1838] 



FARMERS- REGISTER 



569 



like to subserve oilier interesid lluiii the grciit 

 cause of iniernal improvement. The resuli of all 

 the lonij and earnest debate on this subject was 

 the adoption of the following resolution, (as 

 amended by the convention,) ihe remainder of the 

 series being indirectly rejected, by a close lest vote 

 to lay on the tabic, to remain there. 



"Resolved, in the opinion of this convention, that 

 a liberal system of internal improvement is one of 

 the best foundations for a direct import trade, and 

 the surest means of effectit'g it." 



It would be very incorrect to infer that those 

 who opposed the rejected resolutions were oppos- 

 ed to a proper and liberal system of internal im- 

 provement. It is believed, that if there were any 

 members so opposed, they were very few in 

 number. But the objections entertained were to 

 the wide scope and ultra character of the resolu- 

 tions — the descending to details and propositions of 

 very doubtlul character, at least, and which, even 

 if judicious, and proper to be approved, belonged 

 only to a body having legislative power — and in 

 addition to these objections, that of spending the 

 limited time of the convention in debate, which 

 would certainly be fruitless and profitless to the 

 public good, upon an inferior question, which it 

 was impossible to fully consider, or harmoniously 

 to agree upon. 



But, notwiihstandinir the waste of time on these 

 rejected propositions, there was great deliberation 

 and attention given to the several reports and re- 

 solutions which have been referred to. Of course, 

 a body which can enact nothing, is not required to 

 enter upon details, nor to scrutinize them very 

 closely. But the main questions on the busine.ss 

 of the convention, in their general purport and 

 bearino'; were decided upon carefully and delibe- 

 rately. There never was a similar body more at- 

 tentive, more laborious, more guarded against 

 surprise, or the insecurity caused by indolence and 

 carelessness, until all that w^as considered the bu- 

 siness of the convention had been decided upon. 

 After the last expected of these subjects had been 

 voted upon, (which was the report and resolution 

 of the committee on manufactures,) and when the 

 necessary hour of final adjournment was close at 

 hand, and nothing more was counted on but the 

 usual resolutions of mere form and routine, many 

 of the members retired from the hall, and most of 

 those who remained either were unable to hear 

 the resolutions offered, or did not attend to them. 

 So it was, that in the conclusion of the last day's 

 session, there were resolutions offered and passed 

 by a very few voting either for or against, through 

 inattention or by surprise, which certainly would 

 not have passed in any previous time of the session. 

 It is as needless to specify the subjects of such ac- 

 tion, as it is unpleasant to have to make any such 

 statement. 



'i'he direct results of this meeting will be of far 

 less value than the indirect. Much good is done 

 merely by the meeting of fellow-citizens from dis- 

 tant localities, having (as supposed at least) rival 

 and conflicting interests, and who have heretofore 

 permitted themselves, in a greater or less degree, 

 to be inlluenced by sectional prejudices, and com- 

 mercial jealousy*. Better feelings have been al- 

 ready produced, and they are cherished by all 

 parties J and we are perfectly satisfied, that if 

 these conventions are continued, even if no 

 direct operation whatever should result, incal- 

 culable benefit will be effected, in removing 

 narrow-minded jealousy and blind hostility, and 

 producing instead those opposite feelings be- 

 tween every different locality and every differ- 

 ent interest, which all true Virginians and south- 

 rons must desire. Under these impressions, we 

 heartily approve of the two resolutions of the con- 

 vention, by one of which they recommend another 

 convention to be held next November, in Raleigh, 

 lor North Carolina and Virginia ; and by another, 

 reconmiend to those states to send some members to 

 the commercial convention of the more southern 

 states, which will be held in Charleston next May. 



The convention agreed with unexpected una- 

 nimity in favor of the general recommendation of 

 increased banking capital and banking facilities, as 

 means necessary to enable our commerce and 

 manufactures to have a chance for advantages 

 equal to those of the northern cities. But the 

 manner of increasing, and all details, (on which 

 there would have been irreconcilable differences of 

 opinion among some who voted together in the 

 affirmauve,) the convention wisely left to be set- 

 tled by the legislative power. There are few re- 

 flecting persons who will not admit that Virginia 

 and North Carolina have already lost much by 

 not availing sufficiently of the advantages and 

 benefits of banking upon correct principles, while 

 they have suffered their full share of the evils and 

 losses of the bad system which has prevailed. 

 There were members of the convention who voted 

 affirmatively on the general question of the ex- 

 pediency ofincreased banking facilities for Virginia, 

 who are utterly opposed to the main features of 

 the existing bank charters — and particularly to the 

 partnership interest, and connexion, between the 

 banks and the state, and to the virtual irresponsi- 

 bility of the banks for all violations of their char- 

 ters and other legal as well as moral obligations, 

 which irresponsibility necessarily grows out of 

 that connexion, by giving them a controlling in- 

 fluence over the legislature. We fully concurred 

 in these views ; and would wish that the trade and 

 business of banking should be left as free from the 

 prohibitions of law, and the monopoly privileges 

 of the older institutions, as any other branch of 



