Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-09

instructing the Militia Committed 10 enquire abon: form:
ing a new Regiment of Militia out Of parts Of the Goth
and ll2th Reginents-Adoptrd.
On MIR. WATSIsss motion, the hour of meeting was
changed 10 II O'clock.
On Mr.. Hope Es's motion, resolutions were adopted,
as TO the expedeDcy Of enqu!ring about so altering the
act of Feb. ls23, concerning wills, &c. that the bonds
Of oil executors, guardians, DC. shall hereafter be made
payable 10 the Commonwealth, OF at least to embrace
guardians, only.-Also, that The Committee inquire into
the eSpedicncy Of so amending the act 'f"r r%cmedying
certain defects in proceedings in Courts commonly
called the statute Of jcoaaS and amendments, as TO ex.
tend lis provisions 10 suits in which oLhce judgments
shall be entered, if for default Of appearance, &c. And
also, of so amending the law providing for the better Sc
CURLY of persons charged with criminal offences, Us 10 ex-
tend its provisions 10 persons in custody in civil suits,
who shall fail to give bail when required TO do go.
On MIR. RaSDoLrH's motion, the House agreed 10 pro
coed 10 The election of n Clerk to The Committee OF
Agriculture, NC, TO supply the vacancy occasloned by
the lamentcd death of Z. V. S~parhawk-and Mr.. Ran
dnlph nominated John n. Sorrille Of Orange for the of
fee. Mr.. Cruichfeld nominated Philip Williams, now
a resident Of Rchmond-who was supported by MIR.
Chapman of Morroe. The vote stood, Tor Sorrlle II,
Williams IG
for %enqu:ring into the expcdirncy Of ~repelling so much
Of the Sd section, g for The perfect organization Of The
mililin, y of the SMh March, 1884, as directs that there
shall be q muster of eacl: company of militia, including
volunteers. &c, in the months of April and October 10
every year-and Of providing instead thereof, that the
commissioned and on.commissioned officers shall at.
tend the trimming of officers prescribed by the Gath sec.
ton, or some other regulation, which shall ensure the
attendance OF n suficien. number al such trainings TO
constitute n company.
On MI. kINSEY's motion, amended by MIR. Harrison,
a resolution wis adopted TO inquire into the rxprdiency Of
amending the dist section OF the ect ''tn reduce into one
the several acts. NC. concerning the establishment, jnris.
dic,ion, &c of the Superior Courts of Law y 81 as 10
allow to Sheritfs: Sergeants, Clerks and Jailors of the
Superior Courts, a per diem allowance for their services
in attending said Courts, instead of the allowance now
made.
On MIR. Boards motion, a resolution was adopted 10
enquire about authorizing the Auditor to Issue a warrant
in favor Of the Administrator Of John Marston, decd,
Lieutenant Of lniantry during the Revolution = and a
document was presented as evidence Of The claim.-Re.
ferrd to same Committee.
On Mr.. MAYS motion, so much OF the Governors
Message as rrln;es 10 The publication OF a new edition OF
the Laws of the Stale, and furnishing Justices OF the
Peace with tlening's Justice, wus referred to the Com.
mittcc for Courts of Justice. (Mr. Randolph suggest.
ed, tia. Professor Davis, Of the University, had been
preparing a publication, by way Of Substitute 10 Hen
ing's Justice, and that the Committee might also take II
into consideration
MIR. VESABLE submitted the following resolution
"Rcyoiecd, Tia, the Select Committee on Banks be in.
structcd to take into consideration the ~propriety Of so
amending tic law for the general regulation of Banks,
which passed the 22d day of March, 1887, as 10 relieve
The Banks Of this Common wealth from the penalty and
forfeiture Of their charters, on account Of the susp Lsion
of specie payments. provided that no further dividends
of profits shall be made during such suspension, and pro-
vided that the power Of repeating such charters shall be
reserved to The Legislature in such an event-also, the
~propriety Of relieving The Farmers Bunk %! Virginia, The
Bank OF the Valley, and North. western Bank, OF the like
penalty on like conditions, and said Committee to report
TO this House by bill or otherwise
MIR. fEXABLE said he wished 10 stand right before this
House. Some gentlemen had alluded to him as a spe.
