Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-11-27
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT At WASHING
Thursday, .Norcujer 26.

Thursday, .Norcm5sr 26.
Gen. Harrison yesterday accomplished
the object in which be was disappointed
the d. before. The oil ior appointing
additional CLERKS for tie waT department,
was carried through committee OF the
whole, Mr.. Samuel Smith in the clair. Mr.
Walker Of y. c. desired to have the mat
ter explained 10 the house; which ger. liar
risun compile! V .th-givin- The same Iea-
sons ior the measure which stated yes,cr-
day; and these appeared 80 perfectly So
tisfactory to the house that the Dill was or
dered 10 be engrossed for a third reading
tomorrow II may, in effect, be consider
cd as having passed Twelve clerks
their compensation not to exceed 1900
doliars-are granted but for year only.
But the most important business Of The
day was a resolution proposed by Mr..
Spencer Of New \ ork, respecting the Uni
ted States Bank, and which was in The fol-
lowing words:
Resoirel. That committee be appoint
ell to inspect the books, and examine into
the proceedings Of the Bank Of the United
States, aud 20 report whether The pr"ri-
SionS OF lis charter have been violated or
not, ard particularly 10 report whether az"
instruments o! the capital stock OF the sail
bank have been paid in gold and s.Ter coin
and in the funded debt OF the United States,
or whether they were in any instance, and
10 what amount, paid by the proceeds OF
the notes Of stockholders discount" Tor the
purpose; aud also TO report The names ot
those persons who now own or who have
owed any part OF the capital stock of the
sai, bank, and the amount Of discounts, il
any, to such persons respectively and when
made; and also 10 report whether the said
bank, or any of its c!fceS OF discount and
deposit, have refused TO pay The notes OF lie
bank in snecie on demand land have re!u-
sed to receive, IN payment Of debts due TO
thJm or either Of them, the notes o; the
bank, and whether the bank, or any of its
Offices of discount, or any OF their officers or
agents. have sold drafts upon other offices,
or upon the bank. al IN advance, and have
received n premium for such drafts; aiSo
the amount Of the notes issued, payable at
Philadelphia. and At each office at discount
respectively, aud the amount Of capita as
signed 10 each ONCE, together with the a.
moun, of the public deposits made at the
bank and at each Office, and on account OF
the transfers thereof; and the total amount
OF bills and notes discounted by the bank
and It's several Offices since lis organization.
That the saia'commi.;ee have leave 10 meet
in the city Of Philadelp hia, and TO remain
there rs long as rlay be necessary; that
they shall have power to send for persons
and papers, and TO employ the requisite
clerks. the expense of which shall be au-
ditcd and allowed by the committee of ac-
counts. and raic out OF the contingent fund
OF this House.
Mr.. Spencer then unfcldei al some length
The grounds uron which he made thi: APP
p!ication. |, was net his intention 10 cen
sure the banE--as a member Of the house
he had formed no opinion, and he would
form none until tue facts belonging TO the
subject were fully Investigated and report
ed 10 the house. He bad no interest TO
promote, and no hostility 10 crafty by Ike
inquiry. He owned no part OF the stock Of
the bark, ana lie had no interest in any
state bank to influence his opinion. OF the
authority of the house TO institute the in
curry, no doubt could be entertained, since
the esd section of the charter gave power
in the very words of the resolution. As
little doubt was there OF the necessity OF
the inquiry. The agiiated state OF the
public mind proved it. From one end OF
the union to the other, loud complaints
were heard so that it was equally due 10
the public and the bank that an inquiry
should take place. If the charter has been
violated, il ought TO be known. Ii il has
made undue discounts. and given unjust
preferences, and hy their means the price
CT stock has been artiulIy blown up until
the bubble burst, and our citizens were
thereby injured, il ought 10 lie known
But if the bank had done its best TO answer
public expectation, and create an uniform
currency, and failed ior want of power
and it had acted Justly and impartially, it
ought 10 be known. in order that public
confidence should be restored to an instltu-
ton SO intimately connected with the dear
est interests of The country.
Mr.. Maclaue of Delaware said, that as
the proposed inquiry involved matter OF ex-
traordinary magnitude, II became the house
10 proceed with the most cautious delibcrs-
ton. He was by no means opposed to the
inquiry but wished that full lime might be