Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-27

l. w.
called for, but had not yet been given.
Mr. SAEnRARD said, he had thought he was correct in
what he had stated. This information had already
been called for and it required lime 10 furnish it.
Mr. SMITH Of l. of W., TO enquiry by MIR. Crulch
field, stated, that The lowest in The scale fixed
upon by the Committee, $4,000
| Mr.. CRurcnrIELD expressed himself satisfied, and
said he did not think it would be necessary descend
| lower.
Mr. WooLroLK contendcd that it would not be posi-
ble from The nature Of drawing notes, to know how
much any individual owing the Bank, if the intnr-
nation now called for rot demanded. MIR. w. did
not think that any in Richmond could find out who
the numbers intended 10 represent, that the
names would not become public. In the country, no one
cared button every body knew what he had borrow
ed they content il should be known as that II
should he concealed
Mr. TUSsrALL observed that this was the same battle
which the gentleman from Orange had fought over and
over again i'll the Extra Session. He brings up the
thing again, with the plan of numbers instead Of
names. That gentleman had said that unless reasons
should be given against his Resolutions he would make
observation. Did he expect the House then vote
for his Resolutions without any from HIMSELF
Mr. T. was more inclined TO adopt the contrary course"
and that was, to vote for unless he heard
sufficient reason given why il should be voted for. AS
he had heard in the present CASE and the mover oil
the resolution instead Of giving for calculated
upon its passing if none brought against he should
lin absence OF reasons Tor the measure vote against
it, The information appeared to MIR. r. as being unnc.
cessary useless, and nexpedient. What benefit could
owned two.thirds Of all the Bank capital and this he
viewed as eil-handed way of striking at the interest
and property Of The Stale Unless lie should be satisfied
what goud would be done TO the Debtors or what 10 the
State, he should not vote for the resolution There was
however, particular inquiry which had been for
golten and lie confessed he greatly surprised at il;
that was, TO inquire whether the Banks had been guilty
of fraud and treachery 10 the people Of the State. If
the gentleman will prove that, said Mr. IT, will go the
fur,hes that be gone by any one. But if he does
prove that ii he proves them not guilty. let the re.
sponsbility rest where it ought to do.
At the suggestion of Mr.. May, the question was then
taken the Substitute, with view 10 its subsequent
modification, and it adopted
To enquiry from Mr.. liARnIsoS, as 10 the amount
of capital owned by the State, Mr.. SMITH Of /. Of w.
said he thought it was about $4,000 600.
MIR. HaRRIsoy wished TO know, whether, since The
State owned nearly four millions Of the stock it was not
Of great importance TO enquire how that money was
husbanded lie wished it there existed any evil in the
management of the Banks. that i, should be corrected,
that the Legislature should apply proper remedies, and
satisfy the public either that nothing wrong that
if otherwise, it should not be left without, control and
remedy. As 10 the resolution ITSELF il appeared TO him
broad and 10 extend itself into minute little business,
whereas the object was to ascertain if The Banks
perverted to the Of great SPECTATORS lie wished it
therefore, be modified, that the information might
be given in time for the House to act upon it.
Mr. ROBERTSON said, that it not for his peculiar
situation Representative of this City, he might per-
haps have remained silent in his seat and have listened
without replying to the side wlnded imputntons which
had been thrown upon this City and his constituents.
Situated he was, he could not hold his peace this
OCCASION lest, perhaps it mis- ht be imagined by the gen
temen who advocated this measure that by his silence
he assented 10 its proprety. So far however, was he
from being able 10 ac1uesce in any Of the he had
heard advanced in its favor that he felt himself bound 10
rise and appeal The Of justice Of the House, not 10
assent 10 the adoption Of such resolution The gentle
man from Orange has taken singular line OF argu.
ment for after pressing his resolution avuwedly aim.
ing at interference with the debtors Of this city,
lie processes TO say, that the measure will be to-
onr;p Ita,, I,c Vat, If
ter such declaration he says that he wants to and
understand the relations Of the debtors of this City 10
the Banks, expecting tuind something rotten and impro
per demanding the strong censure Of this House. MIR.
K could safely undertake. 10 say, that all these mputa-
tons and inucndoc5 were altogether galuous and un
founded. Investigation would shew plainly that nothing
of all that charged be proved TO exist and that there
was not the slightest whuever fur calling down
upon the citizens of this City the dspIcasuIe of this
House and Of this Leg sature. But, (said Mr.. R) let
there be an nvesgatonyes, Sir, let this nquslton be
shcd-let the accounts OF individuals be dragged
forward TO public view and eXamined-let the peculiar
scrutiny be made. He (Mr. Roberlson) was here ready
to avow the willingness Of his constituents to submit,
but at the Time he should not be able to recos
Legislature for that generosity aud justice which hitherto
had been its proudes boast The gentleman from Orange
repeatedly alleges that this scrutiny is iorbdden That
is refused and denied 10 The earnest wishes OF lmse!
and others How is this, Sir, when the House has al
ready authorized proper scrutiny, when it has dele
gated all the necessary powers 10 The Committee on
Banks Tor entering into every III necessary
CATION relating to the Banks Is this refusal or de-
NAL? The gentleman himself, who now brings forward
this resolution, is himself member Of that Committee
therefore in that character he already processes the
power Of calling for information without troubling the
House. The rules of the House provide, that dis
cussion of this kind shu only originate upon SUBJ
. ects previously submitted 10 Committee; and the
nature of this discussion proves the wisdom OF that
rule precludng all discussion until after examination
has been made by Committee, else there would be
no end Of i'll timed and useless discussion. The gentle
man Continued MIR. r. proposes that the whole number
Of debtors should be des gnaed each debtor sngy by
NUMBERS instead of by name, yet however, specifying
the trade business occupaton residence and the pre-
else amount of The debt. Now he had understood that
the books containing the private individual accounts Of
the Bank, filled up Two large folio edgeIs; consequently
the information now called for, would necessarily fill
some large volumes, and would he huge, unwieldy
bulk, while at the time, all this bulk Of yolumlnous
information would be- at least in reference to the hume
rous small accounts, utterly useless Mr. r. hoped
therefore, that the House would vote down this
luton, and in so saying, he would observe that he
did not stand here as the advocate Of Banks-He was
only friend 10 thcm they were iriendsns they were
useful and beneficial 10 the Commonwealth he was
willing to 20 every proper but he could not
favor The schemes of those who, by nctng irtcparable
injury upon credit, went the way 10 nit!c The most
fatal disasters upon the Commonwealth
MIR. Voolfolk said he had been entirely misunder
stood if he had been regarded as aiming blow al Rich
mond the country. His object to know how, and
in what manner the Banks employed The public money
This was most Legitimate object of enquiry, and as the
business of the Banks TO lend out this money, it ne
cessary follows, that in order to know how far the mo-
ney is safe, must know to whom il has been lent
The Stale owns nearly oncalf of the Stock and is it
not therefore fitting that The Legislature should enquire
into the in which its funds Employed Do we
not call other public officers 10 strict account? Why
then should we have such extraordinary confidence in
Bank officers and call them TO account They
but men, subject like others the aillies Of hu
man nature aud ought 10 give account OF the use they
have made of the public money we'll every other
Sc, of officers Such was his object, and if in doing
this he had been understood aiming blow at Rich:
mond City in particularly he would only sny that he had
been entirely misunderstood for such had been by