Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-12-17

ttions that have been imposed upon them
by their charters and the laws of the
Statei and whilst it proves the wisdom
and propriety of those restrictions, il
should admOnish US to continue them TO-
gertler with any other conditions thai
prudence may dic,ate,in any new chatter
that may be- granted. Experience has
abundan,Iy shown that these mammoth
moneyedinsti cannot heton close
| ly guarded protect the public interest
Should the Legislature think proper to
renew those charters, would RECON-
nepd that the IDoiherrbapks he, rechar,
tered with their present branches. Hj
doing so, we shall bo able to keep up a
lis.rionlion oil the capital of the conn-
| try, and locate itin positions to be use
! FIJI to all. We diA'usc and agnaliza
those commarciai advantages which
might he monnpoi2ed.; wa reduce the
cost Of remi,lances or of exchanges al
inteiiur aad remote points und we rem
der them more secure, because the
mother bauk and its branches are res.
ponsible for losses that may occur at
any one of them, by mismanagement or
Otherwise,
| Whether We should have two scpar-
ate and distinct systems of hnnkinc in
the State as at present, might at first
appear questionable; but petiiaps this
would be more likely 10 result in good
than injury. The rivalry between the
two systems will produce e mutual scru,
tiny into their management, and an ex'
animation into their condition, that
wouldkeop them under proper restraints
and within legal bouuas--and thus each
improve tue other. Il
tits Of great advantage to the com
munily that lis circulating medium
should he known; and yet, Of the nipe
independent banks that have gone. into
operation, there has been no public an.
nouncement, and it is impossible for
the people to know whether they are
legally constituted or moi. These col.i
sist Of tho Bank Of tho Old Dominion;
the Manufacturers and Farmers Bank
of Wheeling. the Merchants Bank Of
Virginia, the Central Bank of Virginia,
the Bank of Winchester, the Monticello
Bank, the Fairmont Bank, the Bank Of
Berkeley and the Trans-.Allcgheny
Bank. Thecharters of these banks ex-
empt them from the operation Of the
IS7th section Of chapterl5s of tile Code,
and hence there is no provision for Civ.
ing notice to the public that any such
are in existence. | recommend that
some such provision be adopted.
While upon this subject. l cannot re-
frain from expressing the hope thai
some provision may be rnade which
will ctlecinaIly preyeat the issuing, by
irresponsible pcrsons,Jf worthless, il.
redeemahlu circulation. The present
law is admitted to be defective. The
consequence is, it is wholly Disregard
ed. | cannot believe thNt law may
not be itaucd to prevent the evil, and
punish those who violate it. Nor do y
believe that tie courts and juriss would
fail to execute such law. | respect
!ully invite the attention Of TIE Gener-
al Assembly TO the subject.
Tho report upon tho Penitentiary,
with the accompanying documents,
herewith presented, is recommended to
your favorubIs consideration. The mel
ancholy fact, that a large increase Of
crime las taken place in the State, is
clearly exhibited. ooc hundred aud
nine free persons were received in the
institution during the past year. They
consisted Of so white and 90 free color.
ed persons. At the end of the fiscal
year 267 remained in prison-consist-
ing Of $50 white males, but 10 while
females, Ia fact creditablG 10 the females
of the State,) 81 colored males, and 6
culored females--exbibi,ing an increase
of 80 whites and s cOlored conpicts in
the year. The report presents tho re-.
r,a,l;aba fact, that in the iise years from
tas Isl of October, 1913, to the goth Of
September 1893, no less Than 3O4
whites and lGa flee persons of color
we're imprisoned. IL We may regard
this us an iudex to crime in the two ra.
ces, we shall fad, by reteronce 10 the
tables of population. that the proper
ton among the free persons Of collar is
nearly si4ttea times greater than among
the whites. This remarkable difference
is not indigenous to Virginia or other
slayeh9lding States. A communication
from the Superintondent Of the Peniten.
tiary to a member of the Senate in
March last exhibits the average pro.
portion of'crime among the free color
cd population of Virginia and Mary
land together, as equaIt 7.29 10 | white
whilst tho average among the same
classes in the States Of Pennsylvania,
New Jersey. New York, Cunuecticur,
Massachusetts aud Indiana combined, is
in the proportion Of 1880 Of the color.
ed 10 one Of white.
Upon the subject Of tho increase of
crime generally, since tho adoption Of
the new Criminal Code, tits shown thet.