Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-10-18
ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE, }
Harrisburg. October 10. 1899
To the serer4l Deputy attorneys General efMe respectir


To the Sereral Deputy attorneys General Of The rsspecttre
counties # Tic Communicable Of Pennsylvania.
received tue suhlnlned letter from his Exceency the
Governor of the Commonwealth, this morning and has,
To comply with the directions therein contained For
the purpose OF facilitating reference 10 the acts oil AS
sembly, furnishing guide the subject under con
sdpa'ion have appended copies OF these acts In thls
circular, and invite your attention 10 their several pro.
visions for detailed instructions The mode OF proceed
ing 10 be adopted, in carrying out Tie views of the Go
vernon.
II will be Oily perceived that these acts Of Assem-
bly, although they seem at cursury glance to conrem
plate, in r first instance private and civil proceeding,
IN case their proceedings are violated are yet highly
penal in their character, and expressly designed TO
operate penalty upon offenders The evil which they
were int. nded correct had been experienced with
great severity by the people Of Pennsylvania No ciii.
zen, whatever his circumstances might be. could clam
exemption from its Inconvenience and losses. Frauds
in thousand forms had been its Offspring public credit
had been bighpd and both public and private moral s
de. ply debased by its influence That these things
the direct result Of The ndiscrimnae issue, by private
individuals and corporations OF notes bills, CHECKS tick
cts, &c &c of small denominations, in the form, and
for the purpose Of circulating medium is clearly shown
in the history Of the times OF the passage Of the first law
The subject, and 90 fresh recollection Of The
events OF the last three years No species Of speculation
holds such strong temptations 10 violate the law,
that OF manufacturing al will, and paying out bills,
notes, tickets, something that resembles and passes
/ Tor money The master motive Of human action is ap.
pealed TO- and The honor and the honesty of too many
found 10 yield IL is generally those of desperate
conditions, that avail themselves Of the opporu nifty Of
paming Off on the community large nominal amounts
Of sma! notes during the suspension e specie paymen
by The banks, because they have little risk in setting
the laws at Defiance and obtain a circulation for
their spurious money, substitute for The specie that
is withheld from circulation. 10 the end the imposition
is discovered, The resumption OF specie pa ments
takes place. and the citizens often those least able
bear it, are The sufferers. Similar Inconvenience,
though in great degree are experienced by the
public, when the small notes issued by corpo
rs,ions md individuals perfectly solvent and willing 10
redeem them. They become worthless few miles
from tie place where they issued be passed
al great sacrifce-ase multiplied such degree
pei most of The better money from circulation,
and debase md faint The currency of the country
render its publication and reform extremely difficult,
if rot impracucGbe.
Considering The subject in these aspects, think there
will be difference ui opinion as 10 the
be adopted II would be Idle henceforh it has been
hitherto TO leave the enforcement of laws 10 Irregular
accidental indvdus position Few would be will
ing undertake the labor and perhaps fewer. the res
possibility of bringing the offenders 10 justice The truth
Of the homey adage will be again realized, that, "wha,
s every bndys business is nnbodys The vioators of
The law will escape. while The public ia considering who
shall prosecute and the country will De again flooded
With spurious notes in open defiance Of The Law.