Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-02-02
SPEECH or MIR. cooDE,


On the removal Of the President of the yir,;,;.
Bank, delivered in the House Of DELEGATES Of
Virginia, "Wednesday, Jan. 18th, 1871.
Mr. GOODE said--It was to him, a subiec, Of
regret, that, in moment Of indiscreton, he had be
trayed himself into the situation which he occupied
being placed under the necessity of addressing
the House under circumstances which rendered his
remarks unacceptable to large portion Of its men,
He had never wished TO mingle in this discussion
certainly he had no wish to do so now when he
felt that he had nothing new to offer-when he fc
that the argument was exhausted-that others more
nole and active than himself had already borne the
heat and burden Of the day-all his feelings and
opinions-all the considerations which could inau.
ence his conduct had been fully and forcby stat.
cd by others, that he should regard himself rs ca
PRECIOUS indeed il he were not willing TO abide The
decision on the force Of the argument already urged
but IT had been nimated that some degree of re.
sponsbilty must attach on those who adopt the
course which he proposed, and he but yielded to az
impulse, which he hoped was generous in comino
forward TO share his fair proportion.
lie should vote for the motion for indefinite post.
ponement; and was surprised TO learn that his vote
was regarded IA equivalent TO an approval Of the
conduct OF the President in all things touching the
defalcation he thought such inference not fair.
ly dcducibe from his vote; and he reserved to him.
sell the right TO cast any vote of censure which the
occasion might be found TO Justify
The subject bad been deemed Of sufficient i'm.
inittee on Banks. They had bestowed on il their
most profound attention, and reported the result OF
their labours TO the House. Their report msbt
have been regularly taken up, but individual mem
OF his duty to account had thrust The subject on the
House IN the form of extraordinary resolutions
which the Speaker could not have entertained IND
they not assumed the form OF joint resolutions re-
curing the concurrence OF the other House OF AS
sembly. These resolutions have common object
Ito effect the removal of John Brockenbrourh bv
controlling the action Of the Governor in the an
poiatment Of Directors, on whom the selection OF
President devovcs.
An effort had been made to identify this oues.
ton with the great subject of Bank reform-,c
bring TO bear against an innocent and honorable
mana skiltul and faithful public agent the suf-
frase of such members feel the necessity of Bank
reform, and represent communities demanding re-
FORM de trusted the device would not avail
His own constituents desired reform in the Bank.
ing Institutions Of the land-his own opinions most
heartily corroborated those OF his constituents blu,
he could never consent that his feelings or the
feelings OF those whom he had the honor to repre-
sent should be rendered subservient 10 the persecu-
ton OF 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 to detect the object-He would
trust TO their magnanmity 10 shield the oppressed
He knew that their sincere and patriotic desire tc
establish uniform standard of value and 10 protec
the country against sudden expansions and contrac
tons oil currency, and the consequent disastrous
revusons of trade, could never degenerate into the
narrow spirit of personal revenge intent on the de-
struction of an upright man.
lhose, Intent on the object, must find an insupe.
raole difficulty In the genius of our institutions
they seek to control the Governor, s<>toss compe
him, IN some form, to select Bank Di6esNins uLdgeC
TO eject John Brockenbroush the boilers capasse
sldent of the Virginia Bank. The III Fnel re is au
thorised by law to appoint the DA-zepfs 10 repre.
sent the State Stock IN the Bank. The act delega-
InS 10 MIN TINS power is now IN full force and virtue
he mas the undoubted right, under Ae law IN
make the appointment, in direct opposition 10 the
Will of this AssemblY-and TO control him in The
exercise OF this power, is a palpabe infracton of
Inc independence Of The EIeeuire IL is declared in
our Bill OF Rights, THAT the Legislative and Eye
cutive poioers Of the State should be sepsraie and
dfstinet from the judiciary" and the purity of the
two irstis secured by provision for frequent cleo
tons. This principle, essential to liberty is car
ried into the Constitution OF 20 in language even
more distinct: "The Legislative, Executive and
Judiciary Departments, shall be separate and dis.
unct, so that neither exercise the powers properly
"beonsing to the other; nor shall any person exer.
