Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-01-14
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURES.
From the Richmond Examiner.
MONDAY, Jan. 7, 1850.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

-S~->--->-~----
From the Richmond Examiner.
MONDAY, Jan. 7, 1850.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
The Committee on Banks reported adversely
Upon Mr.. Carrolps resolution in favor of small
overwhelming it to be inexpedient for the
Legislature to pass small note bill Whereupon
that gentleman moved to insert the word "expe-
dienp' in the place Of "inexpediens." In the
course Of his remarks, he laid violent hands on
The late article OF this newspaper signed SPECIE
He declared his views unchanged by that ari-
ole and intinated that the writer in the Erami
nsr lid not know quite so much about the mat
ter as he supposed he did. We are sorry we did
not hear Mr.. Carrol's remarks We should
Aave reported them had we done SOFAS they
we're not long-he being 'staken witha shor,ness"
usual to him when he makes speeches.
Mr. Syme and Mr. Perrow advocated his move
ment. Mr.. Harvie opposed it on the general
ground that small notes narrowed the specie Cir
sulation, and it was important to keep that as
broad as possible.
Mr.. Claiborne had voted against the small note
Dill but subsequent events had convinced him
that the laws which prohibited their circulation
we're useless Public opinion was decidedly IN
tvor fthem. In his professional career he had
never seen ptesentrnent under the law He
once saw Judge direct jury to bring in such
~
bis nose-as much as tie say you can't fool me-
old fellow. II the pockets Of the members Of
this House were searched, foreign snlall-notes
would be feAnd in the pocketsof every man who
had money in bis purse. Mr.. Syl1le asks the
orator TO exceptthe gentleman from Prince George
and the gentleman from Prince William. Mr..
Claiborne would not vote for an ineficacioLs law.
Every man, woman and child in his county would
support him in the change Of his vote &C.
a.. Nfav boil
Gu the assertion that there was no possible law
10 punish the circulation of foreign notes.
Mr. Ha.vie would tell Mr. Mayo of law
which srouM prevent the circulation Of these
hotes. The fact that the Banks here could not
Issue small notes was not the calse CT the evil.
An evasion Of the law by the Banks themselves
was tho Cause Of il. There was net Bank in
the Commonwealth that was in the practice CT
redeening their notes as they were bound 10 do.
Mr.. Claiborne had deiied the members 10 put their
hands into their pockets without finding there a
f,reian shinplaster. Mr.. Harye deiied them TO
had ihsre Virginia note payable at Richmond.
The mother bank issued the notes OF its distant
branches the branches issued the notes OF The
mother bank. The mother bank would redeem
emily lie own noteswhich could reach it only BIZ
accident. Thus these banks were specie-payiRs
10 theory and in promise, bu, by this miserable
evasion, this absolute sviidle, they were tar 9TH
sswiss in practice.
fAr. Harve's remarks, Of which we have Civ
III only two or three heads, were several times
interrupted by Mr. Nave This gentleman want
ID to know what would be the situation of these
banks ifthey had to redeem the notes CT their
hnnchee.l
Mr.. Harvie replied, that if ti-. Mayo knew
any thing about the banking operations Of pas.
tinee he would not ask that. Until the late diff
ncultes abeut the banks, whenever one Of them
got an accumulation OF notes other than their own
j. seat them to the owners, got the money, and
felt no Inconvenience.
DIR. Ferguson wanted to know what grounds
gentlemen there had for believing that public o.
pnion was in favor Ct small note bill? The
bill had been restssed years ago--hase resolutions
and petitions for il been sent to The legislature
BY the people about it, !! None such That was
what this people woulo have done had they dis
approved the action ofthe Legislature. The O.
Ianion rested ou the private be lief OF the gen
'leman who marie the assertion and it was MIR.
ferguson's belief that if a vote wcre taken Oh
this question, the people would give a majority a.
sainst small notes, absolutely overw helinins.
Mt. Mayo and Mr.. s. me interrupted the
Speaker again with speeches Oh the inefic:ency
Of laws prohibiting foreign small notes.
Mr.. Ferguson went into an argument TO show
that the law might be et1icacious; but rs neither
aide Of the question had any thing to do with the
true point, we shall let them pass.
Mr. Conway offered q resolution oblgiug all
tho banks to redeem their branch notes at the
mother bank, and the cics versa. Mr.. Conway
supported his resolution with much good sense
and force. He illustrated the evasion touched
on by Mr.. harrie, with many facts Of his own
observation. He belonged to community in
which there were many advocates OF the scheme
before the legislature, but he never could or
would give his consent to the issue of these notes
He eAhorted the Legislature not to be controlled
by these corporations
Mr.. Syme took ground that the Legislature had
no right to pass such law.
Mr.. Conway waived thai discussion for the
present. He wished to get the subject before
abe Legisature--if it is found 10 be constitutions
81 he would then vote for it.
Mr. Burwel gnadea long and sorhistical speech
Oh this occasion. II vas a love Of the people
cot friendship for banks, that prompted MIR.
BurweN and friends to advocated small note bill
Mr. Conway moved an indefinite postponement
asa test question. Mr.. Carroll called ayes al<.
noes.
Ayrs--Layne, Harvi7, Gibson, Floyd, Brown,
Of B. & H., Grantha'n, Bennett, Wells, Power,
Lewis Of Brunswick, Buckner, Jones Of Chester
field, Barbour, Hill, Guerrart, Edwards, Wood,
Cook OF Greenesvle, stovail, Flening, Stump,
Lewis of H g. D., Howser, Tosr.lia. Ferguson,
Harris, Stokes; Newman, kilwell, Williams Of
Mscklcnburg, Warsnan, Berae, Campbell, Pam
mill, Boswell, Iiiner Cackley Hopkins, Wcot-
ton, Rive, Harrison, Hall, Geek Of Roanoke,
Yancey, Ptman, Hass, Conway and George-46
Nors---Messrs. Watson, Carter, snowden,
Sheffey, Mitchell, Burwell, Hammond, Gilmore,
Forbes, Morris OF c, P. & w, Clarke Of Camp
bell, Lacy, Page, Clarke of Essex, Williams Of
Fairfax, Hume, HcrneT, stillnsan, Claiborne,
Wall, Pendleton, Masse, Carroll, Price, Wick
nam, Welton, Lancaster, Duke, Worihipgton,
Patrick, Wallace, Gresham, A1inter, schooley
Ball, Jones OF Marshall, Hicks, Smith, Duckwail
kilby, Perrow, Stubbs, Henderson, Wheate, Rob-
s..son, Syme, Neal, Wheeler, Mayo. Dogulan
Patterson, Herman, CULLEN, Campbell, Griffin,
Suite, Johnson West, Jacobs, Dunn, Brown o.
Wes,moreland, Cock CIV, w, II. & D., and
Boyd--ea.