The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-02-23
[ NUMBER ~.

I Here Mr.. Bragg, of Northampton. rose
, 10 pom; Of order lie conceived the gen.
tlemdn rem Haywood was out Of order in
] reading or discussing ne merits of sny bill
not now before the House. Mr.. Francls
explained he had already notified gentle.
men, thai he was about 10 poin, out 10 the
House VIVA, he believed 10 be the causes
? which led TO the action 9th Stoc khuldcrs
ul the Bank, in answer ~ which the resolu.
lions now under consideration were intend.
; go and con'ended that he bad a right TO
! read any bill, section, or paragraph, which
10 MS Judgment NAV tend 10 affect that Oh.
Jec'. The Speaker decided The gentleman
from Haywood ~ so doug, was ia order |
hope then said Mr.. Francis, the gentle.
mao from Northampton will be con,eDled,
+ und not appear quite SO caplIous, while |
bring TO the notice Of the House, The reie.
rated camor and miserable charges trump.
ed up against The Banks of the State, by
that party, Of which the gentleman from
northampton IS prominent member
from the mountains 10 The sea board, during
he canvass Of last sumner, every stump
orator OF that gentemar's party, were de.
crying the Banks as corrupt swindlers,
shaving shops, The factors of shin plaslers,
and such like euphoncous appela,ions, from
the Democratic nomenclature; endeayorng
to excite popular prejudice against these
institutions by panderi0g 10 every baser
passion Of the human heart, land by nttrb.
utlrg 10 the Banks all the pecunlary EN-.
: ha al, oh Il L..
/ over this vast continent, carrying ruin and
desolatiou in its train. But, sir, rot con.
tent with villiying and slanderug these in
situations from the hustings during the sum.
mer campaign, they have followed up the
crusade, even 10 this Hall, w eudeavoring
to redeem pledges made but TO be broken,
I by reforming what they term the abuses Of
Banking privileges. How do they propose
I 10 reform theml will read TO you the
| plan from series Of resolutions laid upon
our tables some days since, which discloses
/ The whole secret Of the mode of reforma.
lion; they have high sounding title, and
exhibit rare specimen Of classic taste and
1 legal precislon-a combination seldom in.
troduced INTO legislative proceedings
Here Mr. Francis read Sc, Of resolutions,
for the better regulation Of the Banks Of
this State.
/ Such, sir, is the language used towards
these institutions and when we say such
a course is foolish and ridiculous, we are
designated as Bank Attorneys, Bank Ora.
tors, &c. Now, sir, The idea of the Leg.
isIature sending a Committee TO the Banks,
10 count The specie, dollar for dollar, must
appear 10 any rejecting mind absurd in the
extreme. Has airy individual estimated the
length Of time II would take to count the
amour. of specie, as reported, in the vaults
OF our Bank, at this time, dollar for dollar,
as the resolution contempIates? Why, sir,
suppose It is put up as IS usual in cases
containing one thousand dollars each; 10
count out and return 10 the boxes six thou.
sand dollars day, will be as much labor as
any member OF that Committee would be
willing TO perform; so that to count rs dl.
rected by that resolution would require
close application for at least three mouths.
But, sir, II is no, the absurdity of the pro.
position alone, TO which | wish TO call the
attention Of the House but the imputs,ion
of tals,y which it must necessarily cast up.
90 the published statements made according
to law, to this House by the gentlemen who
manage the affairs OF that institution
When 4 Committee are instructed "to in.
quIre into all abuses of The Bank; !" and
again, that they shall personally inspect
the books and accounts, &c" il must ere.
ate strong suspicion that all Ia not right,
and that the statement made by the Bank
is false or doubtful. Now, sir, those gen.
tlemen who have The management of this
institution are unwilling that their charac-
tiers should be thus assaulted, their motives
impugned, their published statements falsl-
fed, without a hearing, or without even
shadow of proof, upon which TO ground
such foul asperslons. No sir, they are men
who have lived long in this world--whose
honor has heretofore been untarnished,
whose reputation is above suspicion and
who place too high an estimate on the char
acter aud motives Of others, to suffer their
own TO be thus unceremonlously impugned
by members on this floor who choose 70
assall them.
But, sir, the course pursued in this Hall
against these Banks. is circulated to effect
not only the private reputation of those
who have the management Of the ns.itu-
Iious--hut il has tendency to injure in no
small degree the character Of the institu.
uous themselves, particularly abroad
When the Banks, and corporations on other
States see that the Legislature of North
Carolina, IN place of fostering her owa
Banks, and af1ording them every facility Of
extending their character aud credit at
home and abroad, has commenced ruth.
less and Incorporating war ofextermna-
ton against these Institutions when they
hear that your tables are groanlng under
the weight of bills, for the better regulation
of Banks-to prevent, in the language of
one Of the resolutions, ",he recen, and
numerous frauds, failures, suspensions,
theIls nna corrup,ious practiced in similar
iusIl'u;Jous;" surely becomes high time
that the Banks and corporations of other