Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-02

ever aoain have the honor of seat in public assem-
by or even desire it; but expect to afford an account
of nv stewardship when get home Ihis VIII De que
to nv constituents, and due to myself ANA while ee'
confident that do not possess the ability 10
me to expect to guide the opinions OF others IN any de-
gree farther desire in respect 10 the conduct OF other
gentlemen in this particular, than | have already eA
pressed and even il standing alone viii occupy the po
son on which have already decided it has occurred 10
me how should account TO the good people OF Noflo!h
BOROUGH to favor the reappointment OF the RE
sdent Suppose, sir, some of my constituents should
require of Inc TO give account Of my conduct IN thal
particular and to say-r Taylor, pray Tell me,
did you suppose that the facts connected with the
heavy defalcaon in the Virginia Bank ought 10 be en-
qured into by the Legislature: should be bound 10
answer-yes Did you not think it proper to direct
Committee to ascertain the facts and report them TO
the House, and particularly how far the defacaton was
due TO The misconduct neglect OF the ocers Oh the
Bank To this too would, am sure, be bound TO an
swer yes. Were you not one of the Committee 10
whom the subject was referred-and did you not know
from the admissions of the President, that more than
half million had been lost 10 the Bank by his negI-
gence: To this also think, should feel bound to an
swer afirmavely And then my constituents might ad'
dress TO me this difficult question: How did It happen,
them that you did not vote against the eappontment oil
the President And them sir should have to hunt for
excuses. Why, gentlemen, might say-Ihe Presi-
dent Of the Bank moved in the highest circles of soce
ty But my friends would tell me, they thought was
a peoples mana Democrat-(yes, sir, Democrat,
having true devotion to the peoples interests stamped
upon my hear)-that the high and the low, were all
mere men-and that they knew neglect OF duty was
neglect ofduty whether committed by high or low, rich
or poor-a Bank President, or a Bank kunner.-Or |
might saw sir-Why, the loss was but trIhr; in the
City of Richmond, in the Legislature, half million is
not counted as we in Norfolk count money. Why, It's
after all, but trfe. The pressed reply might be
How much more, then, Mr.. Taylor, would you have
had lost, TO render the deiacaon worthy of your at
tention: Should the loss have been million, Or how
much moreto overcome your delcacy and justify you
in your opinion TO against the President Of the
Bank Of Nlrginia:-l confess, MIR. Speaker, might
have some difficulty in Determining perhaps, would
say twice much-and if all had been lost, might be
relieved of the doubt and better able to answer the en-
quiry. must say, however, that would be right hSh
price TO pay for an opinion.
But sir we have heard of mmolaton-victimsng
suppose, because saared officer has neglected 10
discharge his dutes-dutes which he owed TO the cit
zens Of this Commonwealth, whose neglect has cost
than half million Of the peoples money, and the
representatives Of the people, without casting unmerted
reproach, discharge him. hear talk of iInmolaton!
have heard of mmoa,ion in days of yore, and you,
too suppose, sir-when title fatal ''back cock
ade." sir .-"Fcderalst!" applied too often without
knowledge Of opinions, 10 those whose hearts no.
Bile and generous! Men, sir, asleep duty! and
ever devoted friends of popular rights disregard the
application of any such crippled titles to myself
Mr. Speaker, have not intended TO wound the feel
incs of any gentleman, or do him nustice-I disclam
all such intention, and desire merely to express what
feel, and have wished to express plainly what feel
deeply, but with no lack Of due respect and consdera
ton for any others mny, perhaps be pardoned for ad
ding, what would not ullude to, but tor notice in
leading political journal othis City, and farther otce
another respectable journal Of the place. and the posi-
ton they seem calculated TO make seem 10 occupy in
reference to The question depending. The
ton already made above the signature ofthe gentleman
who held proxy from Norfolk Borough, authoslng him
TO act the meeting of the stockholders of the Virginia
Bank, esablishc: the into which the latter fell
and regard the animation in the former only it de
But feel authorized to state, in the presence
of the gentleman, who presented the able report oil
the Bank Committee, that certain coincidence in
the language of the report and of the substitute offered
by the member from Norfolk, is due to the fact, that
expressions found in the latter wcre upon suggestion
| in Committee, embodied in the former. Not thai
there existed any need &c employ such expression,
to render compliments al all, in report 10 the
House, upon specific enquiries, when the report
tanned no expression from which unfounded impress.
sons could Justly he deriyed-and especially too, as
a former part Of the report, if | mistake not, ex-
pressed the idea substantially, and aludc to the
circumstance merely to o59iate misconceptions The
report of the Committee, far ADLER than any the mem
Der from Norfolk could hope 10 present, seemed, how
ever the latter better calculated for the intelligent
members of the House of Delegates, than for per.
sons at distance, who had the misfortune to be as
ignorant of the respective duties Of Bank Officers, as
until this investigations himself was, and the reference
TO documents accompanying the Governors Message,
probably lost by most gentlemen who re-
ceyed them, did not seem well calculated to convey
intelligence to the public copied extracts from those
documents perhaps, the was in error, in sup
posing, that communications of the Governor OF
Virginia. not so like TO attract public regard, as
passages referring TO the President Of The Bank Of Nr
GINA. These with the statement of additional facts
and other reasons with which is needless TO trouble
the House of Delegates induced the offer of that sub
sliluie for the report of the Committee on Banks
Mr.. Speaker, honored by the people of my native
town. with the seat occupy not for ability, certainly
nor because eectioneered unwor!hily--but they be
leved | would aim 10 perform in Richmond what
deemed highland say frankly, what sincerely be
evcd iusl-wi,h purpose of wnntonly offending
nor insulting, nor necdlessy 10 wound but decided,
and truly, | had public duty to perform, and trust
have not shrunk from its performance, but designed
to convey no affront, and hope have not done SO.
have stated this repeatedly, and have done will
farther disclaimers. return thanks 10 the House, fo
the patience with which it has borne with me.