Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-07-30
TREASURY nEpARrMRNr. +,

seniatives OF The Congress of the United
States, of the condition of &" tie different
chartered banks in the several states"
can be correctly obtained Only from the
officers OF those banks, an appeal is ne
cessarily made to their courtesy Tor that
information. To meet fully the req,lisi-
iions OF the resolution, the report should
exhibit the state OF all the chartered banks
of tie Union on the same day. Ii is.
therefore, suggested, that such statements
as may be forwarded TO this Department,
IN compliance with the foregoing request,
may exhibit the state and condition OF
the respective banks on the 3Oih day Of
September next. The same statement OF
the affairs Of those banks on the 3Oih
September, 1878 and 1915, which were in
operation prior 10 those periods, would
probably furnish important information
in the investigation of the several subjects
presented in the resolution.
Ii is important that the statements
should be forwarded Immediately after
the 30th of September next, ia order that
the report required by the resolution NAV
be submitted TO Congress at The COM
mencement Oftheir mex session.
VIM III. CRAWFORD.
Congress Of the United States, House 81 Re.
pres. htafires, Monday, March I, 1919.
Resofced, That the Secretary OF the
Treasury be requested TO transmit TO
Congress, at an early period in the next
session, u general statement Of the condi-
ton of the Bank of the United States and
Iis Offices similar TO the return made TO
him by the Bank and statement exhi-
biting, as nearly as may be practicable,
the amount of capital invested in the diff
ferent chartered banks in the several
states aud the District Of Columbia the
amount of notes issued by those banks,
and IN circulation; the public and private
deposits IN them the amount of loans
and discounts made by them, and remain
lug unpaid and the total quantity of
specie they possess and that he he re-
quested also to report such measures as
IN his opinion may be expedient To pro.
cure aud retain sutfi lent quantity of
gold and silver coin in the United States.
or TO supply circulating medium, in
place oil specie, adapted 10 the exigencies
of the country, and within the power OF
the government"
July 27.-The reader will have seen,
by a Notice irem the Treasury Depart
ment, that Mr.. Secretary CRAWFORD is
preparing, as fai as in his power, TO com.
ply with the acquisitions of a resolution
OF the House of Representatives of the
United States. passed al the last session.
requiring HIM 10 make Report on
Banks and Currency.
The Secretary could do no less than
proceed 10 the performance of that which
he was enjoined 10 do by vote of one of
The Houses of Congress: even though he
was only requested, instead of instructed.
as is the u,ual form of such acquisitions
on The several Departments ofthe govern
ment. But II happens sometimes, unior.
tunately, that propositions of this short.
receiving single reading, and voted on
without debate, are adopted out of courte-
sy TO the mover, DIS calling for inlorma.
ton only, when IN fact important princl-
pies are embraced or implied by them
The resolution in question was one of
these. II vas passed at a late period of
the session, & we are persuaded, from our
own observation, as well as from contem-
poraneous assurances of some OF those
who voted forit, its bearing was not under
sio@d, I'm the last clause OF il, particular
ly, IN which the Secretary is requested TO
report such measures as in his opinion
" may be eXpedient 10 procure & retain a
sufficient quantity of gold and silver coin
IN the United States, or to supply a cir-
" cntating medium, an place ofSpecie, adap
" ted to the eXlgencies of the country,
" and within the power Of the govern
mcnt"
II there were no other objection TO this
sweeping commission 10 the Secretary of
the Treasury; if it had been the deliber-
ate intention of the House of Represen-
tatIves 10 request the Secretary to devise
paper system in place of specie curren-
ty, II would be sufficient evidence ofthe
resolutions moi being understood, when
agreed 10, That il seriously requests, the
Secretary of The Treasury 10 inform Con-
gress what measures on a particular
subject are i'll his opinion, ,cithin
the Power Of the gOUernment"-in other
words, that he will he pleased to inform
them what is the eatent Of their Own authori-
g!
But we hazard nothing i'm saying, that IL
was never within the intention Of the last
Congress, or either branch of it, to en-
terrain proposition looking TO general
suspension ofspecie payments.
What measures, if any, iIIe Secretary
of the Treasury may think adapted TO
augment The present reduced amount
of national currency, we have no idea.-
The subject is OF great importance, and
becomes every day more grave f.: we feel
assurd he will neither treat il lightly, NOR
yet omit any part of his duty in relation
to it. But we have ilIoughit the explanation
which we have given TO be necessary, TO
avert the general impression of serious
design OH the part of the last Congress
to establish any other than a species ba
sis for The National Currency. Its an
explanation we have always intended TO
give, should the resolution referred TO
become a topic Of remark, as il is now in
fair way to be and is one on which The
fullest reliance may be placed.
Nat. int.
FROM GREENVILLE SPRINGS.
HARRODSBURGH JuIy 9.-"Jhe Pre-
sident arrived here OF Wednesday last,
just after we had diued, and though there