Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-12-19


musters has had the effect to destroy all |
system, and place the State in defence |
less condition. One regiment of yolun-
teers and a few effective companies IN he /
cities and towns of the State constitute all
the force upon which we could rely in any
emergency, 0ughtsthis to be at q time
like this2 The men Of other days, toI
whose wisdom We have been accustomed
to appeal, made it part of our bill of
rights, & that a, well regulated militia,
composed OF the body of the people.
trained TO arms, is the proper. natural
and safe defence of q free State Is the
principle less true now 2 It may be bur-
densome in time of peace, butt is neces
sary TO be read to prevent, as we'll as to
be promptlto meet aggression. 4:
d Under the present circumstances, the
arms which had been distributed to the
! militia have been scattered, ) and will in q
short time become utterly useless. It.
seams to be impossible to collect them,
when companies are without officers, and
officers who are still in commission are
without companies. Orders cannot be
properly issued, and it. issued, will not
be executed, because there are no courts
of enquiry TO impose fines or, to enforce
the sanction of the law. would recon-
mended q reorganization of the militia,
and a return either to the former system,
or to such other as your wisdom may de-
wise, 10 render this necessary branch Of
the public service useful and efficient.
THERE'S q vacancy in the fifth brigade
of militia, occasion by the death of II enry
Washington, which it win be necessa.
~ for you TO supply,
he approach of the time when the
charters Of the principal banking iustitu-
lions in5the state will expire, and the SO,
licitude manifested on the part of those
most interested in their perpetuity viii
necessarily invoke your attention at ar
early period of your session and porba
bly, no subject will be presented fol
your consideration and decision, which
willinyolye to an equal extent the NOR
al, pecuuiary and vital interests of the
citizens. the general welfare and honor o
the commonwealth. The immense power
and exclusive privileges granted to those
Institutions should: be guarded with mucl
care, while the plausible and seductive
reasoning Of those who are interested IL
their management and control; when al
dressed to the guardians of the peoples
rights, should be taken with many grain.
of allowance. They descant eloqUenlIy
upon the advantages of the paper system
lis tendency TO make money abundant
TO enhance the price of labor and produce
TO enable those with limited means to EN-
bark in business to facilitate commerce
TO impart life and. vigor to every interest
and TO build up town and country. AL
these appear plausible, and to those di
rectly interested, conclusive. They pre-
sent, however, but the bright side Of thu
picture, and studiously avoid the more re
liable logic Of experience and of facts ane
figures. They aim to throw q veil Owe
the past, and graYely ask us to repudiat'
the salutary leasons taught by experience
and to perseyere in a system of policy
which has again and again Conducted u
to tho very. verge Of bankruptcy and ruin
Some of as, however, have not forgotten
their history, nor the deleterious effect
growing out Of the paper system. W.
Tememberthe embarrassment experienced
BY the government in the prosecution 0
the late war with Great Britain, from TIT
absence of specie currency, when ouI
whole monetary system exploded, and thu
ruinous use Of deprecated paper threat
s ened' bankruptcy to the treasury and ruiz
TO the country. r.- -.
Again, about the year 1880, another
explosion took place, and desolation ant
dismay ensued. Specie had disappeared
and deprecated paper filled the vacuum
A general stagnation in business was the
fall Hxy.o 1Cv
perty laws. and other Intellectual e1pedi
ents, all of which were brought into re
QUESTION to avert the catastrophe, but IL
vain. Debtor and creditor suffered alike
produce and labor we're comparatively
valueless, and every interest in the coun-
try became stricken and paralized. The
more recent but equally disAstrous expo
sion Of 1887 is within the recollection o
all. It came when we were at peace Will
all the woTld-when commerce tlourished
and the bounteous hand of Providence
had blessed US with propitious season.
and abundant hRrVest-When the coun,
try was flooded with promises to pay
specie which had ceased to circulate, be.
cause it had been sont abroad, locked up
in the vaults Of the banks, or bought uL
by the brokers preparatory to the coming
crisis, foreseen only by the shrewd specu
lator, ~ho fattens upon the misEortuncs o.
his unsuspecting neighbor. Then in less
than one revolving moon, eight hundred
banks simultaneously closed their doors,
and Dramatically sealed their iron safes,
Indignantly sPurning from their counters
the unfortunate holders of the paper,
whose credulity had induced them to re.
ply upon delusive promises. And what
strange or unforeseen event produced this
sudden, unlocked for and disastrous Gala
nifty ? A highly respectable and inteli-
gent committee, in their report assigning
the reasons for the failure Of the banks in
the CITY of New Ynr. and alsewhara say