Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-03-21
FOR TIE ENQUIRER.

70.
10 the Free holders Of tie County Of Henrico
FELLOW CITIZENS,
Various circumstances, I'M
important TO you, which have occurred since
the late session ct the General Assembly have
prevented me, from rendering, at an earlier
day, an account of the part / took in relation
TO the principal subjects, discussed in the House
OF delegates. This account will enable Won 10
decide. whether have performed the pro.
mise, contained in ms address of March nst
= 10 do my duty diligently faithfully and ac'
cordlng to my best judgment" | think hare
performed that promise, and that have been
TaaI l said would be, at least an "indepcu-
'e ca%5 %at, hhe Assembly. you will recol-
.4ssessbiy Sleet, waa convened by proclana.
Mon, at an earlier day than usual. a law of
FEBRUARY, iSl6, had required the Ranks TO nav
specie, on the 18th of November last. The
Northern Banks had determined TO continue
their suspension OF specie payments, until the
urst DAY OF july next although the goth day of
debts due to the United States were to he maid
~ specie, or in the notes of banks paying spe-
&c, In consequence of this general suspen-
son son OF specie payments, by the banks, their
notes had SINK, from to Is per cent. below
par. In this state of things 1t was believed
that II the Virginia Banks, alone, undertook m
pay specie, their vaults would be immediately
GRAINED, me character and credit Of the insti-
tntous rhineu, the interest Of the State in
those Banks, sacrificed, and shock given TO
She business eff the country, domestic and
felt 'e's'o's
BaHIs of Under this impression the I.esis
ETghsa. latnrc was convened: and I wa,
Immediately called on by enc OF nv constitu.
ents, to bring the subject before the House,
,hefpg a new member, undertook the task re.
}ucLitiy but made the necessary motion
Tor tie appointment of committee In CON
sequence OF this measure bill was brought
IN, suspending the operation Of iile act of Feb.
rnary, 1915, until The 18th of December last:
fp l..rt ...e1 III
same committee, afterwards reported a bill
continuing the suspension until the first of
July next. For this bill / offered substitute.
.eavihg the time OF resuming specie payments
10 the discretion of the Banks but prohibit
any diuldend, in the mean time I offered this
substitute, believing firmly that the VIRGINIA
Banks could not pay specie if they stood alone.
1nd tnat they would pay, as soon as they could
20 so, with safety: especially as the stockhoI
S rs could receive no profit in the mean time
lhis proposition failed, and the law giving time
nntii the LIST July next. passed through both
Houses he opinions that entertained have
=; ,een JuStined by the event. Specie il already
an circulation. The Banks have opened their
vaults, as soon as the Northern Banks opened
theirs. But If the general government had Civ
IN way an event which was not irlpossihle
a n py many deemed not improbable aud our
ranks should have stood alone, on the first Of
July next, as probably they might. their run
would nave been inevitable. | thought all this
very ciear so clear that the subject might in
ny ESTIMATION, have been settled in sioge
4hy/ Ii occupied the House of DELEGATES
ho"eveT, nearlya fortnight. could believe,
account tor the length of this discussion and
LOT tue extraordinary zeal displayed in it but
y Is snthclent presume, for me to make
known to you, what was done. and the reasons
ny winch was governed.
1nchdTter-l On the same 18th day Of No
"a BdHIss }vember, the unchartered banks,
~ ~ Tue Northern and Nsrth western sections Of
me country, were required under heavy peual-
"a discontinue 4
sSiature OF 1915, 10. had refused to charter
t'ese banks. and had passed law for their
suppression, to take effer OIL ttat dav 1his
raw had excited a strong feeling of discontent
throughout those sections | have now before
ine tue preSentments, OF noleSs than four grand
Juiles, denouncing the law as partial tyranni-
Nai, ana unconstitutional proceeding from
Sp ~, IN the Southern and Eastern people, sell
~ liiDeral and unjust. The members from
ihat part Of the countrv.f came TO Richmond
Pdrtaking, in no slight degree, of the feelings of
.neif constituents. An angry and turbulent
o .,Saoh nad been anticipated but the public
expectation was disappointed. The session
pissed on, witha degree of harmony, winch the
speaker noticed in his farewell address from
.ne chair, aud which was frequently adverted
~ IN debate by members from THE west
.pNe some credit 10 myself for contributing to
99'i,ay tic angry and vindictive spirit, to which
nave alluded. An explicit and frank EXPOSE
.un OF my view, of the interesting topcs that
IRE coming on, made in y casual meeting with
80 :" mcihDeTs on Tie evening OF the first day
~, ~ tnc session. tho received at fest with some
Csl.ust, was IN TIE course OF Il short time as
'itldNly admitted, and impl City relied on.
Il iueNe uuclidrtered banks had continued
t'iF operations, calculating on obtaining char
-, or 1T least further time. TO a law grant
lNg charters to these banks. I was decidedly
tPPVscd. They were born without tile pale Of
s,'c NV, and INDIE circumstances which gave
wy a0'I no claim to be legitifnated. But had
g5'I;geTt'on, to give them time to settle their
,rsits' before the hour Of their dissolution
he'r friends asked for INDULGENCE until thc
49, "gust next and il was granted almost
tltnout debate. The h.il was brought in on
az Que ~ ~ November, and was passed. believe,
ed W., t i4ihf, The inla'geuce so readily accord.
H. ~ ,'eSf Oallh affords a striking contrast 70
'e yol9,4'y aud di.bcnltes which tie legitimate
asa'ss nas TO encounter. ! he suiferinQs Of the
piLyRIe above, if The nnchariered hanks were