cial friend of the Banks. lie would say, he came here
az 4 Statesman, 10 advocate all the great interests ut the
State-and this he considered rs one Of her interests,
as great MS that OF Internal improvement, and others. He
was no special friend of the Banks. lie had few friends
among their otiicers-he owned no Bank Stock. II was
time to Put this question in a proper point of view. The
Northern Banks had closed their vaults; and our Banks
had been compelled TO follow their example. The
Extra Legislature had given them relief until March
next-but this time is rapidly passing away. Will the
Legislature make no provision in time TO prevent
their forfeiture II the Charters Of the Farmers
Bank Of Virginia, and the Bank Of the Valley, &c, had
contained no such forfeiture, there would have been no
necessity for the Extra Session. He did not ask by his
resolution, that the other penalties on the Banks should
be taken off but only the forfeiture. If this House
makes no provision Of relief, our Banks viii be embar-
rassed by Their relations 10 the others. Those Of New
York are permitted u suspend till May-and ours are
compelled by the late law, to resume in March. VIII
you then compel them 10 open i'll March, and enable
the N. York and other Banks, TO avail themselves OF this
opportunity of emplying their vaults? This was a mere
motive for enquiry, and he hoped ii would be adopted.
Mr.. WATKINS did not perceive the necessity oil imme-
diate notion on this subject. Who knows what two
months may not bring l%0rtli-when so many changes are
thH'fS f'"SS '' w. S'"'fJ SS
changes: il things continue to Improve: 1t cotton an
vances considerably in price, specie will flow necessl-
riy into the country, and The Banks may resume by
March.-tle argued at some length against acting upon
the subject at present.
Mr.. VxSADLE stated. the gentleman seemed to misun.
derstnnd the object OF the Resolution-lt was not intend.
ed by il 10 force an immediate resumption oil payments
Ynu could not fix 4 day for rcsuming; but you may relieve
them by excmpling them for the present from The penal
ties of the law. 1t was net designed to force them into
a particular day; but 10 allow them discretion TO resume
on the lst Of April, May, June or July.
Mr.. WnoLFoLK was about arguing The merits oil the
subject, when the Chair reminded him that the only quPs
tion was on laying The bill on The table. Mr.. w. contend
ed, thai, he was in order, in showing that the relief asked
ought not 10 be granted, and therefore the resolution
ourht 10 be laid on the table. MIR. w. said, that scarce.
ly had The Bank Committee been appointed-n Commit
tee, the members IF which by their constituency were
80 much cntangled in the meshes Of the B~anks-when
here is Il resolution to call upon them TO report n bill, for
the relief of the Banks-and before the Committee had
time 10 examine into the condition of the Banks, and
how far they had complied with the law OF the last ses-
sion.
MIR. VEyARLE commended, That great injury would be
done 10 the interests Of The State, by any delay on this
subject. No man believes, that they can resume by The
lsl MarclI-und yet how can the Banks determine what
course 10 take, if they do not know whether relief will
be granted 10 them: How are they 10 treat their Gus.
toners?
Mr.. SMITH of l.. of W. insisted upon it, that it was
premature to act and hoped the resolution would be
laid upon the tab!e.
MIR. May was surprised, that a mere motion TO enquire
into one OF the most important questions before The Lee
uislature should meet with such opposition. You must
enquire into it-In. March, the Farmers Bank will be
just as powerlcss, as before you granted them any relief.
They cannot discount a note or even sue for their debts
their charter will be forfeited. What injury can arise
from an enquiry; Scarcely six weeks can pass, before
the present relief law expires.-Mr. May supposed that
lie too would be characterised is an a~po"gIst and ad.
vncatc OF the Banks-He would scarcely cundescrnd 10
answer such an mpu'ation.-No would he undertake 10
he the npologist for the Chair-fr The organization of the
Bank Communicable he asked, what was more common
than to put on a Committee, members who are supposedto
understand the subject. And why not a Bank Commit
tee: He insisted upon the ~propriesy of making the en-