Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-02-28

Mr. ERowsE declaring that the Wings and the Wing press
held the Democratic party responsible Tor oil abuses OF lh
Banks Mr. s. denied that the Wing party the Bans
party The Democratic party had chartered oil the Bank
ul lie Commonwealth and were as much entitled It nc
So 10 the appcaon OF the Bank party as the wings
For hs own Part, he did consider either party Bank
party exclusively. All parties were Interested In tlem ant
all parties equally responsible for any abuses of whcl
hey had guilty In view of the fact that the Demo
cratic pary had chartered oil the Banks Virginia.
fair ard just attempt 10 hold the wings responsible
and attempt make them bear the odium ofany abuses
which they may have been guilty Mr. s desired TO kno"
TIC gentleman from Stafford and King George wished IL
make parsueson Of The subject before the House and
thu re chartesaf the BANKS Of the Commonwealth
The SPEAKER announced The arrival OF the hour for the
con sdelti0n of an order of the daya bill providing for
subscription to the Londoun and Hampshire Railroad
Mr. BRowSE OF Stafford and King George moved 10 Pass
Mr. pARsoSs opposed The morion-but the House agreed
by ard The consideration Of the Old Dominion Bank
bill was resumed.
RI Mr. GARRETT hoped there would be test the
question OF indefinitely pos.poning the bill
Mir FOWLER thought in view of the report OF the com.
nttae appointed examine into the charges against the
Bank OF the OH Domon-a report which declined to give
any expression Of opinion the an opportuni
~ should be allowed the House 10 form an opinion OF lie
own GLOWING the fullest time wade through and dl
ccs: the heavy OF testimony the subject lie de-
mardct 10 know il there not five distinct violations OF
charter discovered by the investigation. In view OF all the
facts he surprised at the attempt now made to shield
me Bank hd Kill the whole subject BY the device Oh lntch.
mite postPoncmcn..
NJ GARNET said he would reply 10 the remarks OF the
gentleman from Louisa before the clOse of The subject
Mr. FOWLER resumed, and spoke a, length referring by
separate specification to the several violations Of law hy the
violations acknowledged under oath by the officers
ol tie Bank. The Bank by the admissions OF its own Off.
GERS had violated is chaeaud he hoped the House would
uphold the dignity and supremacy Of The laws, and take
away the charter, as proper punishment 10 IL and as
warning To all other Banks.
Mr.. PAraIck called for the previous question in
compliance with appeals made he withdrew.
hlr. GARSRTr did not view this as party question he
c!a;me democrat and in reference TO Banks generally
would be found willing iIr the fiThest IN COM
,ttrftN H,irs in
eivethc people sound currency Bat he should feel IN
worthy his seat on that floor he could view end treat
this question Of party. All parties are alike interest.
I'd in the aaas Of the Common wealth. Stockholders. and
who concerned with Banks composed Of Wings
AMI Democrats He willing punish oil violations Of
law but hs unwilling To fail upon the weakest BANK
rnasc example, Hhen he was satisfied oil the older
Banks had continually guilty oil grrsser abuses He
wished 10 know why Committee Banks had cot
IN regard violations OF law by the other and oide!
Banks
MIR MAYO replied and gave history CT the action Of the
Bank Committee, generating II, in his opinion, from any
wiul neg lect OF dnty
formation regard the of the Bank Committee
MIR Hancock replied that he and four Others OF the COM
mite believing their services longer useful III the COM
mi,tee room hid agreed withhold their attendance after
the bill rcpcang the charter OF the Bank OF the Oii Dom'
Mon drawn up and reported
Mr. Brrcnp also made explanations in reference 10 the
action ri the Bank Committee of which he is member
Mr. GARSETr then resutd aad addressed the House Tor
more Than hour, explaining the action OF the committee VINO
Axanla and the Of the several allegations
ma } w. Green
the violations Of law sbuees complained Of were moro mo
result Of accident nadvernnce the sickness for time OF
some Of officers OF the Bank than from any apparent
design the part Of the Bank 10 violate The law Admit
lny however tia. The Bank had In transcribed
lie powers hec evidence that the alleged abuses
we've Of surh character 10 ca! for repeal OF the char
ter total annihation OF the Bank. II was not right
inc punishment innocent persons stockholders AND
others because Of the officers OF the Bank had not
been strictly in discharge Of their duties The
Stockholders md others having interest the Bank made
complaint against their agents No one complained e1
hi Green the prosecutor IN THIS casc-no one nau SUI
rrri BY alleged abuses Ia the contrary all the EVIL
.ncc suw t that the abuses complained Of resulted from
desire 0f the Bank accommodate others more than any de-
sire 10 advance interests money had been let OUT
ID BENEFIT farmers and others trading with Alexandria The
evidence exhibited nothing 10 justify the House. In his opln
ion ia "a king away charter. The against IL had
seen vaned to appcuse The Of single individual
l!r Wnrs next addressed House, md referred par
cuiry advanced in some quarters mat Inc
Bunk .. the Old Dominion should not he punished because
other and elder banks had been gHy OF similar and g!osse
abscs Cther banks arragGed no charges were
formally presented this House against them he was In
of furnishing all banks when found guilty OF abuses or
Mr. WALLACE had nothing to say in reference to The
charges :iins; the Bank OF the Old Dominion True or
untrue lie lid believe this House The proper tribunal 10
Try t eSS . was M 1 moi wish to s here as JuSee
aud jury Ia this Mr. w pointed out the proper mode
take The before Court Of Law Tor ndJudIcalon-
with these views he should dispose of the by voting
| for tic Indefinite pOstpOncment Of tho BILL
I In reply 10 Mr. GARSETT ana Mr.. WALLACE.
