Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-08
TO THE VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.

TO THE VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
GENTLEM EN--A Ciiizcn. who respects
the representatives OF the people, would
crave leave to address them few hasiy
words-ere i; is too late, lac prays you 10
pause-to examine more seriously the steps
you are pursuing.
On Friday last, resolution passed the
House OF Delegates. for cuqulring into
certain REPORTS respecting The mlsna-
nagenlent of The funds OF tie Farmers
Bank. The resolution passed withont dis
cusSion. What these reports were, | am
told, scaS not ecen stated.
A resolution subsequently passed 10
postpone the appointment ottiose direct
Ors, who are put in by the Executive
until this investigation is over.
This investigation is going on-yonr
joint committee met on Monday and
Tuesday, AT the Bank-they sat during
the session of the House-aud on Tues
without distinction on each pferdelast tabou;
day, there was not q.oruni, owing TO
the absence OF this committee.
The resolution gave the joint commit
Zee powers to send for persons aud paperS.
They have exercised this power TO send
for persons: they have had before them
several witnesses, among them two bro
kers; aud it is said one or two others have
been summoned. The object is under
stood to be, 10 ascertain which of the di-
rectors for the last year have been guilty
of usury. The brokers expressed great re-
luctance TO betTay the secrets oftheir bust
ness but they were told, as have been
informed, 10 give evidence as TO the direc-
tors, or 10 take tie consequences. 1t is
said, that they are stating some circum-
stances-what, will hereafter appear.
pass over the bank pass over the
brokers pass over tue direciors-to
come at much greater question, yoio' o'ct
1'iehts-not your right Ia make an indlvi-
daal tell the secrets of ms business--i do
not touch that question, interesting as il
is-but the greater question Of vOur right
To make an investigation by ssadltlg Jor
perDlS and papers a., suck q cause.
In sOhat capacity do you act As lcgis-
lators, making laws, do you claim this par
liamentary privilege OF sending for per-
sons and papers DO YOU exercise this, as
means for executing Mot end ?. No
you are not making lars; but assisting to
appoin! directors Mds, d law. The state
is Il stakeholder; You may say, YOU re-
PRESENT. the state; and in your capacity Of
StockhOtder, you have right TO make this
investigation, in this way. Now the cues
ton IL, have YOU a right, as Stockhoiders,
10 exercise your parliamentary privilege of
sending for persons and papers AS stock
holders, have you any other rights than
other stockhclders-and have they amy
such right? MOL pray you, then,
gentlemen, TO consider lCheItce YOU have it,
Not from the charter, which gives you no
such power. Do you derive it from the
privilege Of parliament But do you act
here i'll your lee iSiatire character, or only
as The representative of stock ?
II the charterb be defective in not giving
you this power-amend il when YOU can !;
pass no more charters without this reser-
vatioh, If you please. Do mOre-call on
the Executive TO ascertain, through the
board of stockholders, which director
Slaves, and which does not but So
lemnly pray you to enquire, whether
you have tile right you are now
exercising, thus to extend your own
jurisdiction, or touch the rights of tie
citizen. ] pray you TO consider this great
constitutional prnciple--to give every
opportunity to have ii discussed-aBd to
allow the witnesses TO be heard sOlcmnly
by counSel--I trust, as tlIc question is
now stirred, it may b. deliberately de.
cided, snd that the point nrT he made, by
some witness, or in some Oiler WAY so az
to bring the principle fully before You.
1t is not this, or that bank; this or that
man, which IS at stal, The principle
goes 10 every chart red company, IN " .jch
The state holds stock--a q 10 every direC-
for III tlem upon every ground OF Obiec-
ton. You have a gTeai f!Bd to improve
the siate-tO make roads and canals. The
principle Of ihat fund, is, that iIle state
nay subscribe ? 5lis Of il'e stock of ev-
erg chartered company, Are we 80 un-
dersiaud. that vou, lu your capacity Oi
stockholder, are tn use your parliamentary
privilege of sending for persons and
papers, TO extract the peCunI8Ty secrets
of every mans profession. for the
purpose Of ascertaIning, Which director
o. agent IN anv company, IL = usureT, Ol
gambler or duellisi, a iori,icatOg-or per-
haps Il dishonest MANI Where will illl.
parliamentary privilege stop
n any one stoud contend that vot
hold ile post Of general supervisors ovei
this land; that il is your business to So,
that the uowers YOU have granted are no
abused, then ask ~ once, arc Won On'n
potent ARE YOU clothed with The power
Of Dictator, TO see HAT The Common
wealth receive no dclrimebt2 Arc yoi
Judges, grand jurors, every thing o
where will This sweep Of jurisdiction stop
But a thousand considerations rush NJ
on me, whc'' have no time 90 utter
| am no Shaver, no friend to sbdVers, n,
| director, no stocknOidcr IN The Farmers
] Bank -but 4 Citizen # Virginia.