Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-02-06
MEMORIAL
4 HAM Al HARPERs.fERRY


We therefore iose no tame ia giving circulation
To tl,c views il contains.
To the Honorable Ssnaie,
and Det<gaies II Iiryinia
YOUR MENoRlALiSTS are fully appriz-
ed that the general disposition Of the i.eris-
la,ure has been heretofore adverse to gauk-
ing, on that extensive plan which many State.
OF the Union have adopted; and there il no
doubt OF the fact that such disposition ha,
protected the citizens Of Virginia from man,
OF The evils whica have occasionally hapocn-
Ell IRON supcriluous legislation on the sublec,
OF banking, and the abuse OF prcroya,,,e iu
the management Of banks. We arc also well
apprized, that withdrawing the great care
and prudence continually exercised ON that
branch Of legislation, our citizens inhabitin,.
The northern border OF the State during many
years before the crcati /, of the Bank of the
abcS an virginia, were exposed To the banc-
tai inhucScc of all the evils. without partici-
pating in any Of the lucrative consequences
oi banking. We arc no capitalists, seeking
cNorbitant Interest Tor money. We are no
advocates for \ liccn,ious exercise Of the
privilege Of banking; nor viii any one uf Us
ever be found asking a legislative body To
grant the privilege, unless the situation of
The people who arc 10 enjoy II, shall obvious
. y demand the and of lis exercise. We have
'''s since mouSht, ahd even IN thc lnI ancy Ot
tie village Of lIarpers-fcrry We believed.
that it, location and CONNIE rcial relations ab-
soiGieIy required the resources OF 4 bank !;
but now, on that subject, there can be 10 d.
verify oil opinion,-there is no shade of
doubt. When the progress of Improvement
| in That village dehes competition in the State
when the enterprise of It's mercantile citi-
<ens commands the trading attention OF a
large district of couptry-whcn the conve-
nicnt, cheap, and expeditions outlet To the
ocean, through the Chesapeake and Ohio A.
nal, sc, must inevitably draw TO this place
the greater part Of the produce OF the Whole
Naliey--whcn We must in return supply its
inhabitants with all the various species Of
heavy merchandise which their wants may
/ require,--no great effort OF the mind i, ne
cr-,ary In decide, that ALI immense capital
will be wanted Ia promote tie progress Of
useiul Improvements m the village, and to
sustain the burthcn Of trade which will be
thrown into It's bosom. That capital can best
aud only be obtained b, the intervention of
bank, by which our own funds " III bc aug
niented, and the fund, Of merchants an New
York, who wish 70 purchase the produce OF
/ thc Valley, all be placed under our control
4 \ direct trade Will then be opened between
| this place and New York, the best market IN
/ the Union; and the Chesapeake and Ohio Ca
nal will afford the means of regularity IN its
( continuation. This arrangement MI certain
/ ~ give general direction To all the produce
OF this part of Virginia, through the Canal, il
| being tho cheapest and most expeditions
route. Ia the profits resulting from tins d.
rection OF the produce, the State holding
stock in the canal will largely participate (;
and IT Is easy 10 foresee, that unless houses
shall be established at this place, To purchase
the produce which may be offered, n great
part Of II will find it, way To Baltimore, Oh
/ the railroad. The farmers and milIers hold
ing 1T IN small parcels, will sell at the nearest
market aiiordng the best price, each farmer
or miller not having a sufficient quantity To
justify the delay and trouble Of transhipping,
in-uring, &c. Baltimore Is bat few miles
! further from iIarpers-ferry than George
| town; and her merchouts almost invariably
pay higher prices for flour. which is the sta
! pie Of the Valley. The case Ill be different,
/ " liberal purchasers can he had at this place
The produce will then go Ia large Quantities
I into the hands OF n few, who, for a small ad-
vance on barrel Of l0ur, could keep up an
, Intercourse with New York, a. well Is the
| merchants Of Baltimore or Georgetown and
! bring home TO our own State the profits, not
only Of the outward bound, but the return
! trade. The establishment Of a bank in this
village, will not only give convenience, but
/ profit 10 every man engaged in agriculture
within the Valley, by augmenting the amount
! of money IN circulation. The increase Of
I the circulating medium, which. discharges all
4 balances Of trade, will produce "A correspond
Ing advance IN the price Of all articles
/ brought 10 market, and the nearer a market
can be had, tie less the expenses Of eiIecting
a sale. II viii afford convenience aud adyau-
tagc To the general government. by opening
IT. yault- for the dePOsltes of the public mo-
ney winch may be wanted To- pay tho ArmO-
L tssra ffnp. 10 tfne t.,A h.. -
I ing the specie Tor charge. tie cost of sending
/ Il from the east ca cities will be saved. ~
Will AID "a the execution Of the enterprise
no" ~ agitation, Of improving tie nav igatIon
/ OF the She uaudoah river. II will promote
! the progress of manufactursrs,-for the sue
ccssful operation Of which, We have on the
I Potomac and Shenandoah ala abundance Of
water power.
We feel confident that the interest Of the
Whole state = invoked M the scheme Of es-
] tlblishing a Bank al liarp-t--Fcrry. The
bank viii bring busincss--the business, popu-
Z lalion population, wealth. aud the whole
rrycnuc 10 virginia. 70 viii bee idlc 60 say
that there = bank at Charicstown, without
I the mcans II aiding eHcciualy 80 nearest
neighb0ts bit we're Il n mammoth. at a di.-
I lance of ten mules, Il could not afford the CON
yeniencs which We anticipate from bank
here. We want a place Of safety, al our
own doors, fot our money aud thot II Others
Who may place confidence 10 us and sc wani
portion 81 our own citizens and friends t.
have charge of the treasure placed ~ u.
We, therefore, humbly ask charter f,r a
I Bank 1T IIafpcfs-lcfry, TO be- styled Tn
I BANS 90 llttrtEs-ft sRT, and granted on
the terms and suPglaiious 81 the Bank ~ Sir-
-inia, with a capital - three hundred thou
-lnd dollars ard leave 90 c1mfacucc hu.nc..
+ on iic description Il TX thousapd shares of
hfty dollars each. AID payment Of siNty thou.
sand dollars 90 tLe commissioner, appointed
90 sril tlie stock
Your msmoriaiisis also pray. that YOU will
enact = law, dir ting uc court ct jefferson
county ~ appoint. forth Fiih az Inspector
Nho shall cS1mIho al lour and corn meal
Drought 90 iIarpefs-i cry and tic landing a.
heePiry'i Iufnare. for sale or expectation.
\ according 20 the pro, i,ions II a. inspection
iaTs 81 ihs state with Jhe unIcr.ia1d.nr