Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-02-11

liable yield to temptation than all the Tressurers
and other officers we have had He had no idea OF
giving the Bank much power this bill proposes
without efficient check-and he was, there FORE
for giving such power TO the Legislature, as his
amendment proposes, the next time they seek re-
newal.
Mr. HARvrE objected to the observation-disclosures
he thought it would prove fatal to the Bank,
and that no person would deal with the Bank, when
their private accounts and transactions were liable to
be made known TO the world.
MIR. ATKINSON of Isle of Wight. supported the pro-
poslor-and commended, that the prcsen, mode Of
porting upon the condition of the Bank, by a Commit
tee OF this House. was mere mockery. He would be
willing to vote for snnual enquiry into the condi-
,lon OF the Bank for every winter until its charter
was renewed He said, that into tbs condition Of an
institution, in which the Commonwealth had so deep
an interest," the Legislature were bound to enquire RI
gorously. How we to know how much spe-
Gle was in the vaults Of the Bank unless IL be count
ed when the Bank could one day lend its specie to
its neighbours receive back the day. How could
you know the state of the insoven debts OF tho Bank
unless look into the condition Of the of
deaiers He dsapprOved Of all this concea'ment and
mystery-and he begged Of the gentleman from Hem
rico TO recoec that according the proposed amend
ment, the Committee of this House were TO be sworn
TO keep secret the ea'ings Of individuals.
Mr. VOOLFOLK spoke at length In favor Of the
mendment-he reprobattd the mystery which the
Banks threw around all their transactions. He wish
ed TO rend the veil-he wished to ascertain the true
condition OF the Bdnks-to see, among other thing
how far the Bank had INDUCED its paralities for few
fvortes He did not blame the Bank for makiug large
loans TO individuals; it might be their interest
winch they had In view by making then-but was it
not calculated TO produce monopoly, Had no, large
commoiAtions been made TO individuals in Richmond,
tor the purpose oil Carrying ON the tobacco trade:
Mr. FINKs objected to that clause OF the amend
meni, which imposes secrecy upon the Committee He
had no idea of having secrets in free government,
aud OF preventing members, when they went home,
from telling their constituents what they had discover
edupon the plea, that they had taken the oath, and
dare not tell them what they knew.
MIR. WooLFoLK begged the gentleman from Madi-
son to recollect that his amend confined the oath
oil secrecy only to the private accounts of the dealers
oil the Bank.
The question then taken on Mr.. Finks amend
ment and lost without division.
And on taking the question the whole proposition,
1t was rejected, ayes rs, noes 90.
Mr. GARLAND OF Amherst proposed to strike out
the I'd section OF the bill, which establishes Branch
at Danville. Mr.. G.. expressed his opposition 10 the
section. He said, that while he sensible we could
not as we were situated get clear of the Banks, yet he
was opposed 10 their multiple times involv-
ing whole neghbourhoods in embarrass mt and ruin.
besdes he was not informed of the commercial of
the country where this Branch TO be establi he'll,
and he had no idea OF forcing il upon them.
Mr. CABELL rose to present the commercial advau-
tages which Danvile presents in its connection with
the growing trade, and improvement of the Roanoke
overland the of the ,ople OF this county for
Banking capital. He referred also to the exerons
which had been made by North Carolina in placing
Banking capital within hor border i'm the nei ID.
bonrhcol of Danville-and the injury which might he
inflicted on Danve for the want of luch capital He
referred also 10 the working of the gold mines in that
paper into gold dust Mr.. c. propo.ed by way Of sub
stitute for the 81 section the following "Be il further
enacted, That the said Bank shall have the priv .ge
Of establishing and shall establish in the course of The
current year, Office of Discount and Deposit at
Ddnville, upon the same footing in all respects with
those now established al Petersburg, Frederick burg
and Lynchburg: Provided, That Stockholders in suf
hcient number, and of proper qualic shall be
found resident in Danviile and the adjaceRt country;
and Provided, That the said Bank may IT, in its dis
erection deems il expedent appoint
he InfEc Dirac
tors Thereof"
Mr. ScorT asserted the advantages of establishing
branch at DAnville-in relation the whole Roanoke
country.
This proposition agreed to; and takes the place
oil the II section Of the bill.
Mr.. ATKINSON of I. Of w. proposed the folIowin q
secton "Be II further enacted, That it shall he lawful
Tor the General Assembly to appoint annually a Joint
committee whose right and duty il shall be to exam
Inc into the condition aud transac lions Of the Bank
and report their opinion ,hereupon On taking this
question, it was rejected.
The question then came upon engrossing the
Biil-wh-n Mr.. Anderson rose 10 saw that in conse
quence of diver ing the Bonus from the Fund for Inter-
nal Improvement he should feel hims elf obliged to vote
against the bill He was proceeding to assign his rea-
sons, when on the sugge on of Mr.. Mason, that an
attempt would be made to review the decision of the
House upon that question:; Mr. Ande said he would
await the result of such an enquiry.
Mr.. BRowN OF H., then rose 10 present the follow
ing amendment: Strike out The 2d Sc ion as amended
10y MIR. Rves's amendment and nseri "Tha in cons
Iteration oil the extension OF said Charter there shall be
to Tor ana on account oil the
Fund Tor L. Improvement, each share OF the stock OF
the said Bank held by other than the Com
monweah, per centun, payable by semi annual re
servaiOns OF - cents out OF - semi annual divid ends
on each share belonging TO stockholders ether than TIT
Commonwealth, until the whole of the aforesaid sum
| Of - shall have been paid; Provided that the
whole said i've per centum shall he paid within FIVE
years after the - day Of next"
This motion gave rise to debate, in which Messrs.
Brown Of H., and Williams OF Henrico, supported The
proposed amendmeat-and Messrs. Bayly and Rives
OF Il. q orge, opposed II.
Mr. MASON of F. proposed, with the assent of the
mover, to strike out tn words 'lor and on ac-
count Of the Fund FOR Internal improvements"
Nj Brown assented 10 the charge-and went on to
advocate his proposition. He declared that he could
not vote for the bill chaeriOg the Bank unless the
bonus went 10 the fund for Internal Improvement
Mr.. MASON remarked, that the effect of the amend
ment would be TO give the bonus to the Common eath,
TO he subj ct 10 The disposition OF the four successive
legislatures, ami unless they gave it different des
,naion, woull go to the Fun for Internal Improve
ment.
The question was then taken on the amendment
and cARRIED-ayes 81, noes 81
Alter All unavailing attempt to adjourn the House,
Mr. ATKINSON of l. of w. moved to strike out the
81 section thus dispensing with the payment of any
bonus at ALLIE said ii the Bank was to render any
service at all to The Stale, lie satisfied would he
better able to do 1t, without the payment of any bonus
Another motion made to adjourn and succe eded
YESTERDAY, Communication was received from
the Senate stating that they had passed the hill Ts
nj the several acts concerning the Tuckahoe Ca
nal ComPany"-and also, that they had passed with
amendments the bill "To incorporate the Petersburg
Rail Road COmpany"-and also with anne ndments the
ACT TO amend act, entitled An act TO organize
Convention"