Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-02-06

of the day that the alleged declaration was about 70 oe
come the subject of Legislative enquiry ana IN 'A'cu
tim of my resolution announced 10 Ut Scott ana ~
the sincere wish Of repairing 10 you any injustice you
ma: have sustained, solicit !r'n you such eSi';'a
tons IS il mas b. vur pleasure give. cannot tiiink
that you would suspect me my partners u amy WISH
or intention OF nisrepre Scning Oh design you OF s!
other man. In nv editorial course, have certainty
not subjected myself I" such srspcinn ana answer
for MIR Ga!lucr and Mr. iosel'y confidently as Tor
myself that they need only be satisfied of having COM
mittcd an act CT Injustice against high low to repair
it at the first moment and iii the ampiest manner.
am. SIR, with much respect
Your obedcnt servant
JNO. II. PLEASANTS.
JAxrAR. 9th, l-i0
tn J0kn r. PlsasantS, Esq
SIR | have TO acknowledge the receipt Of your let
ter, addressed 10 INC several days ago.
have never had any ambition 10 my name IN the
newspapers, whether in communication Or dispraise -
Nv habits of life have always been retire! as the PC
slon in which have been placed by circumstances
would admit Of. | have never obtrudrd my opinions
on the public and have never felt any aspirations for
political life but have been satisfied keep the even
tenor OF my way, without impnging the feelings Of
any other man set OF men. WITH this declaration,
tecuslica!, il ron WILL it may seem inconsistent now
present myself before the public; but Is have been
deemed of sufficient consequence BE- dragged before
the House OF Delegates about expression imputed
TO me- feel it due 10 my character tnara myself
Of your voluntary and civil offer TO do nc justice IN re-
ga,t! The allegation FIRST made ~ the y g, about the
expression alluded 10.
Daring the tendency o! this subject before 'ie donsc
of Delegates did think il proper To repi to your
letter. but he ID myself ready TO respond to any eni-
re- that the wisdom Of that body might Jndg" nj to
make. 1t is rather severe eNaction That man must
answer !u every expression he may usc no hatter 10
whom or how made Few men would escape ccnsurc,
if every syllable mag utter i'll his most nnguardcd
"a
ration Social intercourse would be essentially nm
paired ana would be safe even at cir owl! hrc-
side. When the reported remark irst appeared IN inc
Wing could no: reculsect when or where could
have made IL AMI supposed il to be one of the nncr-
o:s sqi,s let OIL al in that paper in the course
Of the past year, and was intended tor political e.
feet Had the acting Editor concerned that the re-
port would be injurious to the stock OF the BANK, he
was bound as good citizen think, 10 ascertain all
the circumstances of the case before he promu gated IT.
Viewing the matter in this light and feeling confident
that the stockholders whom had served long, would
not imagine that would deliberately do or say any
thing detrimental to their interest resolved TO keep
silent and Snnld not now, ailrr those stockholders
have unanimously reelected me, change course,
had not your letter invited me enable you 10 do me
Justice by fair representation Of the circumstances.
The facts simply these was strongly opposed 10
the acceptance Of the charter of the Bank OF VIZ
gna which about 10 be fastened on the stockhold-
ers BIZ the power at the State vote, in addition 10
tain comb ations which deemed hostile 10 the interest
Of the Bank The clause of forfeiture especially that did
moi exist in the old charter, considered dangerous,
under the hreatcnngs of another suspension oi specie
payments that preferred winding up the institution, BY
which the Stockholders would ret than their orr
olnal capital restored to them Subsequent events
have proved that M apprrhensons were not ground
less and the Bank rests The wi! y! the LeGis-
Iatrr As relief o. death THIS state Ofthlngs
that was ANXIOUS to avoa-with these feelings and
opinions accidentally met with gentleman III the
,,4 ,ii.r mt, nj 1I
in pnssinn we had few moments conversation VIXEN
| nnonardedy remarked. that should the charter
he adopted, would not give fifty dollars share for
tho stock The remark hypothetical and merely
intended as strong expression of my G,sapprobaon oil
The provisions Cf tn. charter and Of The means BY
which il llight be carried did net conceive that Il
would become subject Of gossip al i Tcadc-ronS Q!
