Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-16
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
DEFERRED DEB.4IE.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES-Jan. il.
nrN4pEs az Alp 'rT' Nss'rAII


HOUSE OF DELEGATES-.Jaa II.
REMARKS OF MR. TtNsTAIL,
On the late Defaication in the Bank Of prstntd.
The House having sustained the reconsideraticn the
question arose upon the resolution of Mr. Toler, Of
Campbell.
word "unnecessary i'll lieu of the word s'inexPcdient
Mr. TUNSTALL said that he designed moving hi:
amendment upon the presentation o: the resolution
his friend from Campbell, but he prevented from
doing by the call for the previous question H'
amendment might doubtless be considered as unmport
an. BY many gentlemen, but it was more satisfactory
to himself Mr.. Il. said he had watched this debate
with the utmost attention and interest," from It's com
mencemcnt to It's contamination.
The which had presented ITSELF excited III hin
wonder and astonishment. There seemed 10 HIM a re
yersal of that order of things which, il had been long
attempted to persuade the people, really existed here
The line of battle seemed suddenly altogether changed
from that which il had heretofore been zcalously
warmly and increasingly urged upon the people, was
the true state and condition of soldiers here. What
Sir, has it come to this Can it be possible And dc
our senses not deceive Democrats the i0rer:
and guardians of the ssdear people defending banks
and bank officers: Nay subsequently, steadfastly
pertnaciously defending one OF "the Monsters, the
Encouragement and gross negligence OF whose officer:
have seriously affected the public interests And rg
ing, with vehement ZEAL the "crying injustice oil even
giving opinion upon their conduct:
IT'S strange,-'tis past sail finding out-And Sec
ing myself with two other friends, in singular
position, on this very Craze and momeaons question,
propose TO say word or two Just at thus particular
uncture Of its exstence:- very glad that have
taken the question the "indefnite postponenent'
of this matter That vote has shewn or two things
which some Of US curious to know, viz: Whether
the estimation OF particular portion OF this House
Whether in the opinion of certain fie-ieaderS here
Banks really were, what they have in certain quarters
been denounced as being-Whether their mismanagc
ment and abuse of privileges were, in fact, things
much to be deprecated Whether, indeed, total ne
Il
upon the part Of high officers Of those institutions
were, indeed, high crimes and misdemeanors, descrv
ing the deepest condemnation. Sir, if we could have
credited the dcnunclatons and bitter imprecation:
which have hitherto distinguished certain portion IL
this House and out Of H. in regard TO these institutions
we would have believed that il wond only be necessa
ry to to the country the facts which have pre-
scented themselves in relation to that under consi
deration to have drawn down upon the heads Of those
who administer it, the bterest rebuke and most wither
ing condemnation The vote, Sir, which has Just beer
given upon the indefinite postponemcnt, puts an end t.
such conectures and gives, in colours not to be msun
dersood the truth and sincerity all such professions
That tells plainly enough 1chich SIDE OF this House
it is that's disposed TO blink this question, and give
this matter Of the msrule of banks the ego by
For my single self, have felt little at loss how
TO tread upon the subject in order TO avoid those de
nuncations which follow always closely and heavi
ly upon the footsteps Of those with whom generally
find myself. Why, Sir, IT my Judgment tells me tina
there has been gross neglect and msmanagemcnt here
and that the public interest requires that example
should be made of those who in fault by their re
moval from office, straghtway hear the cry of Party
-Party-Proscription &c; that it is qualification
of party vengeance. And if, on the other hand,
should happen TO think that public necessity and in
terest do not require REMOVAL afraid | should
throw myself, in the opinion of certain organ, III
that most horrible category, much reviled, and
SO much 10 be dreaded, of being Bank man-a
Bank bought What thing can happen
to us, Sir: What evil is there under the sun, great
IN fha ftnn nnIS t.la,
name, than that Of being Bank man Have not you
and and all Of our good friends in this House been
mathematical heretofore, the Bank party: Yes Sir
even with that execrable hercsy, magned aud cmbt-
tered with those additional ones, which have rung in
the ears Of people, the Bank bought, Federal
Abolition, Wing party. Is it not horrible, indeed
VIII, what did we see and hear all last winter: Day
after day, and almost hour after hour We heard read
fiery resolution of enquiry into the condition and
management of these Banks The only cry was
"Look into the Banks-"search the Banks'-"down
with the Banks"-thosc high-handed se-willed, arts
tocratic and rotten concerns Did We not even have
the singular resolution of the gentleman from Isle oil
Wight, to inquire into the "ndehtedness of the mem
bers of this House TO those Institutions: And all this
Mr. Speaker, under the mons,rous implication, that
gentlemen might, in the discharge ." their duties here,
be BIASED BY unworthy considerations of that kind.
The resolution almost unanimously sustained, as
we'll others equally unnecessary and iuudlcous.
The tone, then Sir, the tcrocaus growl of the IL
ger, ready TO take his crushing and fatal spring Now,
however, Casar is liant, weary aid we near his voice
in the feeble whisper Of
"Gve drink, Thinus,''
ike sick girl Notwithstanding all this, cars have
hecn constantly stunned with the cry o. the 6 Bank
Wing party: Yes, sir, because would not consent
e. P down those institutions right or Urong-bccause
not willing, unnecessarily 10 bring distress
and destruction upon the PeoPle-becausc would
not join in this senscless camor against institutions
which fathers had established, and under which
they had prospered-becauSe would not tear 10
pieces and mangle progeny which had been nurtured,
cherished and a,tened by those who then denounced
them-becausc we would strange an oGsprng
which they themselves had begotten, pctcd aud dan
died upon the knce;--in word, because felt dIs-
posed TO protect the interests and preserve the property
of the People from ruinous sacrifices Some 81! those
who have enjoyed peculiar privileges at the Banks
some who have almost monopolized these funds and
accommodations-amost the very bread Of whose
wives and children, and the breath Of whose nostvs
depended upon those institutions, have been loud and
unceasing in their efforts TO excite public prejudice
and odum against us the .Bank and Bank .bonght
party. Sir, that man does not lve-God never made |
the man who, acquainted with the facts, ariH say that
the Wing party in this House is the Bank partY-and
all that stuff which has been evarasngly propaga
ted in certain quarters about its being the friend of
onopolies-combinatons and associations of wealth
the friends of the rich aud not the poor are as
false they ridiculous "The Bank party" say
they, 'sthe friends of the rch"of the credit sys.
tenn and enemy of the poor" Sir, the facts Of the
se-hstory and common sense-all show lis iasity
Why, Sir, will some wiseacre tell me what rich
wants with bank, what he wants with credit aud
Who il is but the poor who does want credit
Has only capital Sir, is his sobrety, industry nelli
renee, capacity, character; these GO to make up his
took in trade; and upon these he bases his credit TIE
ch stands in need Of il, and his power would be
reater without Look, now, sir, TO the scene which
resens itself, and see how these bank and anti bank