| Sir. BRowSE said he did not Use 10 make a lengthy
speech lie felt due To himself and The position he had
taken on this subject something in reply 10 the gen.
eman from Essex. (Mr GAR&sTT He was averse 20 &C.
cup, ug tho Of the House. but he hoped he had tnken
up no more time necessary defend himself from
the attack which had been made upon the ground he had
He here prepared by his vote TO maintain the
sn,rer,cv nj tho law The member from Essex asked VIII
he MIR had arasnei all the other Banks which had
committed similar violations OF the law. be might put the
same question the gentleman and AJAX him why ne had
no! oue II was not more his DUTY 'nn taa' 9l inc
gentleman from Essex But he had another arswer There
had charges made under oath aGans any Of Tie
n'her Banks of The Commonwealth. Innocence was al
w1ys 10 be presumed until guilt established He
posed that The member from Essex lawyer enough to
understand this Legal teaching, and he lr applied IN
this LIT gentlemen submit their charges OF violations
Of the by lhc other Banks, md he would lend them al
his aid bring those Banks 10 justice. 1t would
not do for tho gentleman to answer him here,
! that he (Alr. b. had y0ied against the resolution
offered BY the member from King William, making
it the duty Of the joint committee appointed 10 To-
yess4e aairs Of the Bank Of the Old Dominion TO In
ycsr,e also the affairs Of The Banks located 10 Richmond
aeans! which charges had been made He had opposed
that resolution because II connected with this case, would
produce delay and also because he believed mat me VIOLA
ons Of law By other Banks if should be discovered
would be used argument for putting them all on ai
nj the nc and exenuaon Of the offence by mo
Bank of the Old Dominion. The gentleman had made the
exact speech he predicted would be made e would ask
| the northumberland he believed he was the Attorney
or the Commonwealth, lIrme;ly, in his own county
| If he lad man trial for murder would he stop
| the trial and have the whole OF Virginia secured
| % catch NIL other murtcrers that might be going at
large, Dr would lie punish the one he had caught,
c!a'ci his Willingness for the appointment OF com
mission investigate the alrs Of every Bank in the Cos
monwralti The member from Petersburg (Sr. WALLACE
had Sid The Of argument tina, quo vaTrdnio was
the proper remedy be applied 10 the facts disclosed by the
investigation He iM 3D. supposed that the reservation
of the charter meant that this was TO be
exercised in certain He had heretofore enumerated
The distinct and specific violations Of the law. On all anca
il had been conceded that the law had been violated The
standing committee Banks had reported bill TO repeal the
Of the Bank He had TO say in conclusion that his
yt had been vindicale the majesty OF the law against
Incorporated and moniei power He had sympaiei as well
as other mer but he cond MT suffer his sympahics 10 in
erycs between himself and the conscientious discharge OF
his swn.E duty.
MIR FOWLER should vote against indefaite posponemen,
He had heard very remarkable doctrines advanced by the
gentleman from Essex, as reasons why the bill should be
disposed Of by indefinite poStponemen He thought II
strange that this bank not 10 be punished because other
banks in the opinion Of tho gentleman from Essex, had
also been guilty u abuas Such doctrines would toeTer
screen all banks from responsibility and punishment for vio
cns Of law. Because The directory and other officers Of
bank had committed the ot=nce and not the stockholders
themselves, there To be punishment, OF
Considerations for stockholders 10 allow The directory
to do as pleased and shield the bank from all penalties
for violation Of aw ami their charter He WAS in favor Of
furnishing This bans that the charges were established
against IT, and in favor of Ike towards all other
banks when arragned and The charges shown TO be