Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-03-14

many comments BY the press of The State The Demo
cratic papers, without exception believe approve ih'
law, while Whg editors differ as to its merits The Ere
dercksourg Herald finds fault with the law because II lr
cludes scrp in its PROVISIONS and consequently comes u
conflict with tho ssuc Of small by The Corporation
Fredericksburg In reference here notes the Herald c1
pessess the opinion that "lt 10 post faeo law, Ras
much the small or scrip OF Fredericksburg were Is
sued not only in Innocence Of all law but by special exact
Inen granting authority fund the corporation daS N
Legislature has uniformly refused 10 allow the Banks oi '
commonwealth 10 issue small notes and not WILING
to believe that it will allow the corporate autoit
Of The towns OF tile Commonwealth 10 do that @hlci
cannot be dono by The regular chartered banks Of lh
Commonwealth Principle forbids any such conclusion
The State s decidedly opposed small notes IRON
what quarter they may whether Issued by Banks Cor
poraons, individuals. And have Idea ,l1l TN
General Assembly when 1t granted to the Corporation
Fredericksburg the privilege Of funding It's debt intended
authorize that city TO 60 into the small note business
the mode adopted for funding had bern inserted in The bill
it would not in opinion have passed the Legislature
The may impose restriction the denomination o
the scrr yet there act al the time Of tbc passage
law allowing Fcdercksturg 10 fund its corporation ieo'
making unlawful the issue circulation OF small notes; and
, shin plaster scrip been Issued in violation OF the e
rii If not The very letter OF that law But, whatever
opinions may be entertained in reference the application
cpse tina; tho law will be effective In regard to tho issue
and circulation Of the miserable trash with which many
parts of the State have been flooded from individual and
other sourccs-rom such scucoporaed and irresponsible
the late Bank of the Union which in
lsence only little than II months and failed for
believed 10 be not less than hundred thousand dol.
lars II the law shall other good purpose we
shall the people Of the State upon lis ecacY IN
preventing tho evils arising from such currency as The one
OF which we speaking II the Legislature had fail
ed provide additional penalties against tho ccua.
ton Of individual small notes. and particularly had an abor-
tive efJrt been mada pass law should have
bankrupt individuals apnsng up Ike mushrooms 20
banks with high )undng titles and spreading their
fraudulent Issues all the country. The impression
had begun prevail that law for the suppression of
plaster currency could be passed by the Legislature of
Virginia. although Maryland Pennsylvania and other States
have passed very stringent the subject and
advocates aering themselves that thty
could be allowed to carry The Unlawful trac with imPu
uy Because no attempts made TO put existing laws
10 force the inference drawn that shin plaster
cy WIS popular with the people; while, 10 truth, TITO
law was not enforced because II sutii
cienty stringent in It's character and because every
in the community had permitted himself violate IT, while al
the same time majority were utterly opposed such
rency. We anticipate different state CT things under the
the first OF June After that lime there DO e. rc
violation OF positive law Of the Slate. have no cxpec
u,ion that citizens who profess obey the lave Of nt
country will attempt 10 rea contcmpuou.y The effort made
BY the last Legislature 10 give the neope better nnd sa!e:
currency than that sfode! BY such flauiu,n did ;ush
we have alluded 10. in effort made
by the Wings Of tho Legislature submit The Grsion Of
shlnpiastcrs TO tho people o Virginia at
the polls For ourselves, should have objection 10
lfnstt nj on
did look like admission that hore for doubt
tho subject. Nineteen tbs Of the people OF Virginia. be-
eve opposed shinpnsier currency and 10 Of
gold and silver for oil under five dollars Ihc Penn.
