Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-11

On motion of MIR. BEARD, leave was given to bring in
a OIL" 10 revive and amend The act incorporating n COM
palny 10 construct a toll bridge across the Shenandoah
River, Mt Harper Ferry, passed March %, 1896.
on motion nf Mr.. PouLsoS, Reso!ecd, That The Com
nIuee OF Courts Of Justice he instructed to inquire in
In the cSpediency Of amending the law in relation 10
Free Negroes and hnlnttoes, so as 10 prohibit The sale OF
grain by such persons without the certificate OF a Free
holder or Magistrate, that said grain was authorized to
be sold.
On motion of Mr.. Mcpherson, (nnended BY Mr.. Har.
r!sonD Resotccd, That The Committee for Courts o!Jus.
lice be instructed 10 INQUIRE into the expeGiency of so
amending Tho 18th section Of the law of Attachments
against abscondIng debtors passed in 1919 and leo, as
requires the Sheriff or other officer to provide for the
suinclent srstrnance of slaves and live stock, until sold
or otherwise discharged from such attachment, so as 10
Peo'lue 'hnt IN all cases of Astounding debtors which
may hereafter be levied on i've stock, If the same be
not rePieVied at CT before the Court 10 which The at
lachn1rht IS made r%ciurnablc, or legally discharged from
such attachment t such court. the Sheriff or other Off
Ger shall at next Court thereafter sell the live stock thus
levied upon at The Court house OF his county, in the
same manner as sales are made under execution, and re-
tam the proceeds OF such sales until the attachment is
decli"t by the court, aud then pay the proceeds of sale
10 such person as The court may direct. And also into
the expectancy of amending the law requiring sale of
such stock.
THE BANKS.
On motion of Mr.. SMITH of |. Of W., the resolution
yesterday laid on the table by MIR. Venahle, directing an
inquiry by the select committee on Banks, was taken up.
Mr.. May offered the following as a substitute:
'NcS6tEcG, ! nat 50 muGh oil Tie Governor 8 message
as relates 10 The subject of Banks, be referred 10 the spe.
cial Committee on Banks; and that said committee do
inquire whether any, and if any, what amendments ne
necessary TO the several acts respecting the Banking In
sliiuiions of the Commonwealth, and TO prevent the cir.
culatiUn Of notes for less than five dollars"
MIR. May said that his object was 10 refer, by tins
nm%epdment, every subject relating 10 the Banks; and TO
obviate The necessity for repeated special references. He
did not intend To offer any remarks on the various ques-
lions which must necessarily arise in The committee; but
hp lPpmru IL DruCPF 10 announce 10 The House some oil
the objects which he had in virw. The forfeiture oil
charters must he RENTED. The liability of The Banks TO
the payment OF 10 per cent. damages, and 10 per cent.
per annnm interest in addition thereto, for falling TO re-
deem their notes in specie, operated as a strong induce
ment 10 brokers and money. dealers, 10 collect together
large amounts of bank notes for The very purpose of com.
polling The banks 10 refuse specie; and thereby to enable
such persons to recover these enormous damages and in
terest. He had no idea that the Legislature would leave
the Banks thus exposed, just at the crisis OF a resunp-
ton Of specie payments. The direct interest oil The
Commonwealth in these institutions, as we'll as the re.
neral inte rest Of the community, forbade it. Besides, ex-
pcrience has fllIy shown, that no person ever attempted
to exact these damages except brokers and Inoncy.dealers
and generally those of other Slales-lhe last persons
who ought TO be allowed 10 recover them. liz should
therefore propose to relieve The Banks in this particular.
In regard to the prohibition Of the circulation Of notes
and duc.bils for less Than five dollars, he would, if pos
sible, render our laws more eficacious. To this end, he
would prohibit Savings Institutions, under the penalty
of iurfriting their charters, from giving certificates for
depositps of less than that amount. They might receive
whatever SUMS they pleased; but he would prohibit The
emission of any certificate or note for these small sums.
And to prevent tie circulation of small checks, he would
provide that the holders thereof might recover from the
drawer. or from the person who may have passed The
same, double the amount Of every such check, which,
having been duly presented, should not be paid in specie
by the bank on which it was drawn.
