Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1815-09-23

I Company WIZ s,osia bseosEc syst m tirsNy Eng:
ged ., .ae ,ioiaf N G. The Laws. Sue. a Compsn
eoIii not AZ asostls expect a renewal o.tllci AZ
| ter, n"i any other r,sonr accommodation at Ia,
! ha IS 'fth. G y. r,mes.t.
| II, lie Is, n'lc d, another iasurmount: Bile obier
ton, ca eeisc, 10 rcei.ing the notes OF ?ri,ate
/ Ba; rs hv Chartered Companies. As they can ouly
lac receive; sor the purpcss of paying away nj
9. the c6erinetbem ip payment" b. the officers Of
the Char.rtd Company 81 Often bs come snevta.
Die Nor this is dir city pr obi,ciby tn, Act Oft e
tsnerHi Asst mhy Ill, therefore. the M sf Cnchai.-
ter d Baks be received be the Chartered Co pa
Tics Oh: Officers AMI Dir ctorsin paying tien away
wculG ncnr the penalties Of the law :the former
Tor ths Illegal act, aud the latter For directing it.
hec'. ic.he. w, the dir ctor; OF IN Bark oi-lit
not 10 pursue syst which Eiist in the end com
them torequire their o6scc,s 10 do an at,
wtIc' would suffice, tlien 10 punishment
This view OF the subjet. heennes Infinitely NOR.
strns, when we consider the cxtrSme rr Inability
OF i!ie legislature aiding 20 tl,e sancti i;s law
nv heaTy additional peniities fo' of n aga st
them, In one o!the States, have hear! l. sigg 9
t-'t rat this OH nc whit: openly sets at lance
thr irS salivs power. is pnpi.h dhy :1s5rsoil.ens
ia fr.bic Idiis P,sntensiGrics
Sniil the Lgi' AZURE fVirg;nis =. sertt,r lie
gal dssocaf9on II lag numbers IF i3i.LuelluIs ia
direc, iol-ron oflaw should they conrei,e ti.t
siich associations i setting al kgry a. acf nee ar
MT only italy innorsI !, taea,s Ives, but
eaieuia,e' T. dis emin.te among all c.sss.s c9e-
fo.i:uinns of eivil ,oci. ty should they b, Iieye
that, however illegalin their principles, they ar.
yet more dan gerO'is from the vast Bunb-r Of rer-
sons who 'eague the nsc;ves together for unl.w.
tI' purposes should all these ,Dsideratons induce
q & NV ton, that the strong arm of Government
mist be cxctted TO put them down. anil tat severe.
a1d heavy pensi'i are ndispenss' lie for that par
pose, II what consequences may It net lead All
must aeie thas severe penalties ought rs rarely as
possible, tobe into'need; all must lament the ne
nrfNfla . "a
Impossible, that the open sei~rce ofthe Legislative
po"er NAV induce them to punish the offence of ci
cuia,ng Illegal Bank Notes. by heavy fines, bv ex
cnsion oi all persons concerned, from publ, Offices
and employment, or even by the most igaommious
imprisonment.
Should such laws be enacted, upon what princi.
p!e could the directors OF Chartered Bank require
their o6fcc'S &c t. offer in payment illegal isark
notes. which most probably will he in their vaults
should they now proceed To- receive ti-m' Such a
rcquisiton would rot ony SUBJECT the offending Off
Ger tiiun'hincnt, bat inplieate the directors them.
selves, who by cDri'nal.ins the act, would be con-
'i'ers d as partners in the guilt
An opinion, am aware, has been entertained,
t'at such laws cannot he passed, orif passed. can
nst ~ carried into effect that, so man. p rsons
will be conc. rned, tht legislators will be found
10 enact iniomers 10 prosecute, or jur, TO CON-
vet Gracious Col! WIist picture does not this
susses'ion present TO Us! What IA siarrnng
View does ii not exhibit OF the danger OF extensive
combinations to Violate the iawsi Wsat warning
does It not speak TO tie legislature tn act vita
pronptness and Yisor, While there is yet one sound
spo' about the . dy polite, and befpre il COM
W:t~y ltstered by this Wide-spreadng corruption
cannon, however, ior a moment believe, that
there IS any truth in the suggestion. 1t is vain, de-
uslon part of the baseless and unsubstantal fabric
upon which the whole system Is founded. As to
s''e Lcsisc aie, 1t would be asuIt to that res
pectable body, seriously re.ute such isinuations
III relation to any of its members. lis unfair 70
presume shat Gy one efheSe is associated in these
violations OF their own laws But as niue-teut.s Of
the State are free from the maria for Unehartercd
BANKS, there is not The slightest reason apprehcnd
that the Legislative mind is ia danger Of BIAS even
though could be supposed to contain matccals on
when an improper BIAS could ope:ate.-As to mfr
aies the dispositions of people forbid us To ex-
Pcct from that source the commencement &C pro-
Seeunons; BUT II the provisions of the Duciling aud
Gambling laws be extended 40 this eence, il il be
made the duty cfhe Judge to give il in ciargs,
anu part OF Tic osth of office OF the Common
weath's Attorney to prosecute, aud if graad-jurrs
DC specially sworn To present all such oenoes what
prospect have the guilty OF escaping prosecution p?
moreover, II prosecuted, what pro ipeet have they
al escaping coaSicu4n! Wbo.lss ever yet h aid
Ia Virginia OF the acquitted of sn iudiyp.ua! whose
guilt WAS proved, because the inro: did not approve
the pllc'pies or Tie spirit ii the law which eonsti-
'nted the offence MOI believe me ,ie lection
"sn De rs sure, and conviction rs inevitable as -
punishment would be IgnemniUis and seve-e.
But, y pros cutiJn could be escaped, ann all the
corporal or peeuia'y penalties of tae law could he
aVoeed, TO what mental r. servation viii the m,tyii-
uai resort, who has been concerned in signing
or passing illegal pap r, or member Of an ia
stdauon established for that purpose, to eVade those
exclusions rom every Office OF trust, honor or pro.
VI, which may be constituted part OF the penalty
OF the offence None II the provisions Of the
due!mg law On this subject, be applied 10 the Of
fence in question, it oud ii ITSELF give the death
oiow TO these institutions. Entcrprizing, restless
and ambitious men, generally at the bottom OF
these schemes which boldly set iSe law 1T defiance,
ani they would be unwilling % surrender the hon
ours aud distinctions of place, which might attend up
on the cotnmissiea ofthe ofeuce.
Let itnot be suppos that an. in general, f,vo-
Fable 10 the introduction of such test But, tits
trhsm, that desperate disorders require vioeBt re-
meules, ahd what disorder can be more desperate
than combination against &c law, so extensive in
ITS character, and so learfal IN its eject. And,
aiter all, we shall have great reason to complain
II our test acts are confined TO OF this descrip-
non. so long as the oath Of Office excludes alone
me Dueist and individual leagled against the laws
OF the iand, and engaged in pr.j cts whiehthreaten
widespread ruin to the Country, we shall have lit
tie reason to indulge the Indignation that religious
ahu political tests have so Justly inspired elsewhere.
n DLSINIERESTED CITIZEN
cannot vOuci fer The correctness or ds information
I@TnIy