The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-06-04

Virginia Legislature. The amount Of the
capital and fleets, are quite unimpo;-
tant 10 the state. Norfolk itself, although
equally respectable aud important with
any other part of the state Of the same ex
tent and population, l. not sufficient To ex
cite The avarice of he Virginia Legislature
The Legislature of Virginia consists princi
ra!y as iioutur isls si,us int-riur
OF the state {; who concern the snselves very
little with banks and bank opera.ions--
They therefore have made no calculations
OF pecuniary interests upon this occasion -
They have acted in giving instructions from
the pures, and most honorable motives,
from conviction that the power of granting
charters of incorporation was no. conferred
on Congress by the constitution, but reser..
Oea to the states respectively That this
conviction alone was the inducement to their
| instructions will appear obvious from the
instructions themselves, which beg leave
to read:
The General Assembly of Virginia
UteW with the most serious concern the
late ATTEMPTS which have been made to
OBTAIN from Congress a renesoai Of the
charter tncori'oratins the bank of the u.
Stxfes--
This assembly are deeply IMPRESSED
So'th the conviction that tie original grant
Congress haze no hozver. 7vhatever to renew
it. and thar the exercise Of such flower
soonid be not only unconstitutional bur a
dangerous encroachnient onthe soyereignty
| Of fae states.
Therefore,
RESOLVED That the Senator's Of his
state in the Congress Of the Uaifed States,
he instructed and our Rehresentatives moss
earnestly requested. IN the execution Of their
duties. as faithful rehre sentafipes If their
country, to use their best Efforts in otto.
sing BY every means in their fozocr he re
nezvaf Of the charter Of TIE bank Of the u.
States
Jan 22d, 1911.
agreed TO: - . g
ROBT. TSYL6R. s. s.,
| J.4S BARBOUR, S. H. D
Il Cory from the Original.
Teste, .s
lanes PLEASANTS, c. n. 2.
1t manifestly appear, f, ON thess instruc-
tions that conviction of the unconstituti-
Atty of the original bank law was the sole
Involvement with the legislature for giving
them F; and here, sir, permit me to express,
a hope, that the arguments have urged in
favor of this opinion will amply justify the
legislature in the honest conviction under
which it has acted. Permit me also to re-
mark, sir, that whilst Cannot admit that
Instructions in any case possess a mandatory
influence over the Senator; and whilst I
think the practice of giving instructions in
general, and uton general points offchcy.
is attended with injurious effects upon the
proceeding OF this government. eoc.-yet in
case OF rights reserved 10 the states, the
legislatures not only have the right, but it is
their duty TO express their opinions to, CT
instruct, their Senators (for will not cavi
about terms) to resist the usurpat ons of the
general government. 1t is the mildest way
in which their agency can be brought to bear
upon all such cases; and this being case
in point the instructIng Legislatures stand
perfectly Unsuitable in he conduct they have
adopted in that respec, I hope, sir. that
have rescued the Legislature of Virginia
from the unmerited imputation thrown "a
gainst it, inadvert emily am sure, by the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Crawford); &
have shewn hat it has been influenced by
the purest the most laudable & the most
honorable motives, &c.
/ have, sir, thus presented to the Senate
the most impartial and comprehensive
view, which nv best reflections have ena-
bled me 10 take of the constitutional ques-
ton involved IN the present discussion. and
of all the other topics which have been in :
cidentally connected with it ! will now
proceed to examine the subject in another
point of view.
{ Sfeech to be concluded in our nert.
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