.'clse the powers of more than one Of them at the
same time" &c. This provision is carried into the
Constitution Of '29 in The same words, except that
instead OF the phrase "froperly belonging 10 Ms
oher," the New Constitution adopts the phrase
properly belonging 10 eiher Of the others" The ne
-csssty OF preserving the Departments separate and
distinct vas recosnsedTr nc ia7s-s 80 81 i;
SvSfe
Inc union OF these powers in the same hands. has
been denounced as 'fhe e. lence of fVrGnnhp The
power TO appoint these Directors being vested IN
the Executive by law, TO control him in the exercise
OF The power, violates the independence secured by
the Constitution. Feeling the force OF this obiec
ton, gentlemen had sought to parry or eyade II Inv
changing the form Of their resolutions into mere
requests addressed TO the Executive. If this rcso.
luton OF request be expected 10 exert no influence
IL was useless and unnecessary-if not HE
/ fe
ert an Influence, II seeks 10 accomplish indirectly
that which 1t will not openly attempt. By evasion.
II defeats the provisions of the Constitution and
Impairs the independence Of the Executive The
design OF the Constitution was, to secure an Execu-
tive free from the influence OF co-departnents-
Tree TO exercise its unbiased Judgment for the pub
lie good, independent OF the Legislative or.Iudici,.
Ty. II, by request addressed to the Governor he
oe warped or BIASED IN his judgment, the advan-
taee oil independence is eectually lost as thougb
he were controlled by imperative Command. Mr..
Goode said that, IN opposition 10 these views moth
ing had been offered satisfactory to his mind and he
could not doubt but they would exert their lust in.
huence on the minds Of others.
Should they be rejected by gentlemen. he mus,
suppose they could not discard the con,derntoo so
foTcby urged in regard TO the stockholders Rv the
Bank Charter, the Governor is DESIGNATED ~ Inc
functooaTy OF Government, whose right and dntv
II should be to appoint the directors 10 represent The
stock of the State. Capitalists were induced has,
this arrangement 10 come forward and subscribe for
the stock, TO embark their private means with The
destiny OF tie institution. Would IL lie deemsd
Just to disturb this arrangement-io deprive tbe
stockholders Of the agency Of n firm and independ.
ent Executive, 70 substitute in the appointment Of
Directors, the agency OF this House, exposed TO
many unexpected influences, materially afectisg
the value OF their proPcrty--making /. to depend.
essentially, on the casual and alternate succsss ~
coniending political laciionsl
Mr. Goode said he could not but REGARD tie .esis.
iature, as tribunal unsuited to the task of re,uIo
ting the Judlcous selection of Bank Directors For
himself, lie freely confessed his want of Cami.
HarHy with The details Of Banking-his want of
n knowledge Of the personal Qualities Of gem
temen surrounding banks, and qualifying them
To discharge the duties Of Bank Directors. He
presumed that other gentlemen situated like him.
sell. at distance from cities and engaged in
rural pursuits, would be exposed 10 the same in.
convenienee-would, in fact, suffer the same ,mbar
rassment-and, yet by assuming the responsibility
1i controlling the selection Of Directors, the Assem-.
bly, would necessarily become responsible for The
success Of their operations. Every unsuccess nj
operation would be charged TO the account Of Legis
lative interference. The Legislature must be 6ed
responsible Tor the heavy and teeminz calsniti,s
visited on the land by tho inherent vices Of the svs
TEN. lie was unwilling 10 assume 90 heavy r..
sponslbility-he desired il 10 rest where il was MIA
cod 10y lew. lie was unwilling that the eppo,nt
ment OF the Directory should devolvo on ne As
semblY, from the conviction that in time il would
furnish occasion for the factious and isousbg
political contests. There was much in the lnstitn.
ions which suited them for the purposes Of partv.
Wherc the Assembly assumes the appointment Of
INC directory, parties will contend for the possss
SION OF so powerful political engine.
There were other considerations M, ,,r,y6,tb,,
huWan. he -