Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-21
LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Saturday, December Is.
RESOLUTIONS.

Resolutions offered by the following gentie
men and adopted by the House BY Mr.. HAsKINs, that
the Committee Courts Of Justice inquire into the
pedlency of providing fixed hour at which the polls
taken for members of the House of Delegates and Sc
nate shall be opened-By Mr.. Nj LAUGnLiS, that the
Committee on Courts Of Justice inquire into the exPe-
dency Of changing the time of holding the county
Courts of Fayelte-By MIR. NowLIS that the Commit
tee on Courts of Justice inquire into the expedency Of
revising the laws of the Commonwealth.
BY Mr. JACKSON, of citizens OF Wood, for the revi-
sal and extension of the act of March L. lS4l con-
corning delinquent and forfeited lands West of the Al
ephany moun,ans-By MIR. WALLACE Of Petersburg,
Of Edmund RuIin and others, praying that measures
NAV be adopted TO compel the Banks TO pay specie.
RELIEF TO THE BANKS.
Mr. Scorr, from the Select Committee appointed on
that subject introduced bill to continue the provi-
sons of the act by which the Banks of this Common
wealth are relieved from the recovery of specie for
their notes by motion days notice, until the LIST
of April, 1912.
On the second reading of the bill, Mr.. BRows, of P.
offered an amendment providing that the stockhold'
crs in the Banks, including the State, should be liable
for the debts Of the Banks, TO the amount Of Their
stock at its par value. This amendment was subse-
oueny changed at the suggestion Of MIR. Byrd, so as
only TO embrace the liabilities hereafter contracted
Mr. Blows said that the amendment ne had Inc
honor Of just offering, did not contemplate making Inc
stockholders permanently liable in their individual ca
pacity; although he ready 10 vote for sncha Pov
sion in the general bank BILL fany such should be pass
en- during the present sesslon-but That he had oleleu
the amendment under considerations 10 see 1t gente-
men were prepared to discharge the banks and their
Stockholders from all penalties and liabilities, and at
the same time refuse to provide any security for the
peopc who are compelled by the policy OF orr egISla-
ton Ia receive their redeemab!e paper Sir believe
The people heartily tired Of this sided business
and If do mistake the signs Of the times those gen.
,emcn from the interior of the State who by their votes
here are aiding the Bank party to defeat The Just TX
pcctatious of the people, taking upon themselves
fearful responsibility Sir if the question on Tie adoP
ton Of the amendment was TO be decided by dlfece
vote of the people, it wond carry ny triumphant
majority. vet, in this House. it may be defeated
| would hope that some Of our political adversarles
mirb be induced to vote for H. The principles JUST
one The Banks claim the right Of collecting their
dues from their people and even handed justice, one
would think, would require that The people should
have the same right against the corporations But this
is no, all Sir. The policy of the enactment at this
time is admirably calculated to bring about resumP-
ton for il the Banks desire to get their stockholders
clear of the risk, they have nothing TO do but 10 re-
sumo specie payment. for their liability IS only con-
,empated 10 continue until that long locked Tor and
much To be desired period shall arise. ] repeat Sr,
that shall expect Of the Wings TO vote with The
friends OF Bank reform on this question, unless Their
professions are hollow and insncere
am to BE- told however that this is but temporary
B s snd iG an II IL & e"Ie,
apology of those who now are, and fear always will
be found advocating the exclusive claims and interests
If these corporations We told but on yesterday,
that the Bill in your hand which the amendment IS
to be enrrated, vas OF the greatest malnabe
Importance Ii the relief not granted 10 the Banks,
ruin yes, Sir rum and desolaton was to sweep os1r
this great Commonwealth: 1t will now sun gentlemen
To call it the little tFiling Bill view u as
very important bill in its consequences It's pas
save without tie amendment viii, fear, settle
he question for the present session against The power
Of the friends Of bank reform 10 do any thing Tor the
people, whose sufierngs most grevous under the
present state Of things, and whose omn'poent voice
calls aloud for redress. We have been recedng and
irving way before the banking power OF this Common
wealth, since 1887; have again and again hosed the
standard Of resistance and often have we been dr.
