Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-13

Ur An imperfect sketch htving been given Of the
remarks Of Mr. Hodges, on the mutton ut Mf Penole
ton OH the 2lst u!t to take up The Currency R"sou
TONS it is proper that Mr. r. should appear 1eioie The
public in his true attitude. On that OCCASION
Mr. HoDess said, that he concurred entiIey in the
views which had been addressed 10 the House by the
gentleman from Harrison, (Ilr Hurrison) in support Of
the motion 10 take up the resolutions Unlike The gen
,leman from Brunswick (,r. MaIIory) Mr. Hodges had
taken his seat tha, nu' at the commencement Of the
present session. with the determination to sustain any
efnrl which might be made to bring abmut discussion
Of the subject Of FEDERAL lteIaiipns, connected with
the great question then agitntng the country; and he
thuuvht that the crisis had then arrived, when
ton on The par, Of this Legislature demanded, les
the opportunity Of doing 80, with any thing like Ell
6cacy shout be pei mitrd to escape. In his opinion, IT
any proposition could he presented TO the consider alton
Of tina, house, which would require above all Others
that sue decisive step should be taken in reference In
it, tina proposition would arise from The resolutions it
was proposed 10 call up II had for it's oj-ct the de-
nuIciuton of measure recommended for the adoption
OF the General Government which he regarded 10 be of
great, general and practical imPortsnce; only be.
if adopted, il would aHrcl thu currency Of the
whole country, in which every individual in society is
intimately interested not only because proposed q
tai innovation upon the long established practice of the
Government in financial respect but also because it
would necessarily have the effect according to the per-
sunsnn Of his minda porsuasiun that penetrated every
faculty he posspssed-oi investing the Executive De.
partmenl Of that Government with such additional pa
ironuge and influence u 10 it, yond the hppe
Of recovery, that supremacy which it had recently
quirrd over lis co departments
Mr.. Hodges was here reminded BY the Speaker, that
tho question under consideration respected The expe.
dency Of taking the resolutions, and that he must
conSue himself 10 that question only
Mr. ii resumed and said that precisely what he
inleaded TO do If permitted TO go on, he appehended
his user valons would he found be in view Of two pro
positions First, the intrinsic importance of the subject
itself and therefore the necessity of some action upon
it; and, secondly, the peculiar propriety, he
ceved of expression OF opinion in relation TO il
by this Legislature arising from the influence which this
State has always bern able exert the legislation
of Congress; and surely those reasons addressing
themselves strongly to the consideration Of The House.
why The resolutions in question should be taken up
Ii the subject proposed be considered was an i'm.
por,ant one, and If there any good reason for
an expression of opinion in regard it by the Legisa
ture of this State he thought himself strictly within
the rules of the House in urging these considerations
arguments in favor Of the motion VI the gentleman
from Rappahannock, (Mr. PendIeon) Now Mr.. Hold.
ges int nded to do no than TO express 10 the
House his reasons for believing that The subject was
Of great magnitude and Importance. The Speaker
again nlerposed and reminded Mr.. H"dges that he
could into the merits of the subject under
the motion then pending Mr. Hodges proceeded
he said he regretted that, like many others who had
preceded him in the debate, he GUILD not discern the
true line Of distinction between " merits of the subj
before the House and general declaration OF The
importance Of that subject Ii he understood the reso
uuns on the table they propounded two distinct ques.
tons, which might be regarded comprising the merits
of the subject: in relation the expedency of au
lhurizng the reception OF nothing but specie in all pay
ments 10 the General Government and the other in
lation to the expediency Of dsconnecng that Govern.
nlent from The Banks entirely, and Of making indi.
yiduaIe the sole depostaries OF the public
He had no, Intended aude to, much less TO discuss
either Of these questions, aud therefore could not, lie
thought be properly considered embakng into dis
eussion Of their merits. He only meantto represent