other bank or monied institution which shall be established by the authority of Congress shall, together with its branches and offices of discount and deposit, be confined to the District of Columbia" Have had the same under consideration, and are of opinion, that there is nothing in the constitution of the United States either expressed or implied, that vests in Congress the right to pass such a law, and that an attempt to erect any such bank or monied institution. under an act of Congress within any state, without the consent of such state having been first obtained, is a dangerous violation of sovereign rights reserved to the states themselves And it is with deep regret, your committee find, that Congress has assumed the authority to pass a law incorporating such a monied institution which law, your committee believe is unconstitutional, and the construction said to have been given to it by the supreme court of the United States to be erroneous, and that neither the law nor the opinion of said court, in that case, is in any way obligatory on us as a state ; but that the legislature have a conclusive right to levy such taxes and penalties on any bank or other monied institution located within the state without their consent, as in their opinion may comport with their interest and dignity as a sovereign state, which right your committee are of opinion, ought never to be surrendered: Nevertheless, with a view to prevent the repetition of so dangerous a misconstrual of the constitution, your committee recommend concurrence with the resolution of the general assembly of the state of Pennsylvania. in the words following, viz.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. in General Assembly met, That the following amendment be proposed to the constitution of the United States, viz:—Congress shall make no law to erect any bank or other monied institution, except within the District of Columbia—and every bank or other monied institution which shall be established by authority of Congress, shall, together with its branches and offices of discount and deposit be confined to the District of Columbia : Therefore,

Resolved, by the General Assembly of the state of Ohio, That they concur in the aforesaid resolution of the general assembly of the state of Pennsylvania, and that our senators and representatives in Congress be requested to use their exertions to procure the adoption of an amendment to the constitution of the United States as therein expressed.

Resolved, That the governor be requested to transmit copies of this foregoing report and resolution to each of our senators and representatives in Congress; and also, to transmit like copies to the executives of the several states, with a request that they lay the same before the legislatures thereof, soliciting their co-operation in procuring the adoption of the foregoing amendment.