Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-06
RICHMOND, JANUARY G.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ENQUIRER.

TO TIE EDITOR OF THE ENQUIRER.
SRA writer, who signs himself "a Citizen
of the Valley, has published three numbers i'll
the Enquirer, in which it is his object to shew
that the capital of the Bank of tie Valley
ought not TO be augmented, and TO influence
the Legislature TO reject proposition which is
now before II, having for It's object the n-
crease of that capital. TO carry this point in
this controversy into which am so reluctant
ly drawn, will be but secondary object with
me- when ImputatiOns so injurious aud mn.
founded have been cast by thar writer upon
so large number of SO respectable and wor-
thy citizens of this commonwealth. Among
other things which this Citizen of the Valley
has taken the liberty of asserting, is this that
the Bank of the Valley was constituted or the
stock subscribed for political purposes. Ii
ought 10 be sufficient 10 meet this charge with
as naked denial. II would then stand as The
assertion of one anonymous writer against the
denial OF another, with This difference in my
fGvor, that heiS accusing and am defending;
for it is Il maxim of Justice, that ii single indi
yidual shall he considered innocent until his
guilt il proved, much more such nHmber OF
indN IdualS constituting 80 valuable part of
the community Apdalthough no proof of the
charge has been advanced, nor can be advanc.
ed. Yet think We can go far 10 prove tile ue-
gatiye la prove that the charge is not true
Let ii he remembered, and the Citizen of Tie
Valley, it is presumed. will not deny it, that
the stock of the Bank of the Valley, as at pre-
sent subscribed. is disseminated through more
hands, and has greater uunbeT of holders IN
proportion 10 its amount, than that Ofany bank
in the state. And these stockholders, with
few e. cCptiOns are the sound and sober yeO-
manry Of the cuuuiry. Gao il be imagined
that men like these AT This day when the war
OF party has ceased, when the spirit of peace
anu unaniinty is so universally and so ioyfuly
hailed. should bring together the hard earn
ings of their industry, for the purpose OF cou-
Stitching political machine Gas the Citizen
would has us TO believe) from which no per.
son 10 his senses would promise himself any
ADVANTAGE? What advantage Would il be
to reVolutionize the political sentiments o that
section OF the country. Can any thing be
imagined more OuiXotic and eXtraVagaIit than
such project would be conceived by such
men as the stockholders of the Bank of the
Valley, OF whom also large portion, 1t is adj
mitted, are republicans. Owe shall presently
endeayor TO sllew that majority are so) We
may then very properly retort the gentleman's
LAIN upon him, and say, creddt Jud0HS dppetia
In PLAIN English, let him believe III who can.
The Citizen Of the Valley seems TO take it
for granted that when eyar any political demo-
mination of citizens have the aScendancy in
bank, that that bank will be made use of as
an engine To maintain that same ascendaucy in
the state and according to this admission,
the branch OF The Farmers' bank in Winches-
tcT, IN wbick there has always been decided
republican prcponderaDcc, must have been
conducted for the special purpose of maintain
ing that prep0nderance by accommodating one
ciass OF citizens only, and bestOwing its fapors
on them 10 tie exclusion of the others. Now,
though this would be fair inference from
that gentlemans arguments, yet hesitate not
to justify that branch, It's officers and direc
tors, and all other banks in the state against
such an mputaton, as far as ] know or have
heard. But this will shew the imperfection
oil that gcntloman's hypothesis, when il goes
10 OvertnTu his friends as well as his foes, and
may well serve 20 shew that lie is incorrect
throughout. But have thus lar attempted to
sbcw it, admitting for tie sake e argument,
that majority of the stock OF the Bank Of the
Valley was owned by federaIists. But this, il
] am not mistaken, | may safely deny Tie
Cilizeu Of the Valley has not proved it, and
caunOt prove it, presume. Headmits that
majority Of the stock subscribed at Winches.
ter Is republican, or owned by Republicans
which IS very large part OF The stock he.
tween ono third and one half Of the whole
amount A majority of the stock subscr bed
IN Hampshire, another considerable part, is
also Owned by republicans. and have good
auth0rits for believing that majority Of the
stock subscribed IA Jefferson county y also
owned by republicans. What IL may be in
Berkeley is not known, but most probably the
balance IS little either way. There is 40 doubt
a majority Of The stock subscribed ia lOudOun
j. ln the bands OF federdistS-Iardy aud She
nand0dh will nearly balance each other. IN
Fauquier, there was uOthing subscribed Vow
is u not faiiondi TO suppose thatthe republican
balance of Frederick, iiampsh &c aud ictier-
sou will outweigh the federal balance OF Ou-
d0un aud Berkeley II is disgusting to be ON
PEELED 10 make this Discrimination, and to