Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-12-17
COMMUNICATIONS.
To he Editors Of TIC Enquirer:
WAsuINoroN CRY, Dec. II 1874.


The clause in my letter to You of the 9th inst.
relative 10 the Banks of this District, was rePub
lished in to-day, Alexandria Gazette, with com
,neu,s by some one who founded thereon 4 sur
mise that the good folks Of the ten miles square
were alrno>: TO b. ilayed alive and dcvoured with
on, cooking, BY III. Hoiieniots who compose The
Democratic majority in the House of Represen-
,atiyes This is odd. But il shows how little
the Cederalsls know of the spirit oil true lioeraii-
". which has at all times characterized the De-
nocrats in Congress, in their Legislation 1or the
District of Columbia-a liberality, not confined
10 taking care of toe interests OF class or cliques,
bu, extending 10 the community al larse-to those
who use bank notes, who should be projected
agaips, their deprcciation-,ot those who need "ac-
commodation," who should get il upon such
terms as they never will get il until the monopo-
IL system Of granting charters is done away with,
and The business Of banking efl 10 be as free for
tine competition OF all who may have the capital
10 bank on, and are willing 10 secure The public
:igains; loss as any o,Ecr species OF commercial
business is. rs Tor my own part, do mol see
what the reop!c Of the Dis,ric, want with banks;
c..tainl. not 10 furnish currency when the Co
vcrnlnen, VIGOROUSLY pays out three millions per
arnum in The WAY of salaries, &c, in this city.
Now mark YOU, this is in specie, which rapid
" disappears, while paper OF The six local banks
Of the State OF Virginia, OF the town corpora
lions and Of Tom, Dick and Harry takes lis
place-This is hy no means strange, as those VINO
know any thing about the history OF shinpiasleTs
will recoilec,. Wherever they have been permit
led 10 circulate, they have never yet failed TO
cause the withdrawal OF specie from business
transactions, however plentiful it may have been
before their introduction asa circulating meduil.
| do not believe there are twenty men IN this
District who would be willing 10 see bank char
tiers granted here, unless the principle oi inciTl-
dual responsibility is Incorporated therein; ex-
cent those who long 10 get the management oil
irresponsible banks from sniste! motives Zen
wears ago such proposition would have been
hooted at, and we may thans the spread oil That
fundamental principle of Democracy-a regard
for the greatest gool 10 the greatest number-ior
the admirable change already effected IN the ou-
siness of banking. 1t will be impossible 10 get
through charter here on any other principie
nor do | know Of State Legislature IN Tins
Union. that would now grant one on any other
Terms | understand il is the intention OF the
Committee 10 make thorough investigation
i.lo the affairs Of the six district banks; not only
as 10 their dongs for the last year. but tor twenty
years back ii necessary. This is 10 test whether
they are, as thcr should be, institutions Tor The
accommodation oithe business community, with
ont fear or favor or whether their capital has
no, been in mans instances devoted 10 FURNISHING
faciiitie, Tor shaving business paper out of doors
If the latter he found 10 be the case, or il it is
found that equal justice has not been meied on,
10 all alike, Won may depend on it, The charter or
charters will no. be renewed. although they may
have obeyed the late Law ordering Them 10 wind
up their affairs, which some ofihern have openly
set at defiance upon he usual plea that bank &C
commoiations are necessary for The dear public,
Tor whose interest, BY the bye 10 corporation yet
has ever felt sympathy, and will not 50 long as
thew are "without souls" Yours, &c.