Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-09-18
RICHMOND. .sEpTEMBER IS.
FOR TIE ENQUIRER.
TO the Erecusive Of Yrginia

Runner has announced that ven are about
to deliberate on the propriety of converting
the Legislature for the purpose of enabling
that body to take into consideration the
act of their predecessors, passed at their
last session, requiring the banks of Virgil
MIA to resume their specie payments on the
18th of November next.
Permit one of the People to present to
your consideration few of the most prom
inent of the many reasons which might be
urged in favor of such convention.
Before proceed, it may not be improper
to recur to some difficulties, Qor the pur-
psse of removing them,) which it is said
have heretofore prevented the adoption of
this sautary measure. To the almost uni
veisal enquiry Of the pub c, why is not the
Legislature convened 10y the Executive
they have received for answer, as coming
from you, that as the law in question recci-
we'd the sanction of the Legislature, they a
lone arc responsible for the consequcnces-
and further, if additional reflection or the
development of new circumstances has
disclosed tn propriety of repeating this law,
that the Members Of the Legislature, ac-
corlling to the power given them, by the
Constitution should themselves solicit their
call While ample justice is done to
the purity of your motives. we entirely dis
sent from the business of yoGr reasoning.
We think it to be the bounden duty Of the
Executive, when a law has been passed of
so Objectionable character. and whose
execution threatens such disastrous conse-
que noes as to have called down the severe
animadvers.on OF large majority of the
people, to interpose by an appeal to the
public will when an intervening election
has furnished constitutional mode of as
certaining that w.ll-But 2dly, whenever
circumstances occur after the passage of a
law, and which, could they have been an
ticipated by the Legislature at the time of
acting, would. in the opinion Of the Execu-
tiee. have prevented the passage Of such
law, Crowded it be orc of universal con-
cern.) then the Executive are equally bouud
as in the former case. to call the Legisla.
ture-Nor should the capacity Of the mem
bers of the Legislature to sci,i it their con
vocation. influence in the least the decision
of the Executive. The dispersed situa
ton of the members of that body, effectu-
ally prevents their co-operation--Nor is
il recollected that the case has ever occur
red where the Legislature have been con-
vened by their own request-Tbe wisdom
of the constitution in imparting this power
to The Executive. is most apparen when
we reflect, that from their uninterrupted
existence they are able to take cognizance
of every new circumstance which, devel-
opes itself, and by converting the public
will, NAV enable society to adapt its rules
of action to the Vicisstudes Of human af-
fairs. Deplorable, indeed, would be the
condition Of that Commonwealth, whose
laws, founded, perhaps, in wisdom at the
moment oftheir enaction, but now become
pernicious by train of circumstances e.
qualIy beyond the perception as the control
of the Legislature, must, at every hazard.
be carried into effcct---But vain will have
been the wisdom of the trainers of the Con-
stitution, in attempting to guard against
this evil, if those 20 whom the power is g
ven Of applying the remedy,whsn required,
fail to act.
Believing as do, that both the occasions
alluded to, have occurred, which justify
the Executive in converting the Ilegsl
ture, | proceed to state the reasons which
have brought my mind to that conclusion.
The law was unwise--because it requi-
red that to be performed by the banks
which was impracticable. Without enter
ing into the interminable field of discussion
which the science Of banking has 50 often
produced, it is sufficient for me to say that
il has been carried in the u. S. TO an inn
provident, if not n a criminal excess--Al-
though in some of the States, this excess
NAV Justly be ascribed to the in0rdinate
thirst Of gainin the Direction ofthe banks,
vet ana disposed TO carry the excessive
issues in this State in some degree al least
to the overweeniug solicitations a The Cow
eminent itself.
\ But, without wasting time in enquiring
Mo TIC caus2s wbir' ha"e ''rs lnN..'' a.