The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-11-20
LOCAL AATTEa9.

SHALL NOT Bo.-A8 we stated, u yoeteruay
paper, at the called meeting Of the City Coun.
Gil, held on Thursday evening last. Dir. Car.
rington Withdrew short Substitute. which he
had offered at,he previous regular meeting Of
the Council. and which provided for the issue
Of city scrip, and offered the following extend
ed preamble and resolution. The preamble
may be regarded as an answer to the report Of
the committee en- Finance, prepared by Mr..
Conway Robinson
Whereas, a memorial has been presented to
the City Council, signed by ISL citizens, OF
all professions, classes and trades, asking that
an ordinance may be passed for the issue Of
small notes, of sums and denominations less
than Eve dollars, for the purpose of providing
a circulating medium for the accommodation
of our community, and an ordinance or bylaw
on this subject, if passed by the Council would
not be Inconsistent with the laws of the State,
the committee of Finance, does not, either in
its letter or spirit, apply to corporations, but
only to individuals and this is admitted in the
report of the committee of Finance, as appears
by the following language, used in that report:
| And under the State law the word person may
extend and be applied to bodies polite and
corporate, as we'll as individuals" On every
principle of construction, the committee Of FL
nance is in error. The legal maxim is, that
penal statutes must be construed strictly,
therefore persons OF individuals cannot mean
corporations and unit: the criminal Court of
Appeals of the State places the construction
upon this statute, and finally adjudicates the
question, the position of the committee Of FL
nance must be regarded as wholly untenable.
Then the passage Of the ordinance hereinbe-
fore alluded to, not being in violation of the
laws Of the State, The suggestions consequent
of presentment by the Grand Jury. and tri-
al of any officer or agent of the city on such
presentment before ajury empaIneled for that
purpose, could not, in the nature of things,
lake place, and Of course the legal consequent
ces of fine and imprisonment would not ensue.
But even admitting, for the sake of argument,
that the passage of this ordinance would be in
conflict with the general State law, it does not
follow that, under the charter of the city,
framed specially for our own municipal gov
eminent, the Council could not exercise this
power; for the Legislature, in its wisdom, has
seen proper, in our city charter, to incorporate
many provisions for the convenience of our
citizens, in conflict with the laws of the State;
and if the Council has the right to issue scrip
at all, (which is point conceded,) where is to
be the limit to the issue, either in amount or
in the sums and denominations of the scrip it
self?
The danger of presentment and conviction
Of the officers and agents of the city, for vio-
lation of law, is more ina inary than real, aud
having disposed of the legal question, the poll
cy and expedency of this measured cannot be
doubted by any candid and impartial mind
The recent failure of some of the banks, and
the distrust that prevails as to the solvency Of
other institutions, whose notes are in circula-
ton among our citizens, has caused great in
convenience on account OF the want eta relia-
BILE circulating medium, which the people
would certainly have in the shape Of city scrip,
ofsums and denominations less than FIVE dol
lars and q proper substitute would be made
for the millions of foreign trash circulating
through the community, and having only the
name of currency.
Without any disrsspect to the laws of the
land, on the part OF the Council, or the exam.
ple oftrampling upon the laws being set by the
Couuc !, or any danger to republican govern
ment, this ordinance may be passed, and there
by sovereign remedy be applied to the evils
of bad currency, and the want off proper cir.
culatng medium And as to the evils that
may exist, in consequence Of every town and
village in the State issuing small notes, ire.
deemable in gold or silver, that is drawing an
inference from case that can never, in reason,
exist. Again, the scarcity of gold and silver
renders it essential TO have some other circu-
yer is very far from being equal to tine demand
on the community, particularly community
engaged in commerce and manufactures. And
whereas the petition, asking for the issue of
scrip, is signed by so large number of the
constituent body, that it may be regarded as
an instruction to the Council, who are bound
to obey the wishes OF the people, whenever
properly and fairly ascertained, as in this pet
ton expressed; therefore,
Resolred, That the committee OF Finance be
and are hereby instructed, TO bring in an ordi-
nance for the issue Of scrip, to an amount not
exceeding $500, 900, 10 sums and denomina-
tons less than IS, in |, 9. 3 and 81, redeema-
BILE at such times, and in such manner, as the
Council may prescribe in the said ordinance.
On motion, the preamble and resolution
were laid on the table, and ordered to be print
ed for the use of the Council.