qai4auncs, or find lis way into tie newspapers. in.
deed did not tiink d 1t again until il appeared IN the
Wing and then took the rounds Of other Wing papers
fully absolvc the gentleman 10 whon It vas addressed
of all design 10 njure nr the Bank. am sure Il
was an nadvcrtencc on his part, and nothing more
This is the whole afair. and if committed fault, i
was anndanfIy rectifed by the lrnc statement of the
condition OF the Bank. made both to the Legislature
/ and 10 the stockholders.
As have nv pen in hand il may not be improper to
advert to another remark made BY in private, which
has been quoted in the House Of Delegates. Mr.. We
nabIc stated (as reported IN your PaPerl that was III
favor Of tie Independent Treasury from The belief i
\
IN This ci ai,r other public nrnsu:", is, am aware
OF yccr :ut.I importance, but as have been charged
in the Wig ,:.. lcin "a Bank- anti. Bank FRESH
dent may be permitted to say, th. my remark to !r
Ecnnb!c applied 10 the effect OF that system the
Banks Of Yirrina. and have question 81 the truth
of it in regard 10 them. It would be superlluous in nc
10 discuss The genera! principle Of the policy Of sepa-
rating the finances Of the Government, from the funds
( Of the Banks. That point has been argued BY much
aLlcr advocates than MYSELF and by you, Sir, among
IL. 81, -, ,,ol ,.,, \,
Bank President was anxious to participate il
the nu,l;c Lepositcs. when they about 10 be
transferred from the Bans OF the United States 10 the
STATE Banks, than wes-not 50 much from political
predictions. rs rom an earnest wish to promote the
interest Of those who had 50 long c"nfdcd in
Bank Officer-but, with every desire render the
scheme successful, | Uncovered, that, sooner
oT later it must fail. When saw there no con-
cert Of action to promote the public interest between
the public repositories, but that each endeavar
ing 10 grasp at as much Of the public treasure it
could obtain, for the purpose Of swelling lis profits
by whc, inordinatc speculation fostcrcd-i
vas convinced that the system could not work well
for the Government, and shat the Banks the!sercs
would eventually became involved III GcXtr:cabc diff
fculties As to the details Of the safest OF
keeping and discussing the public money, in case Of
divorce" it is for politicians and not for me 10
decide. NV remarks 10 Mr. Icnablc Jas | before
=adl was applicable to tho Banks Of virginia, and ]
still adhere the opinion then expressed. virginia
is TfcrtFH. s>llIr-itlt Hi'tuJ
more specie for public expenditure, from other States,
than she pays to them directly The following state
icnt Of the receipts and expenditures Of puniic
new whch haze obtained from The Treasury Depart
mcni cnncusivclv shows this fact ana the spcrc thus
received must tend TO strengthen The Banks cf the
State. 1t that specie. or lis equivalent. finds s
way back through thousand rs 10 the large import
ing cities and is paid by the Consumers Of foreign
goods; bat the first operation is TO bran. The Specie H.
thcr n for public expenditure. aud returns by
grad"a ami 'apereP'i1c process. Tins IS an 'i'er,
cstng subject o.! political economy, which have not
the leisure dlate on, the ability properly TO dis
cuss will therefore close this desultocy letter wth the
statement referred 70.
STATEMENT exhibiting f,r he asc"rtanc :m tho
Records the Rr"istcE' :- expenditure o rtc money
r...a Of Virginia. aud the paid into tho rrcn
sy thu United Satcs arising from dGt;ts imports and
Tonnage, within stat, during the years is 1885, l''- and
ls3e.