Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1837-01-28

their answer, fellow. citizens, in all ills bearings, and with
all its pluusibility; it bears the impress of 'the clorcn
ionI:" 'Ille present hanks have too 'mnch power, y say
they. 'Th"y riioy i mo"op"'y Of the banking business
&C OF the Stale. They lave their Jdr0rurS, both rs TO
" places and m:n. I've must have independent banks,
g. as tdecks upon them, so That other places and other p!oI'
q lions uf the people. may enjoy equal advantages with
I" Richmond, and the bank iayorItes there
What is the sum and substance OF this very l'anslo!'
argulnent: i)urs it lock to the interests OF the people
Al large: NJ. II lnuks alone 10 the %scii1mrrs, stuck
jobbcrs, AID spectators, in and about certain t"wi;s-
Are these petitioners really hostile to monopolIrs, anu l."
the undue Powers Of Banks: MOI Al all: FOR, whist
they Complain of the powers Of the Richmond Banks,
dcrrrcatr lie s. STEM of brunch Banks, and talk Us de-
Theoretically as any body against moiop"iits, and III Ia
vr I'll Tie tqmai Iighfs Of iOdrns aud corporations, they in
Tie very next hirulli pray you To give Them the very
same sort %! powers and advantages over OMtr lowns,
and either srciions VI The State: and are ready 10 pur-
chase thns" powers and advantages, by the promise Of
branrh b""hs IL every little village that can furnish them
wIll 4 VOTE!
And what are those chrcks, those protecting and con-
scrvaIive influences which are promised us b. the crea-
lion OF new banks: Weigh them, Gcllow.citZens and
you will see that Tie peop!c are again left totally out Of
The question:. These new banks may divide the masle.
~ with the old. Dividends may he Bank ac-
Communications may be slowercd more proiusely upon
schemers, stock j"bbcrs and spectators, who cannat now
obtain them, or who have already stretched their credit
almost to the breaking point. Increased quantities oil
paper may food the country, and myriads OF new
schemes may be hatcled But will the creation Of neto
banks, Increase The proportion OF hHrd money, make the
currency sounder, and better secure the pc3ptc, against
Tie evils Of deprecated puper, the calam'lies Of an ever
nuctuating circulating medium, and last, not least,
against the Danger of corruption in the very fountains
OF the laws, by corrupt ind corrupling combinations.
between irresponsible corporations, and srhriIing poll
ticians: No such thing; but precisely the reverse. So
much for tlrse promised checks the promised pro.
lection of the people, by placing new masters over them.
am moi advocating any increase Of the capital of the old
banks. am decidedly opposed to il, and would not add
another dollar. unless with 4 view alone 10 reform, by The
suppression Of small notes. / believe we have banking
capital enough. | cannot believe in the supposed def
cheney Of capital, when see clearly, rs every body must
see, that banking facilities have been too literally extend
ed alrrady-wlrn speculation and schcmIng have run
wild, and when The sup erubundance OF paper is made
manifest in The enormous prices Of bread, meal-evcry
thing of home consum plion. But, your bank committee.
losing Sigh. Of these facts, have reported for The schemerS.
in the name Of Tie people. They are about 10 pledge
the public faith, without the assent Of the public. They
are about TO saddle US and our children with Il new batch
OF srullcss c'rporations, upon pleas and prctenccs proven
TO he unfnundcd, by notorious facts. They have proven
by their report, that they arc looking TO, aud governed by,
the supposed interests Of a sclIcniing, n"isy, selfish MI
nority, regardless Of the rights, wishes and perinanrn
welfare Of The silent: tuiling ~mGjOrity. You may call this
'B"ntonian humhugging," or by what other eplthrt you
please. But it is truth. And, for further proof, in ad.
dilion 10 what have before adduccd, appeal TO the re-
port of your committee, which have not seen, but which,
learn, tulcratss the issue tyre dOIar notes by the new
banks, with 4 reservation, merely as 4 gull for Demo
Gratis: that the Legislature may HEREAFTER suppress all
notes under trRS. Now, gentlemen, why did not your
committee come up 10 the mark at once: Was II
because Of their love for the people: Or, was ii
not rather. to favor the schcLIers and stock jnbbrrs -
BY his reservation Of the right hereafter 10 suppress al!