syvonia Legislature first abolished under five doae
and now s proposed urhtr sd abolish notes und1r
dollars. On this subject Invite shc attention Of OR
readers and particularly The attenioa OF Whig cods
ho Il their late representatives IN The Legislature fairly
represented ,hei. sentiments the shinnaser party 10
the following remarks, which hnd 10 the last number c
the Philadelphia American, able Whg paper:
"Smal noles. circulating r!edum getling under
the ban In many places throughout the Uuon and number
Of States have passed laws Imposing penalties upon the uf
fering issuing of any bank bills Of less denomination
than five dollars The adopted in Pcnnsy va
MIA years since and been followed by vc.y be
necial change in currency The late9l instance
have noticed Of the adoption Of tic principle Is In Virginia.
where the Legislature has just passed law excluding from
circulation oil notea rnder five dollars and imposing penal
ties upon the offering Issuing OF them. In view u( the
mmcnse quantities Of gold brought into money by
dlSCOY6fleS tne
must DO obvious for necessity which led the Issue
small has long since passed away and there is much
less for them now than ever there II cannot
be possible that with such abundance OF the precious
as any longer tho slightest need for that which
temporary substitute and representative The
latter therefore, ought as fat as possible to be
and the nltiaory step ia the right direction the law
ferred above which 10 be gradually extending from
State Stote may be looked upon the commencement
| OF most salutary and wholesome REFORM"
We also invite attention the communication OF an able
| d.ntn II, ,Iaa hinct in tD.Iu
For the Enquirer.
SMALL NOTE LAW
Gcntemen:lt has been gratifying TO myself In common
with many others Of your renders 10 observe the zeal and
energy with which yuu and the EIor The Examiner
vocated land successfully the gNAcTMEST of the law
hbiting tho of small notes. The subject Is again
nss Examiner the signature OF Hard Money which
may mpartiay cay, (ns know not who is the uuthor) Is
excelen: article, aud vol worthy OF re publication in
your and oil the other papers n the Statc and would
respectfully upon you and them TO repubh II, with
the la appended The author very truly says shat the
though altogether what should or might have been is
in Macy respects good one and be made effective for
its purposes Brokers' Bank officers and o:hcr Interested
persons with their duFes will say II canno bu this is one
OF their effective OF escaping the opera Of
tho law by busy ncueating and widely disseminating the
Idea that the law is inefficient mpraccabe BY
king it unnecessary prove tho identity or more Than the
denomination Of the unlawful offered and BY taking the
signature the complete proof OF The issuing it, oil
the defects Of The formerlaw cured and this made
easy tSbe enforced in Court, or before Justice.
To complete tho certainty Of this |, Is only necessary that
comparatively small number OF awabiding citizens may
be relied to do their solemn and duty grand
Jurors, private citizens In presenting and prosecuting
those who violate the law. For this purpose let meeting
be called In every and county for early day
practicable OF all those who ready 10 vndcaa the law
and the moral character of the people, and TO project the
poor against the lawess speculauus their crcduy Of
brokers aud bnnker aud let those who compose the meet
ing pledge themselves to each other to all in their
enforce the Ia in all and the knowledge Of this
fuc alone Of this intended acoH, by su:ent number
though very fewio the enforcement Of tho law will
beyond oil doubt rid Of lhs peStent curse well OF
the disgrace the State and community Of connving at
Its awess msohefs and Rrievous injustice the needy We
shall h0n be free from ii have been for years past the
States OF Mississippi Pennsylvania, and several others
Nothing ia wanted bu. onotenh Of the perseserns energy
the par. of The people, any portion OF lhem that Is
evnced by those who curchng themselves the pre-.
sent gu'5y and certain future loss and suffering of all
classes but most especially Of tho poorer classes Of tho
muny.
| would suggest the calling meetlGg at The City Hail.
mex! Thursday evening" al o'clock. ClVlS.
-------Asss--------
| hPPOlNTMEN ENT.-Mr. WILLIAM p. BLAKEY has re-
crvcd from The Postmaster. General! the aproInmc Of
Mail Agent between Richmond aud Washington city, to
supply vacancy created by The resignation Of Mr. William
| To is nIready fayorahIy tnnun thc routc