Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-02-06
R<1a.A'EIGAL.
MEETING IN FAUQUIER.


having been requested by notice published ia the Poi-
cal Spectator and in printed hand bills posted public
places in the county, TO attend at the Courthouse the
9Th OF January, 1884, (beng court day the
public sentiment upon the removal OF the Deposites ON
the Bank Of the Tilted Sates-a larger number
is believed than before assembled any poiitic
occasion in the county
On motion OF Samuel Chiffon, Esq, the meeting was or.
ganized by calling Col. John Walden to the Chair, and
appointing William F. Phillips, Secretary.
The Hon. John Scott then delivered The meeting an
address, at the conclusion OF which he the adoption
OF the following preamble and resolutions:
q The charter OF the Bank Of the United States is
compact, to which the u s. aud the stockholders are The
parties The u s. became party through the agency
OF the National Legislature whose authority alone is
petent to bind them in such The power over the
deposites reserved by the charter is reservation to the
u 81 OF the contracting parties, and ,e Secretary of
the Treasury selected the agent by whoa IL might
be exercised solely because being the bead the fiscal
department, he was the most fitting be charged
with that duty The rights and authority OF the United
States contracting party centred in the National
Legislature from which all the powers OF the Secretary
OF the Treasury derived and 10 whose authority they
subordinate. Each and all OF his powers his office
ITSELF may be annulled by act OF the Legislature
Resoired therefore, That the pretsnsion by the
Secretary of the Treasury in his late to
Congress, in which he himself the elusive
power the deposites is by the charter
OF the Bank, aud derogatoTy to the constitutional authority
OF Congress-.
The provision of the charter by which the Bank is
made the depository of The public is one of the
benefits conferred upon in OF the services
which it undertook to perform for the United States The
power withdraw the public deposites we'd tcii
X
ercised long the Bank faithfully perforated SER
vices which it had stipulated to perform. A power 10
withdraw them Tor any, and every, aud even without any
cause, Is contrary to the plain meaning and intent the
parties, and the actual withdrawal OF when the Bank
had faithfully performed the contract its part violated
the faith OF the United States and the rights of the stock
holders
Resolved therefore, That the future collections of the
ought be deposited in the Bank of the United
States.
The duties Of the Secretary of the Treasury are
prescribed by law Their primary object nay, the sole
purpose for which the department which he predes
created, is the collecting, safe keeping and dsburse
OF the public The powers conferred upon
him expressly or by implication amongst which is his
power the depostes, given for the sole purpose
OF enabling him to perform his prescribed duties The
exercise OF those powers, with view TO accomplish any
other purpose, is abuse Of his authority II no part
OF his duty provide currency United States nor
commercial facilities to carry domestic exchange He
is not the keeper OF the public morals the guardian of
the public press. The people have not conided their
liberties to his They have made him the superin.
tendent Of their Treasury 1t does belong to him to
arragn, and try and punish the Bank for political
any other delinquency not affecting the collection safe
keeping and disbursement of the public revenue.
RESOLVED, therefore, That the reasons assigned by The
Secretary Of the Treasury for the removal of the deposes
h true in point OF dct neither required justified their
removal by him.
"The Secretary expresses the opinion that the exist
Of such powerful monied monopoly las the Bank Of
the u Sd dangerous the liberties the people, and
to the purity Of our political Institutions What does
monopolze? Not the ordinary business OF banking. This
it shares with the State banks II the which
peculiar to the Bank OF the u s. meant by this
Se-
crelary, il shoots its branches into every part of the
Union TO extend lis influence TO every Degi,bor.
hood It's notes are receivable in payment OF the reve
nue.. From the intimate connection of its paris and their
union under head, is enabled carry on the do
mes,c exchanges at lower rate than the merchants the
brokers' or the State Banks aud therefore monopozes
that business AS the depository of revenue annual
Iy received and dsbursed many millions PAYMENTS TO il
made TO great extent in paper Of the Slate Banks
whilst from The universal currency Of its owu notes.
disbursements are TO great extent made in them II
thus enabled to enlarge lis business extend its influence
coniroul the State banks fix the value of their paper and
regulate the currency oil the United Satesin short 10
the opinion Of the Secretary, exercise an absoute and
almost unlimited dominion the property Of the ci,i-
Of the u. States which enables il at any nome a,
us own pleasure TO bring distress upon any portion OF the
community, whenever IL may deem IL useful TO its inter.
ess to make It's power felt Such corporation he thinks
Is continually acting under tie conviction Of lis immense
power ovSt INC money concerns Of the whole country
and IS dealing also with the forluneg of men who are al
snt rom them, to whom they personally strangers
Inc directors are NOT compelled TO daily the
aud witness The sucrings OF those who NAV be ruined bv
their proceedings" 1t will not "sympaybize wi,I, ~
wants and feelings OF those affected bv s noicy snd
ought not 10 be surprzed il corporation al ~ pI
OF the u. States from feelings Of rivalry or from cod 81
cuations OF interest ambition, should deliberately oan
aud execute course OF measures highly injurious and on
pressige in places where the directors who control s CO..
quot have no local sympalhes 10 restrain them" These
are fearful powers, and if the Secrefsfys opinion h to be
Iehed on mey threaten fearful catastrophe. Let Us
compare this institution, potent is represented TO be
Wih hat which the Secretary proposes 10 erect upon m
ruins. In lieu Of the branches OF te Bank of tba ~
ne proposes 70 substitute one state Banks. In
each Of the Sates selected by himself InsesJ f char
ter, granted by the representatives, Of the people and SO
adjusted by Their united wisdom guard AZ lar m bu
man foresight and human means can gusrJ asa;rs, d.
abuses to which such high powers too often lead Lc
proposes TO unite them into one body by eontr5eis.
me terms oil which settled by himself and ia
bic TO be changed at his good pleasure Ins,s,d .,
having at its head board Of directors composed o1
me hrst merchants in the country selected in ,ss,
10y we government, and in part by stockholders whose
interests lead them to select such ~ will condnc,
," 'P''""0" WIN single eye TO the profits Of the