The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-04-04
A.5aay, AEa,eb 10, 1908.


Tie Hea. He Sf.air,
SIR,
Being Informed that NJ. George Merchant, of this
city, hath made al affidavit adve.tng to my coaverla
zion in relation 20 the bl! now before the lee:fa-
turc FOR Incorporating the Merchants bank and which
affidavit is Intended 70 be brought before the honora-
BE the houfe Of anenbly, for their confederation
therefore think It p-orer Fate that % Thuriday
evern. lat, Mr. Merchant aud myf.lf we're in cor
yeri2;ion the ubieGt Of tie Bank queG;on in tie
courle of which ohervtd tn hun in a Hypothetical,
manner, as follows - Suo1olt p-rfa1 was - o.
Ter you tweuty-four iharrs IN the Merchants Bank
what would you do :" he remarked & thas ne would
expoie the perfoa"-upon which further obfagveI,
bur iuppoe 1t was rarticoar friend of yours ani
70 which he added he did not fppofe that would ar
;er his conduct, words purporting fn,ilar ideas
further Rate, that have no krowledre of any
fur her or different conversation with Mr. MERIDIAN,
on this iubjea And alto add, ;hatn Ito member of
tire houie has made any offers whatever 90 ne
OF lmilar nature the above, ror has the fame been
made by any agent for the Bank; that durino tho
time the fubjeH has been agitated. have had f. q
conversation with ieveral gentlemen OUT of the hcu(
md from fome OF whom have heard oblerved, th,t
hares would be at the ferv;ce of the friends of tie
Bank, if 1t fucceeded.
ANTI: MARyINE.
SrrdrY refolutiens and amendments thereto were
offered for the confederation Of the houi bv different
members, founded the fact. cor.aired in the
orego'ng documents; and the houle finally adorted
the following rerolution and rectal:
Whereas, It appears to this houfe rs well b. th,
cer ates as the declarations Of f-yeral Of the mem,
5ers thereof that offers have been made bv nr,oha
or members of this houie and by Others to M, r;d
members OF certain flares in the Merchants Bank in
the city Of New-Yor to induce TIE fad members 70
vote in favor of a bill Incorporate the f,id haul.
and particularly, that John Palard one cr the Nom,
oers of this houie, hath only been offered GER
IAN number OF hares hat las alo. in order that his
vote might he lecured in favour Of the fl bill been
pron'ited twenty-five per cent, the nominal arnlnr
II he faid flares after TIE fiid incorrc-atirc- "a
ioud De paled: And whereas -tterl0t,t 10 !.iluer-s
he votes OF members Of this houfe, = the p-7fr- Il
'ribes in the hare of money or ct er beoeti wi -
wards, are not only breaches of rrivie.-s and b;l
mrdeneanors, but have aarrnirr tendetic, ~ cor
rurt and pervert the opinions and votes of I;,.,-
members, and TO dg-ace and denrcy the ppr;., ,'
regulation, IN open violation oe the dc;r-H and iraG
invaluable inrercfts Of our connuent.: And vyber-.
y IS iuGgeed 70 this houle, by mem b-r thee q
That certain undue and indrsa means bv iirrrife ~,
otherwiie, have been adopted to obtain the inc.r
poratio of certain other banks within this tate And
whereas the dignity ard inderenIcrce of tie lesic
ature are implicated in the iaid fuggeaions:-Bei II
therefore
ReioIved, That committee of this houfe be ap-
pointed for the purpoie of erqurnz into tie trah Of
theie uggeisons and charges, and that thew have
power to iend for perions and papers and all other
power incidental and neceTary to detea and bring to
light the fad Offences and thar thev have leave TO e.
during the feion of the houfe and that they report
their proceedings in the Preniies with all convenient
peed."
he following the gentlemen who form tbe
committee appointed bv the houfe agreeable to me
above refolution, viz. MeiTrs. W. Gilbert, w. u
vingiton, German, Arcularius, MIntyre, SveRer
and Luih-It was further
ReioIved, That the iereant arms attend the faid
committee receive their orders, and carry them into
effect.