Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-24
RICHMOND, DECElIBER u, i6lo.
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
NErY BANKS.
f,ldaY, Decembe

Friday, December 20.
III. hing's motion foy posipoaemeat an
ttfae 3lst Of March "ader discussion
Mr.. Ia-eweU rose to address the House
lie said, he rose TO speak with great re-
luciance, us he had already intruded so
much on the patience ofthe House on ii
similar subject but, as he had been cal
led on Yesterday, by the gentleman, from
Loudoun, to express his sentiments, he
could not be so far wanting ia the respect
he teit Tor that gentleman or the House,
as 10 decline the discussion.-lti:asb been
the custom, he said, of every gentleman,
who had addresscdS4ie House on this sub
lect, to introduce himsrlt'hv declaration
nj the motives by which he was actuated,
and the relation in which he stood TO this
question. One gentleman tells YOU, that
he is not Director, nor a Stakeholder in
the existing Banks that he is neither their
debtor, nor creditor and that he was
therefore perfectly disinterested in the dis
cussion ot the present question. AnotIi-
or honorable gentleman declares, that he
comes from part ofthe country, where
they have no banks, nor are likely to have
any and that he is, therefore. impartial
during the present discussion. One gentle
man, holdingup in his hand his patent
right of republcanism, has paced the
portie0spf the temple OF Liberty. and
sounded the tOcsin, at the very mention
OF bank ; ave- that the enemy was an
preaching the Capitol, and that the mine
was dug, which was about to enguph the
liberties of the nation. He, TOO, MIR. T..
SAID, had peculiar relations 10 this sub
Ject: though he was 10 director, he was
stakeholder IN the existing institutions,
sometimes their debtor, sometimes their
creditor; he, Therefore, felt some interest
IN the discussion, and claimed, on this ac-
count, some attention 10 the opinions,
which be should have the honor to deliv-
Gentlemen, indeed, have done us the
honor TO place lis on very high ground :;
they have represented the chartered banks
as monopoiists and possesaors of exclu-
sive privileges. He, said Mr.. It. not only
participated IN this monopoly allowed TO
one institution; but, he was a stock
holder IN both banks, and when he came
prepared to make sacrifice of these inte-
rests, he might surely claim some little
attention from the members ofthe House.
Ana why! Because, every nev bank so
tar aS respects the circulation of It's paper.
operated as limitation upon the profits
of former institutions. Every participant
on OF the privilege of banking, eve
ry new grant OF chartered power was un-
questionably deduction from the profits
OF former concessions. Surely, then. it
was some recommendation in favor of the
opinion of such as were situated like him
self, that they, who were interested in the
existing institutions, came forward to of
ierthose interests on the altar of the pub
lie eal-He differed from the Other cn-
tlemen IN another respect He came from
a section OF the State, which had enioyed
the benefits of banking longer than a.
ny other. He appeared as the represen-
ta'lve OF the Borough of Norfolk, which
Tor one and twenty years had never
been without them; and surely, then,
he might be excused for saving, that his
experience. was at least entitled TO as much
consideration, as the experience of Gen
tlemen, who confess that they have never
witnessed the effects of banking. 1t is be-
cause OF the effects which he had witness
ca, Mr.. 7. said, for 81 years, that he
thought himself entitled to speak upon
tins subject. He had witnessed, i'm theo-
perationof these institutions, the blessings
which they confer upon the community
where they exist. He had seen the town,
IN which he lived, raised from dust & ash
cs, tho moment the niggardly policy had
ceased, which had denied her these insti-
tutlons. lie had seen her rise, like the
Phoenix, with infinitely brighter plumage,
under the genial influence of those fires,
g. culinary fires, " it YOU please, (which had
been lindled by the wisdom of the Legisla-
tUTc. Was II for him, then, to hide his light
undera busheI! Should he, because he en-
loved these blessings, deny them to others?
,NcVer should IT be said, that this policy
had actuated his public conduct.-Buf,
tbose gentlemen, who stand in the vesti-
bule ni the temple Of Liberty, the moment
they hear OF bank, have struck the
gong tOspread alarm over the cOuntry.-
,hey have undertaken to prophecy, with
ule same prophetic fires as actuated the
prophecies OF old. And these prophetic
scers have ventured to predict, that banks
would overwhelm the liberties ofthis ma
non iut, the days Of miracles are gone.
ne age OF prophecy is past. lie was too
0id himself to listen to those inspirations.
I'VE and twenty years ago, he had heard
i,hese same predictions uttered by as wise
Heaus ana az patriotic hearts as had now
given them uttcrauce. iIehad done more
ne lad seen all these predictions falsih-
cd. liz o. when the late bank of the IT
=. WIS established, he had seen almost E.
very. politician combining 10 denounce
This institution, from the present Presi-
dent Of the United States down to the
lowest underling in politics } as Aagitions
in itself, and as hostile to the liberties of
the people; but, 10 the result. The bank
of the u. 5. bad gone on peaceably, liv-
ing useful life, and had died a natural
death. Liberty had survived, and atten-
dcd its funeral procession, and no truer
su...s..i.u.s u..a.. oLcri lis crave than that