Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-01-08

may excuse any member for good cause Other names
shall be drawn to supply the number inside excus
ed. After The names Of 80 are thus obtained the sit.
ting and conles'ing members may each select one from
among the members present whose names have not
been drawn Ii either fail Ia select the place shall be
filled by ballot, as above. From the AZ members thus
chosen, the sitting and conieslng member shall alter
natey strike oil until The number il reduced 10 thirteen
The said lhleen together with the two nominated by
the parties, shall be select committee to try and de.
termine the merits OF The return according to the evil
dence submitted to them, the constitution and the laws
) The select committee shall elect It's chairman the
member first drawn in the House having casting vote
in the event Of q tie in said election.
In each and every contest 4 select committee shall
be constituted in the foregoing manner.
MIR. CRurcHrIELD moved TO lay il on the table and
have il prlned-which was agreed TO: and on Mr. Tun.
stall motion, the number Of copies was enlarged from
lS5 to 200. After some conversation between Messrs
Kinney and May, about printing the Report which went
along with the preceding resolutions (bo,h laid before
the House the last SESSION. Mr.. Watkins moved to
adopt the SD rule Tor the pesentbu after
versa,ion between Messrs Kinney, Tay of X. and
Watkins, the latter withdrew his motion.
On Mr.. CEuTcHFIELD's motion, the usual resolution
was adopted for admitting the Editors Of newspapers in
this city within the bar, 10 take of the proceedings
Of The House.
The Chair submitted 10 the House the following in.
tereslng and impressive Message from the Governor:
Fso7D Citizens Of the Senate and House of Delegates:
The order, cheeriulness and contentment which hap
PLY prevail throughout the Common ealth is source
Of the most sincere congratulations The agricultural pro-
duets of the last season, though what less in amount
than usual gre aler than was nj time apprehend
ed they would be, and ample enough, not only for the
supply Of wants, but to leave surplus equal in va
lue probably, to the proceeds Of former years. The
timeut of respect for the laws and submission 10 The
sued authorities; the order regularity, peaceable and
dignied dsportmen which have been always the charsc
teristcs Of cur fellow citizens have been usual consp
cuous through the yenr which has just closed If the
ports which have reached us from other places Of fearful
Ia l..Nrl ho,n
cason of painful regret fortunately have had nothing
Of the kind among TO complain of and lament Astis
essential 10 the Of institutions ind Of the
national character which country has hitherto enjoyed
tina, respect for the law and submission 10 authority
should be spontaneous aud universaland as thereupon
depends the continuance Of the invaluable civil and po
lt!cal privileges which have hitherto possessed il
should he the determination Of every citizen, in and out
Of Office TO permit of complaint, however Just
il NAV appear to xcite feeling Of characterization and
TO exert his influence all occasions, upon the side Of
order and decorum This is the first obligation Of good
citizen and upon its faithful Observance and upon
moral ard religious duties, rests the title to the
rous and inesmable blessings which a bengnant Pro-
violence hath vouchsated 10 US.
The Banks have returned 10 specie payments and the
performance of their in that respect has been
accompanied with the revival of activity and confidence
in The various lines o! business II is due 10 them 10
mark that they anticipated the period al which il was
generally supposed the resumption would take place,
without esorting 10 course OF rigorous collections,
which might have occusoned general embarrassment
Our currency is longer deprecated and iuctuat
ing, but is Of the standard value and exchange upon
almost every point Of the Union has Appropriated to the
cost OF transporting specie. The early restoration OF
specie payments effected il has BEEN without mate.
rial Inconvenience any branch of business class Of
ndiv .duas, is gratifying indication of the rich re-.
sources of young and vigorous country.
The effect Of the innovation upon the financial usa
ges of the Government proposed IN the late session OF
Congress would most probably have been to postpone
the period of recovery from late deranged
cy. BY creating Fictitious demand for Specie would
have contributed still more to depreciate and discredI
the regulation of the banks while they in order pro.
vide for the increased liabilities to which The
would have exposed them, must have proceeded TO d..
minish their discounts more rapidly than would have
been consistent with the general interest.
| referred in my last annual communication 10 the
scheme for collecting and keeping the public money
commonly known the Sub Treasury, and the opinion
which | then held has been confirmed by subsequent
reflection and recent devclopemens regret, therefore,
observe that it is again 10 be pressed the consldera.
ton Of Congress
|, is admitted to be innovation the hitherto uni
form financial usages Of the Government 1t does not
appear 10 have been suggested by The recent discovery
Of abuses mischief in The system 10 which the
try has been long accustomed and under which has
attained to large measure OF prosperity IT is not
recommended by considerations Of economy, the secu
,y OF The public money, or the lessening Of executive
patronage. Nav, it is obnoxious 10 the obe con, that
the expenses of the Government would be thereby in.
creasedthe public money rendered less secure, and
the patronage OF the Executive greatly augmented.
When the public money is placed in banks to the
dit Of the Government its agents, it is attended by
charge and there is other risk than the insolvency
Of the corporations which, with ordinary cIrcumspecton
in selecting the repositories, if risk al all is which
our prudent citizens DO not hesitate TO incur in the
management Of their own affairs. On the other hand
public money in the custody Of Government agents must
be always insecure and severity Of penal enactments
against deau.ers will be likely materially to diminish
the hazard. IT, indeed, in the selection of public agents
the appointing power was secure against epresena
ton and interested applications there would be diff
Ecully in finding in any part OF country competent
and faithful officers but that is no. 10 be expected and
there will always tie danger that responsible trusts may
he committed individuals who have been led 10 expect
them in return for party services.
Whilst the ancient and familiar mode Of keeping the
public money is recommended by considerations Of eco.
Monty and security, it is not less so for the important
reason that avoids the necessity OF enlagng the pa
tronage Of The Executive. Let the law perform lis pro-
per functions in designating the Banks 10 be employed
in settling the conditions of the agency and in deter
mining for what irregularities abuses, the privilege
shall be forfeited, and there will be no occasion for Ex
ecutive appointments or the exercise of Executive au-
thoty But if their agency shall be dispensed with,
troop of new officers with salaries and influence, and
,he augmentation of the already overgrown influence
Of the Executive unavoidable-l respectfully sub
n that these views furnish strong, If not decisive OBJ
jectiOns 10 tho proposed innovations.
The general Bank Law, which authorized renewal
of the charters Of banks and addition 10 theiI
capitals, suspended by act of The last General As
sembly. The early day at which the charters OF the
two principal institutions will expire, lS42 suggests the
expediency Of considering whether any, and what add
tional legislation is called for by this interesting branch
Of our public policy My opinions this subject have
had before occasion respectfully 10 subm-they remain
unchanged.
Banks of discount and circulation consider greatly
useful if not indispensable agents in the actual cond
ton of country, Of advantage to every description
of interest and in no sense dscordant at variance
with the spirit and principles Of institutions. They
furnish facilities essential 10 the purchase Of our agTcu
tura stupes-contbute 10 keep their Prlce-PIeren
lhe monopoly which might grow out of large nd'7dua
wealth, and enable enterprise and prudence the more
readily the obstacle resulting from The wan
of large The additions proper to be made 10 the
existing bank capitals, the precautions necessary to pre-
be disposed of shall best for the general good