yen like unarmed and undlscpned troops, before the
we'll organised and yell armed forces OF the Danks
had hoped that, in 1912, could have taken sue
cessful stand en,renched behind brave and gene
rous constituency but on yesterday we were put 10
| fight and are now OH the retreat, Tying before
victorious enemy. J. for one, ail determined 10 re-
treat with my face to the foe, disputlng every men OF
around and if bruised and wounded, VIII bear no
norable scars-they shall not be in the heel. now
| prophesy sir that if reject this amendment and
mass the bill in your hand, the Banks and their trends
win be encouraged, and desperate attempt VIII De
made 10 suspend or repeal the operation OF The law
rcouirnu Banks to resume on the first OF April next
Then will come the tug of war; and fear our present
drfca, s but foretaste of what awaits US on that most
important question. =,
| Nr Scorr said that after the decision which the
House had made the motion for leave TO bring III
bill. he regretted that The gentleman from Preston
should have thought proper to embarrass It's proceedings
by offering this amendment, which was side wind
| aimed at the bill In regard to the principle Of the
anne ndment il was one which had been made the sub
ect of discussion on every occasion since Tue rst sus
penson of the Banks in 81, 10 the present time. il
had been proposed be engTacd as part OF our per-
manent system of banking had been proposed over
again, debated over again, rejected over again. why
then attempt cngrait on this simple blll-a bill tenn
Dorary in its characera bill tor certain specled Pur
noses-a principle with which it has no affinity Why
propose to engrat it proposition OF grave charac
ier-one which the House not prepared TO act on
unders,andngly, The bill before the House proposes
merely to extend the time of indulgence 10 the Banks
until the first Of April Before that time, we shall have
ample opportunities of investigations; that will enable
US to act knowingly on the whole subject Mr. Scott
therefore, trusted that the proposition OF The gentleman
from Preston would not be pressed at tins time
Mr. BRowa of r., said the question was chiefly one
of expediency. All protested to wish Tor resumption
and he conceived that one of the best modes OF Ell
fectnr it was by rendering the stockholders liable for
the notes of their banks. They would then have some
motive 10 make the banks pay specie Mr. Is regret
ted that some of the gentlemen had adpoted the poll
oy of retreat on this question: FOR 's own part, .e
would face the enemy and should never lie found win
his heels to them. 1t proposed TO extend the
indulgence towards the banks only to the lst OF Apr;
vet Mr. B. felt sure that before that time leave would
be given to bring in bill Tor sui iurther indulgence
Mr.. BowDEs was in favor of the bill and also 10,
holding men whether in their individual associated
capacity, as much as possible to their contracts lie
could not, however, consent to the amendment oil the
gentleman from Preston Compared with that Propo,
si,ion he regarded this bill Of little Importance ano
he was confident tha, the Banks would not accept oil the
proposed relief if accompanied with such pTo'so'
Mr.. srnoruER begged the gentleman to withdraw
his proposition and bring forward until the n
question came up for consideration He was sure .ne
gentlemen would by attaching it to this bill, qea,ar'
from its value and its favorable reception by 's ,on
Je under certain circumstances, disposed 10 iooh
with partial eye upon it himself. a.. ,msrd.
Mr. TuoMAs renewed the request that the aneho'
Mr. BeowS Of p inquired Of the gentleman from
Rappahannock, whether hewas in favor of the amend
ment when proposed last winter o,;,r tho
Mr. srRoTmrR said he would reply BY quoting tne
,on.rL of = wise man. John Randolph. II was, tna'
principles s'oud be modified to suit eSgenc,es "e
stood here not Professors ,heo1lng but as
cal statesmen If gentlemen would satlafy hun, Int s
The subject came up that this amendment should "