Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-10-24

W.. "
there be truth IN the opinions OF the respectable
writers on political economy, or in what passes nj
present under oar own observation in all societies
with which we are acquainted.
10 enable you. fellow -ci,izeus, more clearly TO un-
tersiand tia charges which the senate have n,ade
against me- proceed 10 detail concisely, Other ri-
cunStances connected with tho ,ransac,o TO which
the! have called sour attention. ItiS not my object,
as II seems Ia be that OF the tte To enable YOU 10
Judge, WIN are, and ~ hO are nos, your friends Your
Opnuhs on tins point, as well OF The republican,
ism snd wisdom oil your public SET wants. rest in,a-
ee, on s"rer aud broader foundations than the views
ANY OF then, may have taken OF the act entitled " An
act 10 prevent usuty aud for other purposes" One
1ec'S'on, or an Indifferent doubtful question, goes
but very little way III building up or destroying
cia'm 10 sour confidence. BE this rs il nav the b
was presented 10 me on the afternoon Of Saturday
Tue III oi March aud as The Legislature had agreed
10 ADJOURN on the 25th, returned IL TO the House IN
which II originated the 9th, with the hasv ohicc-
TONS winch the SENATE have incorporated iuIu their
pamphlet My object in thus promptly acting, WINS
10 aiou M opportunity to the Legislature 10 reconSi-
u.r'he l, and 10 pass upon IL in the manner point
Ell out by the constitution. leatn, with as much
surprise regret that the senate had taken un,braue
ut The obleciiuus had mad and what they CON
s'dered the dsrespeetul language had used. !,
was relief I'D me, IL assured of what Eel, To be
true, that Ind given just for diss;uisfcion
That tile House oil Representatives, did not
IN The angry sentiments of the senate. Indeed could
nave meant no offence to the Legislature for al
though the members of the senate had been in u very
oiu humour with each other, The most friendly rea-
between iu m sell mi
niue ud expect, when az The OF parting they
ieli returning sense of the regard for each other
witch had been unfortunately INTERRUPTED. that
'"ey would have deemed II necessary To offer me up
"a we 'in on the altar which ,lev sacrificed their
mutual hosliiily-and Tor wha, because had dared
10 exercise Il power vested in by that con stuton
winch you have formed, aud tlev have sworn TO o.
ney' heir own report acknowledges this, bul adds,
mat a. The power oi rejecting hills is exercised ndis
criihntey, would he violation Of the shirt of thai
instrument Ia tins sentiment cordially agree, and
my pracuce has coniormed TO my theory, for have
sanctioned Two hundred and tweuty-seyen bills, Out
oil two hundred aud thirty presented 10 me since
my term oommenced-nor have | withheld nv sin
hst"se nom AS m"Hy ms either OF my predecessors ia
once yet have they laboured this point through
whoie pages ol snbiy and arguments as il it were
denied doubted.
But do MOI think that other of their prime ples
and opinions altogether clear or whether for
at reason Ur not, that they have So salisiac
ahilshed them. Let us hear the conimittee-'f The
ground work oil the objections of the Governor
seems 10 resi- on principles first advanced about
ioriy years ago by AN ingenious and pa:adoxica
4" writer"
The chronological inuccuraey of this remark, must
siIke every Que at all acquainted with the writings
oil Locke Noniesquieu, Voitaire, &c III is more Than
rory years, since Iur2ot, statesman celebrated
alike Tor his talents and his PATRIOTISM declared that
us"ry laws we're injurious IN their effects that they
were no where obeyed-tl,nt obedience IN tl,en,
would bring ruin society.
