The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-01-08
COMMUNICATIONS.

CohMUNICATION. -. -,
he public are congratulated on the full
and happy detection and exposure of one of
the most consummate and extensive nj ms
OF forgery aud swindhng that perhaps ever
was organised in the u. Stites.
1t Is unfortunate that the plan of detection
Gould not DE completely organised until after
a considerable sum of notes had been put ~
circulation ;; but it is hoped that confidence in
the Virginia notes will be restored immeth,
ateiy when it is known that no more spur
Gus notes will probably be issued, and that
the plan OF sending them down the river is
entireiy frustrated before one has been sent
IN that direction. The following persons
have been arrested as suspected to have been
concerted in this business (viz). William
Philips, late Sheriff of White countv-Arm-
istead Stubbeield of Samme,. county 10
shua Badger of Whise county all admit ed ia
ban, IN the sum of twenty thousand dollars
each Alexander. Henderson and Carey
Blbb from Virginia, and Jonn Looney NAL
Sissrate OF Smi h COUNTY, all admitted to bail
IN the sum OF forty thousand dollars each.
Armistead Stubbiefeid, John Looney, Alex.
ander Hendctso Carey Bib. aud Joshua
baoJor nave likewise b en- arrested by the
marshall OF the district of West Tennessee.
on writ of damages from the Federal corr,
~ the amount of 100000 dollars i'm favor of
the President, Girec crs, and company of the
oank OF Virginia. ard all except Armistead
jotuopieheld, who has given bail Tor his APP
pearance, are now in confinement in conse
quence OF that arrest That men. some of
whom have been respected and esteemed
by their fellow itiz rs, and the most of whom
nave respectable connexions or friends,
shouii SO lar abandon the principles of rec
titude as tobe implicated N this stupendous
sche fraud, otfers at once melancholy
proof of the fra,y OF man, and de monstra-
on OF ne nhicacy OF our policy for the
pu pose I hc'ciing nd men in awe
! he Ptrs WHO has, in the hands of dk.
vine providence, been the chief instrument
OF unveiling this con piracy and guarding
ms coun ry aga nst those impen ling evils,
kes the liberty OF suggesting to those in
lnocent persons who NAV have in possession
any base bank bills, and who may be unde-
ermined as TO the proper line of conduct for
them to pursue,
1st. That every such person ought tenaci
onsiy to retain such note, undefaced and
Carefully preserve II till It can be gwen I'D
to an intcllgn magistrate, to be re aimed
and used as r, Of.
End. Memorandum should be immediat
" made OF the pers n FROM whom and the
date when the note was received.
ord. 1t the person from whom the note was
lreceived rs suspicious Character and it is
a
one, he should be prosecuted.
4th- If the p rson from whom the note was
lreceived is not suspected of fraud, dilieent
lenquiry should be made for the or leinal ven
lder OF tie note.
5th. Suspected persons should not be per
mitted to handle such note nor any person.
OUT OF the immediate observation of the own
er, least by design, or possibly by accident
another note might be substituted in It's
place.
9th. Great caution should be observed
least the person who passed the note, or his
friends shoid apply to take literal de
scription of such no,e, and obtain a cer,i6-
cate from the holder and cause some mark
to be inserted differing from the real one. &
then deny passing such note, and produce
the receipt in proof. This is prevalent de-
ception,
10 discover counterfeit note of the Bank
OF Virginia, particular regard must be
paid 10 tue paper and the signature of the
Cashier.
Any persons wishing for further nforma
tion with regard to suspected notes, or a
pr per Course OF conduct respecting them,
are referred 20 John T. Beck, esq Nashville,
John A. Wilson, esq. Warren county. or
Adam Dale, esq. Smith county.
When it is considered that the amount of
twenty or thirty millions of dollars worth of
the property of this nation is represented by
bank notes; When it is found by long ex-
perience that banking institutions are high
~ advan ageous to the commun e.; when il is
well known that so great a share of the
commercial transactions of our country
are negotiated through the medium Of
Eanks aud bank notes, that every farmer
mechanic and merchant is directly, and
every honest man is directly or indirectl,
Interested in the projection Of their purity
and integrity, 1t is to be lamenied that pro-
Itcctng laws upon broader and more libe-
raj basis are not enacted in every State, and
IN every errtory It's the severity of the
} penalties alone that prevents the remote
states from being inundated with counte :
felt notes ofthe ". 5. B INK.
1t is the penalty alone which causes the
Virginia notes to be counterfeited out of that
state rather than IN it; and the same con-
sideration will cause the rogues who have a
+ design upon the Bank Of Nashville. to- 70
into another state TO execute il. Justice
generosity. the safety Of the public interest
seem loudly to demand of every state and
every territory Of the Union to enact mutt.
al laws for the protection of their mutua
interests; and for the equal punishment o
forgery upon every lawfully constituted
bank IN the u. States and as we imitat,
England IN our paper medium, would il no
be percy also to initiate that nation in the So