MIR. RIyEs moved To add the following words And
into the cxped.cncy Of fixing q time for the resumption
of specie payments by said Banks
During The debate upon these propositions, Mr.. SMITH
OF l.. Of w., expressed his willingness to see the sub
sti.nle OF Mr.. May adopted. There were various amend.
one, giving certain powers to the Governor, by which
he might act in the recess, III case Of bank suspensions,
thereby saving Ike expense Of un extra session.
Mr.. RIyEs thought it Important that The committee
should act upon the subject presented IN his amendment.
and he had INDUCED the hope that circumstances would
allow q dispassionaie consideration of the question OF
fixing n day for Tie Banks to resume specie payments,
and That the most happy consequences would grow out OF
euch action. He was willing that The committee should
re wise The laws in reference 10 the Banks.
MI. MAY deemed il desirable 10 save Instructions, as
the general subject would be referred under the terms oil
his resolution. He thought the amendment unnpces.
sary, il not derogatory 10 The committee, and that II
would lead 10 other instructions.
Mr.. RivEs considered the resolution of a vague cha
rncter, and thought that under the constitution OF the
Committee they would only act as an examining COM
mil,ce. lie was for assigning it Especial duties. The re-
solution proposed generally TO refer the Governors Mes.
sage-but he asked whether any opininn had been ex'
pressed in that document upon the point in question =
If not, surely it was implying no mistrus, of The com.
milter, to direct them specially to the subject OF fixing a
duy for resumption by The Banks. What mischief could
ensuc from such an inquiry: 1t would at most be but n
matter of surplusage which could do no harm. lie
wished that subject 10 receive the particular notice oil
the committee.
MIR. WooLroLKc oncurred in the opinion that the duties
of the committee were not definitely stated. lie consider
ed The Committee, as organised under the resolnti"n,
merely empowered 10 examine into the condition of the
Banks, and that they had no, III" whole subject before
them. lie wished information in reference 10 Their con-
dilion-and if the House then saw the necessity OF lie.
gislation, this question might be considered by the com.
miltee. He had no particular objection 10 The amend
mont; but lie was not prepared 10 say 1t was wise or po'
little 10 fix 4 day for The resumption OF specie payments:
1t might be premature To do go, ill The true condition oil
the Banks wns known. Whether such Information
could be obtained, God only knows. Heretofore, The
Information had consisted oil mere statements from the
officers Of the Banks. There was nothing done, except
adding a few figures, and asking the officers If The state.
menls were true nr faIse.-iic feared, however, if the
whole E%nIjsct were referred, we should have laws, IN.
stead Of a report upon The condition OF lhe Banks. lie
meant no ~disrepcct to the Committee, but il was well
known that it was constituted OF gentlemen from sec.
lions favorable to the Banks, ami pre- disposed TO extend
them indulgence.
After some further remarks from Mr.. RIvrs. the
question was put Oh his Observation-Disclosures was agreed
MIR. MAYS resolution, as amended, was then adopted,
as a substitute TO Mr. Venables {.
On motion Of MIR. SEGAR,
Rcso!rrd, That The Auditor Of Public Accounts he re.
uueslpd 10 furnish to this House a statement OF the
amount of the sums for which warrants have been issued
on the Treasury. in satisfaction of judgments rendered
nrninst the Commonwealth for the commntation OF live
years full pay, in lieu OF half pay for life, with The
name of each officer in behalf Of whose representative
said judgments were rendered.; and also the amount of
the Judgment in each cnse. And also 10 report to this
House whether the amount Of said Judgments has been
refunded 10 this Commonwealth by The Government OF
The. United States. j..
Various reports were taken up from the Committee of
Courts of Justice, and agreed 10, viz: -.
4 resolution rejecting The petition from Fnndry Cit.
zeus Of Rockingham, who pray the REIMBURSEMENT oil
the Common wealth. right 10 40 acres OF land.
also, a resolution rejecting The petition Of Lucy NAL
yin E.r q divorce from her husband. Spencer MalyIn, a