Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1852-12-25
The snnnrc.siom Of sman Notes.

The Suppression of small Notes.
The proposition that has been preached ia
the Senate of Virginia TO inscet the CommIs.
sioner Of tie Revenue With the lnquIsitodol
power Of iuierrogoting all TAX payers, upon
oath, Whether they have violated INC statute
against Ito circulation Of small nates, and in.
ing all Who coufcss II the sun If Ten dollars,
receives. az it deserves. the uumeasured ridi.
cue rlhe press We should except tho Rich
mond Enquirer and he Lynchborg RepubIi
can, both of Which journals seem to favor the
scheme)
One Of the elementary principles Of pcnal
law, in all civilized nations, i hal no one shall
be made witness against himself When an
opposite practice prevailed, tie wheel, the
rack. the iron-b1ot the ,hamb-scrow and the
dungeon ere the modes of enforcing it. We
suggest TO the mover Of the resolution Whether
it is nor necessary to endow the revenue officer
with the power Of tonuie, aud 10 provide hm
with the necessary appliances 1t uny also
be worthy Of his consideration "htber the
whole code and enforcement OF tie criminal
law might not be sinplrcd aud expedited by
extending the jurisdiction of tbs rcv Star
chamber to all offences "againei the peace aud
dignity Of the commonwealth r Why moi
authorize the Commissioners 10 enquire Of, and
summarily punish. oil violations Of the salute
against usury. theft, arson. or murder I
The senscIess proposition gives onadlitiorei
demonstration of the folly 10 which men " III
resort 10 sustain themselves in error. Expo.
rience has shown that no enactments against
a small note currency vii prevent ips crcoh-
ton. Such laws are against tie convenience,
the reason and the moral sense # The people
and viii not therefore 10 tolerated Thjsbcing
seen the mercst modicum Of 5'alasmaosbip
would teach the Legislature TO rem dy and
melorate a system theycannot destroy. five
must have small notes os il Is cettain We will
have in spite of law, Why MOI make them law
fol and responsible Why not permit their
issuance by the chartered banks Of the State,
and thereby expel from circulation the Illegal
and rotten rag money lhat now infests the com.
munity
The Richmond Wing says of the proposed
measure;
A good deal Of curiosity is being manifested
10 ascertain who invented that novel plan for
aboshing shin.paslers, by swearing people
and taxing them $40 piece Iorviolaiing the law.
1t is clearly the work of au original genius
Mr. Smith, of the Senate, is considered gentle
man OF fair abilities; but this is an effort beyond
his b,u1 aud that Of all the Smith family put
together Some think it must have ,manated
from the great luminary Of modern jnrspru-
dencc-the Law. officer of Joseph's Administra-
ton. 1t has the ear.mark Of a mighty aud
comprehensive Intelligence. 1t denotes the
vigor of Podiikc bow-ond in its vide spread
moral bearings constitutes a theme iii for heroic
verse. In its magnificent dsdain Of the petty
trammels Of the Constitution and BllI of Rights
and its purgng society of ali IT'S impurities by
innicting upon the peccadiIlocs Of individuals
by their own testimony, heavy penalties, il o
pens new era in morulizing legislation, aud
argues the statesman Of gigantic proportions,
and the universal idolizer of human righ's.
1t would he great pity il the modesty,
which is native TO transccndant genius, should
cause the name OF this great inventor and pub
lie brncIactor to he suppressed. We think
Gov ] oe should offer rev ard for the author,
for the sake of encouraging the rising genera.
ton