Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-01-01
LEGISLATURES or VIRGINIA.

ELHtiraS
In the House OF Delegates, the Resolution offered by
him. requesting the Executive o!N rginia, promptly 10
open a correspondence with tie Governors Of Penn
sylvania and Maryland, for the purpose Of sgnitying
10 them, and through them 10 inc Legislatures ~
those States respectively the disposition o the Ge
neral Assembly Of Virginia 10 cooperate with those
of said States in fixing common day for the re-
sumption offs specie payments BY tie banks Of Penn
sylvania, Maryland and Virginia
Mr. BYnp said a, all times, he felt unwilling 10
consume tho time q. The House. bat especially, tins
OCCASION rose address Il with peculiar dii.tence and
reluctance because conscious that II otherw guam.
fed he physically Incompetent, III consequence 81
severe bodily suffering Tor the performances Of the task
in which he about 10 engage fe, thal having
offered the resolution, which related 10 subject OF
deep inerestone perhaps OF The most sal Importance
which would engage the deliberations Of the Gene raj
Assembly during The present scsscn--he lett himself
bound TO comply with what seemed 10 be The general
expectation of members By stating briefly the reasons
which, in his opinion, recommended rs adoption: and
in doing So he should eudcaror By the bTesy Of his
remarks 10 atone for their defects III other respects.
Mr. Byrd sad, that .tom incidental remarks
which had fallen from members, h. feared that the
SCOPE and the object well the nltetor effect OF
the resolution had been sapprchcndcd, al least 10
acme extent Gentlemen seemed y think Tic object
of the resolution TO defeat resumption; whereas,
in fact il was designed in ait OF that important mea-
sure and mpar permaneacy, 70 Il, as IL shonid en-
deavor TO shew IN the progress Of his remarks
Gentlemen, also, seemed 70 imagne, HAT is tenden-
cy was to place virginia IN 4 Illuminating attitude
How he was al loss 10 cOncelv". NIrEinia, at the
utmost extent only Gained 10 be sovereign but no,
that other States the Union less than herself
and was il deemed derogaory to sovereign 10
propose To another concert OF acton IN reference to
great and important matter, IN which the two hla u
Common lnicrcs esp c'ally when the object most
desired BY both, could he well attained, II al.
tainablc ut ALL w,thou. the proposed corporation Anu
that was exactly the present case With what propTi-
ety. therefore, had been snd that the adoption oil TINS
rr1t,EnI IN.
tude he would leave II 10 the intelligence ot members
TO decide.
Mr.. Byrd said that the Importance Of early resnmp.
ton by the banks admitted on oil sides; and, by
large portion OF the House, considered the duty
of the General Assembly pass law a, the present
session. which would those institutions 10 adopt
that measure before tie next meeting OF The leS'sa
ture That he certainly concurred III the first brunch
of this ton, and strongly inclined, as al pre-
sent advised, concur also in the latter. ln', that
10 render resumption u measure OF pnoc utility, the
banks must not only resume On PARTICULAR Jay, bu'
continue permanently the payment 81 lher liaci!cS
IN spece on demand. Therefore, that IN requiring re.
sumption the measure intended 10 produce that Tesn
should be- as far as possible shaped, as that TIE
banks shall not only be compelled TO resume but also
enabled 10 sustain themselves III that attitude anG
that too with the least possible pressure upon the peo
pe and the great interests OF the state Hence, ne
Ind offered the resolution in question and hence, also
The value Of the cooperation sought 10 be- attained by
it, Not merely because our banks and their friends
had declared their readiness and dbty 10 resume per
nancntly whenever those OF Pennsylvania aud Mary
land shall do So and their iRaj1y 10 continue
specie payments while the latter remain IN state 9!
suspension but also, because II must be obvious TO ali
ACQUAINTED with the practical operation OF the paper
money system, the of trade, Nc, between n
on;a md the commercial cities ct those States that
the sustained operation al specie payments could moi
be effected By the former. while the hanSso he o'h'i
States referred 10 III state oi suspension, without
Al least, great sacrifices on their part, ana consequent
MON ~
rapid withdrawal for 4 time OF the precious metals
from this State
IA TO the first Of these positions namely, that the
p.nLs of VIRGINIA cannot possibly continue specie pay
noents while those Of Pennsylvania aud Maryland are
in state Of suspens Byrd said, although he
was not prepared to express ms concurrence III us co"
rec,ness vet really seemed to him. that II members
nlensed without reference ~ the source warhce u
came il must strike every Intelligent man WIN some
force, who views the subject mi connex'on WIN Inc
commercial relations existing between our own State
and the cities Of Baltimore and Philadelphia and there
fore as entitled to the grave consideration oithe ious'
in its deliberations upon the question Of coeFchs Fe
sumption-especialiy IN view Of thr appalling conse
,oncss which nav result from il!-adriscd action OF
our part i'm case il be correct: notwithstanding thos'
may IN point ct duration be likely 10 %
merely temporary, and be such, wi!i eventually DC
comnensated by effects Of permanent character Ri
~ f.h,pcs nnou experiment il should prove 10 be
n-rsc, md our mandate 10 the banks TO resume upol
snec6ed day, upon pain Of irrleng Their charters
should be peremp,ory, those institutions would be com
ne,Ied in short time thereafter 10 90 INTO stale o.
foundation Necessarily, they would then cease 10 at
ford any further facilities to the business Of the e"'ns.
IN the shape of loans or othcrwise-n'Shl commence
al 90 cali in amounts due Ia them and their paper
would if not entirely at least to great extent cease
" .;rcnste az money And thus, alter having BY
course of most reprehensble legislation, multiplied
banks and authorized the issue OF their paper in 'ncn
e,oe.. ,s almost entirely 10 drive out Of the country
and u,urp the place of the precious metals ycu Will