THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 273 extend to myself which would secure [me] for being questioned, when for my acts and words on .this floor I wish those acts to be probed to the quick• I wish the touch stone of Public scrutiny ap- plied to them, and if found erronious and corrupt that they might sink into infamy beneath the weight of public disapprobation, but sir those who impugn my principles maliciously and without just cause are injureing themselves not me for there is an innate impene- trable and impregnible security and Safety in conscious integrity which disdains the dastardly assaults of malice, and causes that ruin to recoil upon the assailant which was intended to overwhelmn the assailed. as to the motives therefore which may be attributed me by those few who viewing my conduct themselves through the medium of Self-Interest prejudice and hatred Condem it, I feel perfectly in- different they excite they ought to excite only one feeling in my Bosom as well as in the Bosum of every member of this House and of every honest honorable and candid Man, which [is] contempt, I hope therefore that whatever may have been the impression as to the Motives by which I have been actuated that the Members of this House repose sufficient confidence in my integrity to believe the asser- tion that I am not actuated by motives of self interest alone, and Sir whatever may be the appearance to the Contrary I assert it as a fact that [if] I were governed by these selfish views which have been at- tributed t-0 me out of thLc, House I should be in favour of the passage of this Bill, and sir I can prove that I would be so to every man of understanding who knows anything about Banking for Sir suppose that two Banks were established and thnt both.could keep up their credit, which however I contend is impossible, but we will suppose it possible, is it not evident that if I could give the satisfactory security to Both B. that from the two I could draw double the amt. of dis- counts from them both that I could from one, and that therefore I could have double the amt· of money to speculate on that I would •h_ave had if I was confined to one B- Sir were I governd by mo- tives of Self interest alone I would vote for 500 B. for then I could apply for 500 discounts and always have my pockets .fil'ed to specu- late upon the miseries or misfortunes of my fellow Citizens. were I governed by Motives of Self of interest therefore alone you would see me sir advocateing this B. and advocateing the principle that the Ban.king system aught to be extended to an unlimited extent, I therefore again reiterate the hope the members of this House will do me the justice to assign my opposition to this Bill to the proper mo- tives, and to give me their unbiased attention while I attempt to give my reasons for voting against this Bill; reasons which as I before snid I feel bound by my duty to my constituants to give. I am opposed to the passage of this Bill because I am convinced that the Policy of
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