Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-11-12
RICHMOND, NOVEMBER II
< - fon rHR gNVCIRER.
To tie Stockholders Of tie Virginia and Far
mers Bank
FOn rmK KNUrIRER.

To Tie Stockholders Of the Virginia and Far
mers Bank.
One like yourselves, who is in,ereste
IN the banks of this state, will take the
liberty OF calling your attention few
moments TO a subject important aud
interesting 10 us all. shall make no
parade of the motives which have actu-
aied aud indu ced me to adopt this step,
but shall only remark that they are such
as should sway The bosom OF every man
determined TO do his duty.
1T Is not my purpose to deiain Won
long, 10 infame and disgust you with a
tedious and uauSeous recital of those
lmprovIdent and ruinOus measures, which
have so lameniably distinguished the
administration and government Of those
institutions. Their PROSTATE state is
evident to all, but the principal causes
which led 10 IL, must be matter OF
future investigation. My only object, "a,
present. Is TO arouse you from your
leilIargy, 10 awaken you 10 sense OF
your own duty, aud 10 Induce you il
possible, 10 come forward at the next
general meeting, TO arrest those proceed.
ings which have blighted, il not destroy
ed, those hopes in which we at one time
so sanguinely INDUCED.
One or Two years after the first ,csiab-
lishment of the banks, the general meet
Ing, every year, was well and numerously
attended. The stockholders appeared
either personally or by proxy. They
displayed on those occasions zeal
compatible with their interest, a diligence
IN the affairs OF the banks, which unfor-
nately has not since been pursued. Then
II was that those institutions tourshed
and pro>pered !: the dividends supon The
stock highly productive, and greatly
exceeded our expectations. Alas wllata
falling Oft Take, beseech you, a view OF
their relative situation. Compare their
condition al that happy period, IN those
prosperous times, TO their present misera-
bile and forlorn state. The Stockholders.
as well as the community in general,
must sicken AT the contrast
do notpretend to say that the apathy
and indifference which has marked The
conduct OF the Stockholders for several
years back, has been the entire cause Of
the present wroiched situation of our
banks. But | might assert without ihe
rear OF contradiction, that If il does mol
constitute the only, il may be truly
ranked among the principal causes. Ii
The same zeal, diligence aud attention
had continued 10 mark our conduct and
10 animate our general uIeelIng, as al The
period To which, have alluded, il is highly
probable We should not now be called
upon TO mourn over their destitute and
laieu stale.
But, fellow citizens, This is not the time
to grieve and whine over our mlsiorlunes :;
to iret and pine al The loss OF dividends,
aud The prospect also az d loss of part
OF our capiial.-This would be perfectly
childish and answer no good purpose.
We must act, and act with energy. We
must come forward like men, and at the
next meeting probe The whole affair 10 The
bottom, investigate the causes and apply
the remedy. Lei us ascertain, ii possible,
whether incompetcncy or corruption, %
events wbich could not be icreseen or
Controlled, have led 10 this unhappy stale
oil lungs, LAID IN ruins our institutions, aud
ilasted our fond and brightest prospects.
We must come prepared, determined 10 do
ourselves Justice. Ii will indeed be no
time TO mince matters. With lirmness
and decision which The occasion calls Tor
and which nothing must shake, we will
proceed 10 discharge faithfully our duty,
or we are undone. We will not fail TO
enquire into the many abuses which are
said 10 eXisi-amOngw hlclI is the appoint
ment of men as dir clors who ought never
to have been placed at the board; in the
selection of others TO high and responsible
stations in the banks, who, after having
gambolled In speculation and become
bankrupts, ought never TO have been
trusted. When men have proved them
selves incapable TO manage correctly their
own concerns, they certainly should never
be appointed to superinlend the concerns
OF others, much less be placed al The head
OF monied institutions. Yes-we must
indeed make enquiry into all those mat
tiers, and see whether they be true or not =.
There is one important subject, how
ever, which will present itself to our
serious consideration, and we must take
special care mol TO overlook il. | mean
the enormous expence which is incurred
III conducting and managing the banks
We must inquire whether this grievance
springs from the numerous brood of
officers appointed, or from the exorbi-
fant salaries allowed them. Upon this
subject we must make diIigent inquiry
and see whether all things are as they
should be. Under this head of inquiry
also we must not neglect to examine and
ascertain whether The cashiers are in The
habit, as il is reported, of charging to us
all the full and candles which they are in
The habit OF using in their own families
II such charge as this is made, | am
sure II never was contemplated by The
stockholders. licould only have been in
tended to defray the expence of such fuel
and candles as were used and consumed
III rooms, where the operations OF the
banks were carried on. | know some
cashiers with large aud expensive iami-
lies, and train Of servants. Now is il rea =
sonable that the stockholders, besides a
fat salary and a splendid house, should
furnish such officers with fuel and candles
Tor their own private consumption If the