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

reeooniitie for the Virginia bapk How rsfpou-
h''le fir! nor t,at it hall yield, prefun,e,
p ont; AID IT We were to refponiible, are we
not rvfponEb!e FOR the rights ofthof. entruRed
to our care, and fhlll we violate them to pro-
m ,fe the inter~es of a monied company?
Piirfully d. encounter tina, part of the ar
eumrnt, which in the mott animated terms has
| aiked US to pour our vengeance ON Alexandria
| as an offender. Here let me be pardo ned, FIR
r-ien'mcnts and psrtialities follow US no, here.
Here we RELY on our judgments, ON our facred
oa'hs, ON that equal fpiris Of jatce which
cannot entertain doubt nerves the breatt Of
every gentleman 70 Whole deliberations ! have
The honor nf an admifIi,n. Yes IT,, at that por-
tai. facred 20 truth and iuitce, Itruft we throw
or the groT-r p JIions OF nature, and endeavour
70 act as the awful Responsibility we arc under
may diaa,c.
The gentleman has told us, that member
OF the Fairfax approximation. had voted againft
the etsah''fh'pent of bank at Richmond. in the
year 1899; from the imprefIinn that a bank
mere would be injurious to the bank Of Alex
andria. II is true, FIR, we fo;nc;imes cite au.
thorit'es IN fu2port Of our opinions but who
has before w!tnetted an authority like this, Of
the fnPpofei opinion OF an individual, who
perhaps at that time, pofIrned !efs lights than
we do now; for we have not heard of the rea-
tons afiienel by him, and however little we
talnly then knew lefs Ofthcin? But we are
told that that member from Fairfax, WAS IN
ftnenoed nv the idea, that the bank Of Alex
andria, would be injured hy an eitablifhment
Ut atl'nii'r nature in Richmond and this is
| ttp'rt We ou.:st 10 retaIiste on Alexandria.
Sir, come not here to defend or promote the
,nterc't4 Of Alexandra, urlcfs they Hhal CO.
i7cide with Tie in.ershs of the county repre-
TENT. / believe that TIE interets Of my con-
| tttt.y
PROPERTY If the trade of Alexandria. II is
for their fake, and not FIR Alexandria, that
my vnce is hard this day. Sir, have no
inttreit 20 ferve IN Alex ,ndria. arl perhaps
not BATTERED with the frieuihip of any map
there. which could fwerve heart from the
coldeft execution Of duty. Yet, fl, (houla
not fee ditpoGtion to do an iniuftice to any
community of men. hope even If I could
profit by it,, at leaf, I would not, were my
adventures prevented by their PROPERTY.
Our attention has been drawn to the con-
duct OF Alexandria, as worthy Of our ins,ig-
nation, in having ehab'iihed banking COM
pany contrary TO the exiting regulations of the
tate Oh that fubje9 ofhaving degraded Vir-
gin'a hya waDton violation of her law. Let
us exaininc the fact, aud afcerlan the crini-
nality O! the charge, before we fufftr our re-
fentinents TO decide for us. Tn 1893, the le-
giiia'ure Of Virginia found it necenary to eta
blifb bank ut Alex Indria {; in 1895 it was ALTO
found neceiiary to encreafe the capital of that
| bank. The capital remained Efficient then for
the purpofes oftrade in Alexandria, until, under
the operation of the general government, the
Dtritt ofColunbia was ftvered from us. 1t
was after this time, Gr that Biltinlore, ever an
xious to draw the trade Of Virginia from it's ma
tural courfe, and fecure it 70 herfelf, etablihed
a hank, by which that town threw into circu-
lation at once, three million of dollars. This
indeed threw an overwhelming influence on the
| trade of Alexandria. The merchants of that
place were fubjeded to all the Disadvantages
which would arife from their immenfe inferiori.
~ OF capital. What conld Alexandria do |.
Sc had loft her protectrefs, and the new maj.
tiers to which fhe was coalisued, had tied ND
their hands, and could not hretch them forth to
| her relief. The merchants of Alexandria feel
ing the conftant alienation of their intercns
| feeling that il was neceiIary TO defend them
telves i'll fhort, feeling thofe principles which
actuate the breaf Of every human creature, de-
| termined on the means If felf-,efence vet that
determination is condemned, becaufs they are
| laid to have violated our laws. SIR, Alexandria
| has not violated our .,ve. This alfociation of
traders puroofey avoided ,hat violation, and
touched not the letter of your law, nor Offend
| cd the fpirit oft. I believe il would he an ca.
ty matter 70, prove, for tn, facts are already in
| the poiieiiion OF this houfe, that the law iuft
made to fupprefs the circulation of notes paw
able to bearer, WAS not predicated on any cir
Icumftances fmilar TO thofe in which the aiToci-
alton which has been mentioned food. Yet
was not Alexandra AS free to ACT for herfelf as
Baltimore was? Did Alexandria, in purpofely
avoiding the execution of necefiariIy desenfive
meafure commit any violation of your laws,
offered us more than Baltimore, which did mot
hehtate 10 Offer direct violation to them
Alexandria in the eftabiiihment of her private
banks did not fend her fubicription books to G.
very court houie in the 4ta.e to collees the hid
len treafure, and bring it into her Golfers, as
Baltimore did. Alexandria collected her
funds within herfef, or If the citizens of Vif.
yinia did form part of that ailocation, they
went TO Alexandria to do it. 1t is true fhe
lcouId only bring into ACTON one ixth of the
lcapital whic Baltimore did II is true fir
Alexandria was as little fubjea TO the controul
OF Virginia as Baltimore was, yet ihe was not 70
tregardleis of that duty which one government
owes to the laws Of another. Let us no, then
FIR, craih the wretch within our power, but
if we mu!t have animoiities, let them be directed
To foe worthy our recruitment.
From The obfervations we have inn heard
from the gentleman, that Alexandra Aill con-
times TO circulate her notes, a literal accep-
tation OF what he has faid, would Induce be-