The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-01-04

.o'ne V'rg1n!z eraractcr, WHICH inc gcntlefaa'
has deprsc.Ited. I
A Hatement Of facts will ;nfrate via, have
mentioned. The exiting law inntts penalty
IN the receiver OF I Eote of the Potomac bank
When man who refides in that dftriet O.
country, into which thoc. notes hase and viii,
under exiting circumstances, continue to find
their way, is poll frd Of one ct then, and ie
defrous Of making purchafe, it h. is man in
whom confidence is placed, that 40 deiisu to
enforce the penalty of the law is i:i,ented, the
note will be received by merchant or aay q.
Their parton with whom he is difpofed 20 deal {:
# he is unknown or his character fufpeSfed, he
is not able tn make his purchafe.--Thus is this
unheard-of dilemma, which I have mentioned,
introduced nor can it be avoided by any means
within the power OF tho Legislature, ua!ef i. is
by authorizing the Establishment of the hank
a!ked for--nr departing from the procp,e a
dopfed, of preventing the circulation of the
notes of aprivate hank.
But again, We are told, FIR, that the articles
OF aitociatinn of the Potomac bank, are with al,
taeie objections to be recognized by thi, com
mlttee, If the bill before us ever is enacted into
law. was anxious, fir, th;. cosnuit,ee
ihou'' he formed in order that the bill ihonlsl
he again read, that gentlemen Mould understand
", and understanding ii, nigh. Zee the proprie,y
OF an amendment / intended to propofe. J..
has been read fir, and it is with aitonihment
hear the fnppol;tion, that the original articles
ot a'octation are retained in il, and that by
paiiingt we are to authorize the Illegal ir .uis
ton Of the notes complained of. The bill in all
ITS features, purfues rho orovi6oDs Of the bank
law of Virginia, which is the favourite child of
the gentleman; all the rcftr;etions and limita.
lions IN that law are to be found in this hilI and
'ntead OF authorizing circulation of thofe
notes, IN exprefs provifon is Introduced that
the bill hall no. he corfiiered as a repeal of the
law TO prevent the circulation of private bank
notes. Why, fir. II 'hould be fippofed tina;
the articles of afociation cannot be altered,
know not {: one Of thofe articles exprefsly pro-
vides tor the event in contemplation Ivy this
bill power is thereby given the leclstnre to
act. and the Prefdent and Directors have by a
refprffnl petition requefed them to exercife
that power. Another objection is, that altho'
the bank fiould be removed in conieouence of
a law To that effect, yet the bank tieif would
he under the controul of men who world not
he amenable To the laws of Virginia. A flight
examination OF this part IF the fubiett will, I
truft, FIR, he fuficient TO ftisfy us. The origi-
nal ftockholders as have faid, contemplated
this meafure; it was part of their contract {;
hey were willing to encounter this circum-
tance 1t 1t was an Inconvenience. This indeed
hr, was urged, and I could but think, urged
With proprlcty, when at an early part of the
FELTON,, petition was prefrnted for effabli H.
inc branch of the Virginia bank at Wef-End
III was no part of the contract of the original
tocktolders of the Virginia bank that fuch an
eit'bli'hment might take place and charter
'hnnld not on any pretence be violated. But
this reatoning does not apply to the cafe before
us, tor the realons have mentioned is the
stockholders, and not the Legislature or the
people at large. whom we reprelent, who are
70 he aftGted by this meafure. Yet indeed.
fir. cannot he Of opinion that the ftockhoi-
ers Of the bank would fnfFer by being obliged
70 Tue in court of Columbia to obtain uitice.
have the honour to krow the courts Of that
dlftrf, and without meaning ~ reflect on nnr
judicial establishments; I viii venture 70 fay,
that in mo part of VIRGINIA, is inftice more fper-
Oily or with more ability administered. be-
'ievc, hr, that in point Of affiduity, integrity,
and capacity, IL might compare with any Branch
N the union. Nor can we admit he fIppofIti.
on that in'tice will at any future tine b. lefs T.
nv 'ed promptly administered, while Pre-
fident who is elected by the people of Aneri-
ca has the appointment of thofe officers.
] have thus, FIR, endeavoured hatily IN max.
fone anfwer to The objections made TO-DAY bv
the gentleman from Wythe. Am conftra;n d
to acknowledge, however, that am afraid the
time ct this committee has heen taken up to
very little purpofe. The objections were con-
fidered as meriting an anfwer, yet candour fore.
es me to fay that believe we have not vet en-
tered on that field Of argument which the me.
rits Of this queltion will lead ms to. Ihave cen.
tented r'yfelf with following the objections now
made, in which, indeed, fear this &C nnittee
has found it difficult to- exercife the attention il
has manifehed in the df:ufiion. A gentleman
from Norfolk, few DAYS ago, called on the
friends of the bill for information on fuf ices
which I thought appertained 70 the merits OF
the bill : that information was furniOted. and ir
order that fuch difcu1ion may take place.
conclude, FIR, by moving that the committee
now rife, and ak for leave to fit again.
TIE eomnfittee'fben rof. Tbe rbairn,o, -.
borted orogrelj. md alt9ed hape TO fit aea;a
avbieb sDa5 granted.
TWO REMARKS ONLYit
i ia with an honef pride, that we c,n co,
traf together. he conduit of the VIRGINIA L.