Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-14
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
DEFERRED DEB.1TE.
HOUSE OF DELEGATEs-F Friday, Jan. 8.
utNg nE VIRGINIA

DEFERRED DEB7TE.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES-F Friday JAM 8.
BANK OF VIRGINIA.
Mr. STEPHENSON Of Tyler, said that whatever
other pood effect this subject might have, IT had at leas.
drawn from the genternan from the city OF Richmond
the most eloquent speech which he had ever delivered
and one of the eloquent which he had esef eara
delivered on the noor of that House. When he took
nar in brinuinr this subject before the Legislature anc
the country he did not consult his personal feel
inos and wishes in the matter Had he been so governed;
had he been influenced by prudential considerations, nc
should have been the last 10 have brought the con-
uct Of the President Of the Bank before the Legisa
ture He knew what it was, by past experience, 10
como in contact with the powerful influence IN thai
city; he knew moreover, that u any member CANT
there wishing pass smoothly along his pubic COURSE
he would take part in opposition 10 the strong cen
tral influence which, for the last 30 years had welded
so powerful and frequently 50 fatal an influence over
the destinies of the Commonwealth. Coac any man
doubt The existence Of ths bancu influence, conttoins
merely the opinions OF the STATE al large ous ha'
frequently e5cIed 10 conroul the lesisalon :"
,he country Before he cTe, he had earG OF this
illegitimae power; hut he never could have imagined
the xent of that influence had lie no, seen us biight
ing effects but he bad ever had doubts before upon
the subject he had received demonstration since lhe
subject now before them was brought under the con-
s;deration Of theIiouse-They had mad demonstration
lately which could not fail to satisfy the most scep-
teal of the existence Of power nm'eal to the great
interests OF the Stale. lie would wash 10 direct atleh
ton to the conduc. Of the stockholders with reference
10 the election Of directors. These gentlemen were
well aware Of the interests of the State IN that nsttu
finn they were aware that The conduct OF the officers
of that institution was under discussion in that House,
and vet TO show their utter contempt and disregard
for the deliberations Of the peoples representatives.,
they met and proceeded 10 the election oil those
officers or rather of that officer whose conduct
der consideration, and whom, probably, majority Oh
Tie members Of that House might decide ought not 10
he reelected If there had been act more out
raneous than this, he did not know IT, lie had no de-
sire improperly TO contoul the sockhoiders bu on te
other hand, lie determined 10 MAINTAIN lie rShl
vested in the people. He knew that those same stock
holders were ever ready TO wait most numby tine action
of that House when it would suit their purpose to do
no. and that they at the present time dependent
for existence upon their mercy and isberap ana yet
they embraced the first opportunity to insult them IN
the most fragrant manner. AS another instance OF lhe
overwhelming central influence of which he complain
Cd bn would call the attention ntttae House 10 the
course pursued by some editors in'th's city. lhey
would find gentlemen who did not entertain one senll-
ment in common who did not even recognize each other
in the Streets and yet they found ali these gentlemen
bound together in the charms of the same Influence,
md coming there the face OF oil their previous OPT
MONS and lending the power OF their names tor the pur-
pose Of influencing the deliberations OF that General
Assembly. How was it that there did exist through
ont he State great dstrust OF the financial abilities,
md of the watchfu zeal Of the PRESIDENT Was it not
because leading political journal had spread far and
wide the impression that m'smanagement existed and
that searching inquiry was lmperatively demanded,
and now had suddenly turned round, and using It's
influence TO change the wavcring and bring them TO
o,,ose these resolutions He alluded 10 the Editors
ofthe Whg and he thou h that under all the circum-
stances those gentlemen might have had the delicacy
10 withhold their opinions upon the SUBJECT ila'
paper had in one oil their articles. spoken of por-
lion of the Wings as being actuated by proper
tyes leaving Il 10 be inferred that the remainder were
influenced by improper motives. He would take this
onnorunity before the representatives OF the people,
tkarn ~ has, t,u
Editors of tine Wing endeavoring to exercise an
mpreper interference in this question. He threw out
the remarks no. impugnlns the motives OF the Ed
TORS Of the Wing, but to show the existence oil that
central influence of which he complained. This dam
rerous power must he suppressed the voice of the
Seopl. would be heard tones winch would shake that
Capitol from lis basis-The people would ultimately
find to be- their duty and their interest to erect ano
Their Capitol elsewhere, in region more congenal To
the heallhfu exercise o. the duties appertanns TO the
character of representative; but that subject he
wond say something at more fitting time.
The first questions now before them, was as TO the
character of the resolutions 1t said by his friend
from the city of Richmond, that they assuming to
exercise powers which did not belong to them; that the
character and operation of the resolutions in
frinceuent upon the powers of the Executive. That
was not the character of the resolutions, did they
assume TO do any such thing to take from the Co.
vernon Of the Common wca!;! portion Of the power
which he possessed They did not seek to control him
Mt all: if the resolution adopted, it would leave
the Governor perfectly un.ramnellcd; Il was neither
more nor less than simple request Was 1t possible
that tie Governor elevated, o.tar above the law
90 uncrring in his Judgment that he could not be in
formed of The wishes OF the Representatives, oi the peo
pe, How was he TO know the public sentiment, except
Nv reference to the opinions of that House: Ought
the Governor to be guided and governed by the feel
nps and wishes of those whom they here represented
Whom did the Governor representa- The people,
Whose interests he bound To consnli? The inter
ests of the people What II IN fact that they intend
ed to convey their Governor They proposed to state
to him to whom they had intrused portion OF their
welfare that The public officer al the head OF the Bank
of Va had not performed his duties, and that in
sequence thereof their constituents had suffered ser-
GUS lcss they claimed that ne had been uniahu, and
they asked the ecuiive who was the appointing pow
er, 10 take the necessary steps 10 remedy the evil
They assumed nothing; they profsscd TO dictate moth
ing; the resolution neither more nor less than
SIMPLE modest regard to the Executive. Another
argument Of the gentleman from the city of Richmond
was that action the matter would be infringe
ment of the Bank charters but that very charter gave
by implication, the power Of advising the Governor,
which they now claimed TO exercise. 1t would be
und on reference to the 9th section of the charter that
that body had the power to appoint Committee TO
mine into the affairs Of the Bank and 10 report that
House the result Of such enquiry Now, he would ask
the gentleman from the city of Richmond with refer
ence to the charter of 1897 whether under the powers
10 appoint a Committee BY which they made an inves
tiration he supposed for moment, that they had
not the power to act upon the investigation made!
Under that law of 1887 they had appointed acommttee
TO make the investigation required; that committee had
made report to the House, recommending subsequent
action and had they not the power to act upon that re-
commentator. Ifnot, the committee farce; and
the sooner swept away, the better But the COM
mittee had that power, and he would contend that
should that Committee recommend re-modihcation OF
the charter they would be exercising their legitimate