Article Text
THE ENQUIRER LITCHFIELD, MAY 18, 1837. The Legislature of this State on Friday morning adjourned over to Tuesday morning. Nothing of very great consequence has yet been done. We understand that there was: a prodigious fluttering among the official pidgeons when Dr. Vaill of Washington introduced his resolution to have a committee appointed to ascertain whether there were not members of the legislature (Postmasters or Deputy Sheriffs) holding their seats in direct contravention to the spirit if not the letter of the constitution. The factis members the legislature are elected for twelve months; and e ery year more or less Postmasters are chosen. They transfer their office for a few days to some friend, and on the adjournment of the legislature resume it-making their resignation a mere matter of moonshine-a sheer evasion of the law. We should be glad to see the legislature adopt some strong measures upon this subject. The Speaker, in the appointment of the committee, and not putting the mover of the resolution upon it, was guilty of a species of meanness, of want of courtesy and parliamentary usage altogether unjustifiable, which we trust will be remembered at the close of the session. The Better Currency."- will be seen by our readers, on reference to various articles in our paper to-day. that all the Banks in New-York have stopped specie payments. And no sooner had information of this fact reached New-Haven and Hartford, than the Banks in those cities had meetings, and (except the City Bank of New-Haven) came to the conclusion to suspend also. So at Providence, Boston, Albany, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and indeed every where else so far as we have received information, except the Bank of the Metropolis at Washington. This is another of the many bitter fruits attendant upon the war commenced upon the Bank of the United States by the administration, and continued by issuing the famous Treasury Circular. What are we to do for change ?" " How shall we get along for small change?' is now the universal cry all over the country, since the Banks have stopped paying it out. The answer is easy-and we conceive the remedy is easily applied, if all will act in concert.Let in the to without to we it what any there attempts is community hoard it continue up, and circulate, think will be abundant. There is still a large amount of specie in the country and as the banks have come to the determination not to pay it out, there can be no great need of enlarging the amount in their vaults for the present. K Or if all this will not do, we shall be obliged to resort to individual tickets of the dat winn. tion of 6 1-4, 1-2, 25, &c. as in 1814 cated Man t at that time called Shin-Plasters." right to be a children "hard currency" sure enough! to In should think of any man in favor of country. ntly chargeable Tom Benton ! in breakings Will not our Legislature repeal if, brittle material he so that one and two dollar notes may unfortunate at least a Banks and passed by the people withouch, is rath erned, prosecution? This is a question which pauch quently propounded by all classes and parties. A number of petitions praying that it might be done have already been presented to the legislature ; and we are assured by some of the members that a bill having that for its object will undoubtedly pass the House, and probably the Senate-though in the latter body it is more doubtful. Things have arrived to such a crisis, however, that we think they will not venture to take the responsibility of negativing such a measure. A Caution!-We would advise all holders of bank notes not to be hasty in parting with them for less than their face. A committee appointed by the Legislature have recently investigated the affairs of all the Banks in this State, except the Quinebaug, and pronounce them perfectly sound. The notes still pass from hand to hand as usual, will pay all debts at the Bank, and will buy goods, provisions, and other necessaries as usual they will, in short, constitute, as heretofore, only more exclusively, the circulating medium of the country and the sooner, and more permanently, confidence is restored in making use of them, the better will it be for the whole community. Connecticut bills, and New-England bills generally, already are more current in the city of New-York than their own safety fund notes. or Our readers are referred to the first page of this day's paper for some communications for which we had not room on the inside columns. or Numerous merchantsin Hartford and New-Haven, we perceive by the papers, advertise to receive the notes of all the Banks in this State, as usual, for goods in payment of accounts. The Banks continue to receive and emit bank notes as formerly. Bankruptcy.-In looking over the advertising columns of the Hartford Times of Saturday last, we observed notices from the Court of Probate for Bristol, for the appointment of Commissioners on the estates of at least fourteen different individuals who are represented insolvent, in the little manufacturing town of Bristol alone, to wit: Merriman, Atkins & Co., Geo. Mitchell, Rollin Atkins, Mitchell & Hinman, R. & I. Atkins, Orasmus Allen, Geerge H. Mitchell, and Hart, Hills & Tucker. Six months ago, and these men were doing business, and considered in prosperous circumstances now, thanks to Gen. Jackson, and his tinkering with the currency, they are prostrate, and the probability is that some of them, who are aged men, will never be able to rise again. K The Secretary of the Treasury has issued a circular to the Collectors of the Revenue that all bonds for payment of duties must be paid in gold or silver, or of the notes of specie-paying Banks. And the Postmaster General directs Postmasters not to receive postage in any thing else. KT The Senate of New-York on Friday last passed a law, 24 to 2, suspending the operation of the law for one year which requires the Safety Fund Banks of that State to pay specie for their notes- in other words, granting them permission to suspend specie payments without the liability of prosecution by the