Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-09
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
SPEECH OF MIR. GOODE,
Or NEckLF>EURG,

Nm ,Le r.morai nf tie Presideai Of The Firgiaia Bank
dri,pered in the Hoase Of Delegates 81 Irgtn'a
Wednesdny, Junuory 18Th, lc4l.
Mr. GOODE sad-It was 10 him, subject oil re
qre thai. in moment Of indscrelion he had betrayed
himself INTO the situation which he occuped-be'nG
placed under the necessity Of addressing the House
under circumstances which rendered his remarks nn
acceptable to large portion OF IT'S members.
He had never wished to mlngle IN tins discussion
certainly he had no wish tn d. now, when he felt
that he had nothing new 10 oer-when he felt that the
aruumen was exhausted; others more able and &C
tive than himself had already borne the heat and bur
den If the dayal his feelings and opnions-aii the
considerations which could influence bis conduct hac
been so fully and forchly stated by others, that he
should regard himself caprcious indeed, II he 'Sere
not willing abide the decision on the force oil the ar
rumcnt already urged But il had been animated that
some degree Of responsibility must attach on those VINO
adopt the course which he proposed and he but yielded
to an impulse, which ne hoped was generous, IN coming
forward To share his ia:T proportion.
He should vote for the motion for indefinite post
ponement: and surprised TO learn that ms vote
was regarded equivalent To an approval {" the con-
duct of the President in all things touching the detail
cation He thought snch Inference not fairly dedu
chile from his vote and be reserved to himself the
right TO cast any vote Of censure which The occasion
might be found TO Justify.
The subject had been deemed o sufficient Importance
10 demand the investigation Of the Committee on Banks
They had bestowed It their most profound atten
ton and reported The result OF their ahours to The
House Their report iag; have been regularly taker
M but individual members, stimulated BY motives
for which il part of his duty 10 account, hat
thrust the subject on the House in the form Of extraor
binary resolutions winch the Speaker could not have
entertained had they not assumed the form of join
resolutions, requiring the concurrence Of the othe
House of Assembly. These resolutions have a com
mon obect-to effect the removal of John Broken
brough BY controlling the action of the Governor II
the appointment OF Directors, on whom the selectoI
of President deVolves.
An effort had been made to identify this question
with the great subject Of Bank reform-to bring L
bea. against innocent aud honorable mana skiltu
and faithful public agent, the suffrage oil such mem
bers as feel the necessity of Bank REFORM and repre-
sent communities demanding reform. lie trusted tht
device would not avail His own constituents de
sired reform in the Banking Institutions OF the lant
his own opinions most heartily corrobora,ed those
Of his constituents but he could never consent tina
his own feelings or the feelings OF those whom h'
had the honor to represent, should be rendered SUB
servient TO the persecution of a man who had grown
grey in the public service, and who was pronounced
innocent by his enemies. He could safely trust TO the
intelligence Of his constituents 10 detect the object
He would trust to their nagnanimty to shield the op
pressed He knew that their sincere and patriotic de
sire TO establish uniform standard of value, and L
protect the country against sudden expansions ana con
tons of currency, and The consequent disastrous revn
scns of trade could never degenerate INTO the marrow
spirit of personal revenge, intent on the destruction
upright man. .
Those intent on the object, must find an insnperabl
difficulty in the genius OF our nstilutions-they see
10 control the Governor, and TO compel him. IN som
form, TO select Bank Directors pledged TO eject JON
Brockenhroug the accomplished President OF the WI
sinia Bank. The Governor is authorised by law 7
nppoin, the Directors represent the State Stock i
the Bank. The act delegating to him this power
now in full force and virtue lie has the undoubte
right under the law, TO make the nppolntment-in d
rect opposition to the will of this Assembl y-and I
,ba nf M
iniraction of the independence Of the Erccmire 1t
declared in our Bill of Rights, THAT the Legisativ
and Executive porcrS OF the State should be srparat
and distinct from the Judiciary; aud the purity of TN
two first secured by provision i"r frequent elections
This principle essential to liberty, Is carried into TIN
Constitution of 10 in language even mare distinct
"Thc Legislative, Executive and judiciary Depart
ments shall be separate and distinct, so that nehe
exercise the powers properly belonging to the other
nor shall any person exercise the powers OF more
!. than one of them at the time, &c. This pro
vision is carried into the Constitution Of ~ IN the same
words except that instead of the phrase "propcry be
ionpiar TO the other, the New Constitution adopts h
phrase .propery belonging to either ot the others IN
necessity of preserving the departments separate ant
distinct was recognised in the niancy oil our ins,I
,n,,ons md canonizeG by the fathers Of our system
The union ofthese powers in The same hands, has beer
denounced as "fhe essence Of fyrnhny The power t
appnin; these Directors beng vested IN the Executive
BIZ law 10 control him in the exercise OF the power
violates the independence ~ w. S'""''''
ton Feeling the force Of this objection, gentlemen
had sought parry evade it. by changing The torn
Of their resolutions into requests addressed To '
Executive If tins resolution OF request he expect
ed to exert influence it was useless and unnecessar,
IF dscredable the General Assembly IT Of
expected 10 exert influence, il seeks to accomplish
indirectly, that which it will not openly attempt BY
evasion it defeats the provisions Of the Constitution
and impairs the independence of the Executive. The
design of the Constitution vas to secure an Executive
free from the influence of departments-ree 10
else it's unbiased Judgment for the public good, indie
pendent of the Legislature Judiciary. If, by
quest addressed the Governor he be warped bias
sed in his judgment, the advantage of indcpe
as esc,ualy los, though he were controlled by I'M
perative command. Mr. Goode said that, in opposition
TO these views nothing had been offered satisfactory
his mind, and he could not doubt hut they would exer
their iue, influence on the minds of others.
Should they be rejected by gentlemen, he must sup
pose they could not discard the consideration so forcb
urged in regard to the stockholders BY the BanA
Charter the Governor designated as the funconary
of Government, whose right and duty it should be e
appoint the directors the stock OF the State