Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-12-21

I
He regarded the argument about the
great danger of the banks controlling leg
isIation as n man of straw, set up just to
afford an opportunity of kicking him down
again. .
| fcers were to be prescribed there was AS
! good reas n to prescribe the officers OF any
other corporations which were the SUBJECTS
of special legislation, such as Insurance
| ompanies, railroad companies. etc. These
! companies had in some instances, more IN
| fuence, and more at stake in state legisla-
ton than banks, and the principle applied
| TO them With equal if not greater force
| But another consideration which of itself
ought TO be sufficient, was that such pro-
| hibitiou would be but dead letter on the
statute books If n bank officer desired to be
elected (Aurl could bel all he had to do was
TO resign his position, which could be re
sumed again when his legislative term hail
expired, and the objects Of the bank lif it
had sucb) bad been accomplished.
Mr.. PARKER was in favor OF striking out
that prohibition. The great principle at
the bottom of the government was that all
the citizens were entitled to the rights and
privileges OF any citizen. There were a few
exceptions to this rule, made for COOL feas-
sons, but it was the general principle. he
WAS opposed to extending these exceptions
tn a class admitted on all han Is to be one
of the best in society without better reasons
than had yet been assigned for doing SO.
Mr.. Po@ERoY opposed the restr ction. He
regarded the facts as the best arguments
And to show that the dangers of the bank
ing interests controlling legislation, or the
evil results if they did, he referred to the
State of Rhode Islanl, which had no such
constitutional restriction as here proposed,
aud had no less than eighty or ninety
banks ut this time, and yet, 10 everything
that makes a prosperous State, is tar IN
advance of Virginia.
He was opposed to it on principle, too;
and was for letting the people IN tke their
own choice of officers, and against dehar-
ring persons OF any particular vocHtln'
on account of that vocation. from the
privileges which belong to every clt'z n.
Mr.. DERING was for excluding the Oh-
Gers named in the amendment, and the
cIergymen too, from participating in State
legislation, aud voted against removing
the restriction from the latter, as he should
vote against removing it from the former
AS for banking officers, he held them IN
as high esteem AS any one, but money Is
power, and il the moned power of the
country was connected with the legislative
power it would make everything else sub
servieut to it,
+,
marks, and in concluding them declared
his opposition to this prohibition, not
as II matter of policy, and certainly not
from any personal considerations, but on
princiule Aud So long us he Wt3 hOnored
with position here he intended TO fol-
low that principle wherever 1t led. That
principle led him TO the result of leaving
the people themselves to select their own
public agents, and he would debar hy Con-
stitutioual provision no worthy class OF
citizens from filling positions they might
be called To fill by the voluntary acton OF
their fellow citizens. He had confidence
enough in the people of Western Virgini"
land he said it in 10 drmagOgueical spirit),
and he would be willing to bide by their
decisions.
Mr.. HARRIsON said the question to be de-
ci.led was how far they should co. in form
ing u Constitution, in res rIctIng the ma
turnl rights of the people. He had ms
mnch confidence rs any one in the people,
ii the y Ii knew The people were li"ble to
err, and ne led astray by passion aud pre-
Juice, and it was to protect them from
indiScretiOns that this restriction was to
be inserted 1t it proposed to do
away with wholesome restrictions why not
remove them NIL, and say. tor Instance, that
81 pauper should vote and hold Office?
If the banks were allowed all :he Advnn =
tnges OF legisutiug for Themselves, with
the great monied power they held, they
would unite in forwarding their own OBJ
jects, and it would be impossible for the
people TO resist their encrOnrhments. l.
) was true that other companies and cor
porations were the Subjects of special
legislation, but whenever they become SO
great as to be oppressive to the rights of
the people. it would be necessary to inter
fere by Legislation or constitutional pro-
vision for the protection of the people.
Mr.. BRowX of KAnawha, said that other
corporations had distinct and separate in
terests, AMI desired different legislation.
THIS was especially the case with Rail-
roal Companies, whose interests were gem
orally anIngonistic. They conld not conn
biue to effect some particular object. This
banks could do aud would do. rs the same
kind of legislation would suhserve the in
terests of mll alike. The banks welded a
powerful influence. They regulated and
controlled the currency, and the currency
greatly affected, if not controlled, all the
commercial interests of country. Hence
the grent danger of giving them TOO much
opportunity to exert that power.
He held that this was a restriction on the
Banks, not on the individuals who acted SIS
their officers. II th"se individuals wanted
, to exercise the privilege alluded to, they
could resign their position aud then moth
ing would prevent them from doing so. 1t
was not intended to discriminate against
individuals, but against mOnied curpOra-
tons. Besides men were men and not an
gels.
Mr.. VAN WIHKLE in the course of some
remarks, protested against this discrimin-
ntiOn. rs q sort of SnSpiCiOning men of cor
ruptnn before they do anything to merit
sucb suspicion. He knew human nature