u beh'lam is The writer alluded to in their Report
nave no hesitation to acknowledge that ttink We
ry hiSh'y oil his work. Since its publication, no
one has heen hardy enough TO deny that he n sd coo
ciusively demonstrated the propositions which form
lie subject that usury laws produce none of the
soou winch they pretend TO have in vew-ibat they
most obvious mschefs Icy depriyng persons of
mo loans ihey stand in need of-bv the corrupiiye
influence which they exercise anon the mo rails OF thu
people, oy Tue pans they take, and but tax
10 give hirth 10 treachery mud ingratude--by turing
man 10 break his engagement, and TO crush the
hand that has been reached OUT 10 helm him
% too speaks The Edinburgh Review ; and such is
nd 'ahyuage oi rea-oH and of truth whilst the no
uous oil Doniai, AID such as he. lie hurled i'm The
grave of sntiquaed prejudice never again 10 be re-
vWed, Ibuve all III the enlightened age ia which we
I'VE: bu' admit that the principles which m, OBJ
Jeeions resi- originated about forty years ago
glorious era, the brightest which The sun has
shane prolific of great truths, il gave birth to the
american Constitution, 10 liberty itself.
Tue Se9aie rest the foundation OF their support Of
'he nii, upon us bavng passed their house unani-
nously, aud Oh their assertion ha, the praci'ce os
usuIy - reprobated by the laws Of this state and
made punishable by every Christian coun,r, -
Now, as 10 the fact of lis having uassed the Senate
unanimously, was not informed but another bill
on HE same subject, had also passed. novel in lis
character, SO pernicious in its Tendency that the
Ionse OF Representatives bad promptly rejected its
most obnoxious features sufficient proof, that
something more is necessary 10 command acouie.-
cence ~ measure, Than that il should have receiy-
ell me unanimous support of that body however res
pectht!c II is admitted To- be. " But the practice OF
. Dsury repiobated by the laws of this srate' Be
u so, then there is no occasion reprobaio any
inrther and II follows, both with respect to the bOr-
ToceJ and lenders, that IL rs very disrepuiable
practice, nasnucl is already prohibited nv laws
which Is me duty Of all good citizens 10 obey The
committee is mistaken IN asserting that il is made pu-
nshhb'e by The laws of every Christian country-In
all countries loans may be made 10 government on
any interest agreed by The parties in III least one
STATE oil the Union, II is not punishable al all il was
NOT so formerly in Holland, where money was more
easily and cheapy obtained than in any ott mar, of
he world-but agree with the author of report on
the plan Of a penal code for this state, who when
urging Tie abolition oil the punishment Of DEATH re-
plies 10 :he argument of lis being universally indct
ed " The" the example Of other states, although
- cnUueh 20 great respect, loses some OF its force
- when We reflect on the slow progress Of improve
nienf' ana that there are general errors, and un-
" fortunately Tor mankind, hnt few general Truths
" established 10y practice, in government ard IeeisIa
- iIon--ihat the long and general usage of any in
siiiuiion, gives US the Of examining its prac.
= ucai advantages defects Int il ought to have
no authority as precedent, until il be proved that
the best laws are The most aneenl and that insti-
tuhoDs Tor the happiness OF the peope are the mos,
permanent, and most generally dfused. But this
unfortunately cannot be maintained with truth =
tie melancholy reverse forces conviction On oor
minds. As 10 the danger TO lie apprehended from
innovation, confess, always listen To il with
" some degree sf suspicion That men who owe
'beir rank, their privileges, their enoInnenis to
hbuses aud ImpOsitons, originating in the darkness
oil antiquity, and cOnsecTated, BY time thar such
meD, should preach the danger Of Innovations,
eau well conceive, the wonder is that they can find
" Others, weak and creduIOus enough 10 believe
" them. Bpi Is country whose admirable system
ol government is founded wholly on Innovation,
where Iiere IS no antiquity, TO create false vene-
ration for abuses and no apparent interest 10 per-
y peuaie them IN such country this argument
"' bave lule force against the strong reasons
which assailed IL D."
Ihe Committee assert that the Executives Of other
states couGDe their objections TO bills which may
nave passed. to those Of 4" constitutional nature -
to = such rs we're founded on conscientious which
bad escaped the attention Of the Legislature, or as
mgIt nlIse on Of infIru ainn whrl, the Even,nirn