notes under tens. they have admitted The utility Of such
Il reform. Indeed, have seen no man Of any party,
who does not admit, that the interests Of the wholc coun-
Try, the towns included, but the bankers and sliarrrs cx.
crptrd. would be promoted, hy cutting of all notes un-
der twenty dollars. The pEacticabiII!y Of this reform
cannot ic Gucslinned. We have seen all notes under frfS
prohibited. and that too, when The country was i'll a more
uniavorallc condition for such i reform, and without
any siiGcE 10 the monryeG concerns ofihc Stale. We saw
the trashy small bills haniShed, as /! by magic. aud sm"II
silver change took their place, whilst some OF the al.
Joining States still had nothing ht paper. Why fater
then: There is no need of writing for other States.
Let them 20 on if they will, relying exclusively upon
paper; our pockets will become the recipients Of their
Lnri money; the great mass oi cur people vii! be COM
paralivcly secure: our banks even vii! be placed III Il
snunGer condition, although thew may lose the profits
arising irom thci. issue Of small bulls. ask again, why
was il. that your Bank committee did not " toe the
mark = Verify. they hare - tocd the mark, but on the
wrong side; on the side Of the SclIemeTs and stock job
hers. and against the people. They are afraid Of their
ban,!iugs, even at their conception. The Lord knows
what is 10 became Of US when they shall have grown 10
maturity. They are afraid to brook tile charge u u"'ng
less for chr ncp masters 'han for the old. The rights,
the vital interests, the permanent welfare OF the pc0Pic,
a.. . "a Or IRE tnas.r J r.onlr care is, to make al equal
TONS and Old.
Fellow. Citizens OF The Legislature. nave stIoHS
faith in the weapons of truth, though lcebly and clu!DsI-
u wieidcd. Let me tell you Il Truth, which ought To
awaken every patriot amongst you. to q sense OF the
danger before you. So notorious has II become, that our
Legislatures are SubScrvent 10 the schemes ni The sell
ish, misunderstanding, schen!lng .tcm, and inrgetiui or
regardless Of The rights and interests OF The silent many,
whose industry snslains both legislators and Their srdu-
GERS. that 4 very large proportion, an increasing proper
ton of The most substantial men i'll the community: look
! upon Cur Legislation with the apprehension Ut mischief,
rather than with the hope of good. And th" number is
not inconsiderahlc, who lock upon Il session Of Congress
or Of our State Legislature, as Il curse upon The country.
Let those who honestly fear the growth OF 4 level!lng,
Aurarian spirit, look To it! Let them strike at the root
! Of lie evil. y confidence in the lac. maktrs, is necessa-
~ to secure n proper degree OF reverence for the taTS.
LIT that confidence be destroyed, as destroyed it will be,
if our Legislatures 70 on in The present fashionable: hut
drp!oraiIr career of schelning. lng-rolllng, and incorpo,
/ rating. for .ie ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of ii Jc1r, 10 tie INJURY OF
the manu-. and your cherished doctrine ot "rcs.td rtgats,
will CEASE to be respected, because preached only 10 per-
prlualc wr0ngS and expressions. fOl may plead Inc
! ::pnbic }aia;' The public will tell you, that yon have
! v;nlalcd The i:nubIic iaitl;;'' and that you are seeking TO
fr!lcr them and their children, by pleading principles
which you yourselves have not respected. here Is no
telling how long n peace. loving people Will endure wrongs
aid HGercssicns. But depend upon it, gentlemen, 1t Will
be- unsafe TO couple the doctrine Of 'rcsttd rights win
such casrs as that Of Pennsylvania and the "hTlsrTy
bank" Your doctrine would set like an incubus upn,"
{ i Iiberty.loying people. They could not breathe freely
could kick il off, ''cone that struggle. and hnzza Tor The
hero That leads would b" the voice OF an "ntragrt !,lui'
,;,rl, NATTER O FAC
VlBseasNEA AE1GGsAAEUEsE.