The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-02-01
Tu,g11ia Legislature.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Thursday, January 2:

A communication from the Senate by their clerk
The Senate have passed the bill Concerning the
town of iiarrisonburg in the county OF Rockingham,
with amendment, In wh,ri thev Request thc con-
currence OF the House OF Dclegates.-rhe said a.
mendment, being twice read, Was, on the qucstio,
put therenpon, agreed to BY the house.
According to resolution adopted Oh TUESDAY last
the bill Concerning "O,vsr Pollock was read !.
second time, and William Writ, ESP. was heard rs
counsel FOR the said Oliver Pollock, at the bar OF the
house.
A motion was made by Mr. Woolinc, ,aa, Che
House do agree TO the following preamble and REQ
luton -
The Genera, ASSEMBLY of Virginia cherish with
peculiar regard, as Fundamental principles ia teir
political creed the foliowing---Ihat all power is
vested in and consequently derived from the peoplc
that all free governments should have for their basis
equality and in practice should dispense its blessings
with no less equality to the pe0plc-That whenever
government shall be found differently organized or
producing different results, majority OF TIE people
have indubitabe, unalienahe aud indetensible
right reform, alter abolish in such manner AS
shall be Judged most conducive to the public xooi.-
The General Assembly entertain for the constitution
of this state high respect, and in plating the
circumstances under which il formed, particular
~ the infancy OF political science, find for sur
Prise that plan of government should have been de
vsed, that in its great outlines, should have boon
propuus 10 the liberties, and the consequent hapl-
ness OF mankind. But its authors would have been
more than mortal it they had produced perfect plan
of goyernment--Hence time and experience, the sc-
we're but impartial trcrs of all human things have
developed errors, which, in the opinion OF some re-
quirc correction.
This Assembly Of the delicacy ant, dan
rot frequent attempts AZ innovation; but where
defects exist of such extensive consequence to re-
quire remedy, the experiment OF changing the 20
vernment, bold as 1t is, must he tried and ia the ei
sis thereby produced must look FOR safety IN the
moderation the patriotism and wisdom of the people
Petitions for series OF years having been presented
To the legislature, suggesting defects in the cons.
ton, and calling fora convention 10 remedy the same
.,i. hatp h,-, -,
wished by majority OF the good people OF this state
and this Assembl, knowing that the right To call n
convention belongs exclusively to the people. and
that, under such circun Stances it is respect due to
the people, both 20 consult them and devise some
method by which to collect their sentiments upon
this Interesting question,
Therefore, Resolved, That the skeyi3S and SER
searts throughout this common wealth, he instructed
and required, ut their respective elections for dele
gates to the next General Assembly, to open a po.
the coluap Of wisb to he headed Convention -
the other "no Convention" and the voters pass
delegates, "a request them also to vote u,on this
question and firly recording their votes deliver
the poll thus taken to the persons elected to the AS
sernbly, that the sentiments Of the people may be
correctly made known to the ensuing Legislature &
by them carried into effect
4 motion was made by Mr.. Lee (of Norfolk bo-
roughly 70 amend the resolution by striking ot the
words &c the sheris and scrgeants and inserting in
lieu thereof &c the officers authorised by law to con
duet elections"
Mr.. Leigh (of Dinwidde) then moved to postpone
the farther consideration Of the said preamble, reso
luton and amendment to the 3lstday of March next
and the question t.ns put thercnpon, the SAID mott
on for postponement was carried in he Affirmative
Ayes SS--Nocs 10.
Friday, January 81.
An engrossed bill I" Changing the times os holding
certain courts in the thirteenth circuit" was read
third time and passed.
The ID, 3d. 9TH and 5tii resolutions of the select
committee " to which were committed the bills for
establishing banks at the towns of Winchester Lynch
ktr,,a and tn Nuhip raf,.r -
petitions from the inhabitants Of the several towns of
Richmond and Portsmouth,, and the vicintes there
o for banks tn be established therein were, on mo-
ton, taken MP
The al resolution was as follows" Resolved that
in a,gmenting the banking capital of this common
wealth. it will be proper to establish Independent
bank at each of the towns of Lynchburg, Norfolk,
Winchester and Riehnr onh."
A motion made by Mr. Mercer, to amend the
said Cd resolution, by inserting, after the word " ar
in the second line thereof tie following words -
Norfolk, with capital OF dollars :" which
amendment was on the question put thereupon, a
greed to by the house.
A motion was made by Mr.. Mercer farther to a.
end the said resolution, by striking the follow
Ing words" Each of the towns of Lynehburg, Nor.
folk, Winchester Richmond" and inserting in |
lieu thereof the foi.owing-s' And a bank at Rich. |
Tnond, With 4 capital OF and branches |
thereof at Lynchburg and Winchester with CAPT |
tai OF subject to this modification |
thereof, that the mother bank at Richmond shall not
require curtaihncnt OF the discounts ut either Of the
said branches until the discounts OF anv one Of such
branches shan exceed twice the amount Of the CAPT
n. Of such branch" And the question being put on |
The said amendment, decided in the affirmative
4 motion then made by Mr.. Leigh (of Din |
widde J to strike the whole of the said second
resolution as omended, for the purpose of inserting
in lieu thereof the following" Resolved, That |
new bank sba!lbc established in this commonwealth
with a capital OF dollars divided into
shares of 100 dollars each, and with duration of
years, TO he seated at Richmond with
branches at LynchhIrg, where dollars
Of is capital shall NJ located; at Norfolk where
ess dollars ofits capital shall he located at
Winchester, where dollars Gifts capital
shall be locascd and the residue thereof shall be
employed in Richmond"
nj the question being put the said motion for
striking out, decided in tie aifrmatiye.--Ayes
1O0---Nogs So.
Mr.. Leigh (of Dinwid'ie) then proposel'the above
substitute Tor the resolution stricken out.
Mr.. Mercer moved Ivy way OF amendment To the
the first line thereof tie following words, an indie
penlent bank be established at ,solfoik, with eap
tai OF and that"
The question heiDg put on the said motion, was
determined in the negative-Aycs 5C-Noes 100
farther motion made by Mr. Mercer to a.
mend the said substitute by adding the folio wing pro-
vso at the emil thereof" Provided that the drcc
tors Of the mother bank in Richmond shall not re-
qurc curtalrnent of the discounts of either of the
brunch banks at Lynchburg, Norfolk aud Win
chester, unless such bank shall have extended It's
discounts beyond twice the AMOUNT Of les capital "
And tlie said motion was the question put
fhereupon, decided in the affirmative.
The said substitute, as amended, was on the qIes-