Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-07-28
BANK REGULATION.

seems To have excited a degree OF feeling
aud Indignation, wlis. We wouId TAM
hope, have some better aud more perina-
Dent foundation than The mere pecunlary s,
loss sustained on ihe occasion. We eau
not but hope, that as good may be ex-
tracted frem evil, so The crime amt the
| criminal, ~hich now occupy ihe pubii1
! attention, may lead 10 more circumspec-
| ton Tor the future, in the appointment 10
| offices OF profit aud confidence bug
| more particularly 10 a rigorous ana uE-
| sparlng scrutiny into the character and
conduct OF those Who actually hold SUCH
| offices inOur community. From such au
investigation, the honorable aud the up
right have nothing 10 fear, and Ia it they
would be the last tu object. The isalS@
dulent bankrupts, the corrupt and cor
! rUping agents Of bribery, who, by n;l-
nagenent aud inirigUe os HEIR parir.
| aud by the concurrence o! others wirm
| equal guilt or criminal indifference have
| fitted Tor their tools, have succeeded IL
placing themselves iii stations Of pubic
| trust, would alone shrink la trembling
from the ordeal, which like The spear of
| lihuriel must reveal them la the word
III AL the detorrlity and iurpiIude OF iheir
gull. This Is Il mo.hen; IN wh,ch The
communily have right 10 demand such
a course.
The character of every man among us
Ismore or less affected by Tie dsbonur
which this felony Ut public officer re-
fleets upon tie ciiy-aud we have "A rlght
To require III Tie name Of honor, justice,
morality aud religion, from The directors
lot public Institutions, that We be moi IA.
gam exposed, from undue caution, false
Idelicacy, or tancied obligations on their
fparis, 10 a repetition of the disgrace.
We repeat, that We have u rIghi TO ask
fhaatr
the exercise OF This right be more iInpe-
raiive than al present We ninsl 10 longer
tolerate The vocabulary SO propiious 10
rogues, which treats of crimes as un'
lucky accideuts," which employs lis
mlidest terms OF pity towards - a fellow
creature, no has had +" The miJiurtune'
To rob a mai! or a bauk, or 10 commit Il
Ivlolcni ahd wamlon murder, OF io steep
III bitterness and tears the sranly erast ut
tile orphan or the widow. Much Tess
should We initiate or applaud that selfish
love Of ease, Thai indifference or iiRli,iny..
which induce 100 many rather 10 coun-
ieuance, by friendly intercourse aud e.
quail fellow ship, n,au whom they kHow
10 be vile aud unworthy, than al the risk
OF some personal Inconvenience, aud per-
maps danger, 10 tilwari aud 10 expose A.=l
and this brings us In the sublect ihos
mainly occupied our thoughts when We
sal down 10 wriie this article namely,
the extent 10 which lie voluntary, Eusy~
llclied confessions of d criminal, band OF
an honest man 10 secrecy, particularly,
when rs word lie may cause lie arrest
OF The criminal, and Illus NIRdiGaic the
majesty of the laws, whilst he c!rcum-
sciibcs The extent Of the medIIated mis-
cbci, and preserves society from the coz
IiagiOus example of successful crime
With The view of having our own meas
on Tins subject tested, we PROFOUND the
following
QUERIES FOR CASUISTS
Is II CONSISTENT with the duty of an no.
nest man 10 receive In confidence The
confessions of criminal who is yet uii-
suspected OF others. aud who is avowedIy
medilaiiGg his escape from The penalty Of
his CRIME!
ii ii be consistent with duty 10 receive
such confessions al 3ii, would II be SO
when tie object OF ilem should be, nos
repa'aiion for the injury, nor repentance
; for the offence, but 10 secure, through iite
intervention III d learned lawyer, in pun.
~ TO The person, and on certain mosi Ia
sOleni conditions, inViUlaJi!liV 20 the pros
perry OF The criminal
; Ii there set be nothing inconsistent
with iie idea OF daily in the abstract. la
receiving such confessions under such
circumstances Is IL DOT u paramount dGl-
~ which every niaD owes 10 society, not
tn hazard lis Interests or eHdangcr NS
peace by acquesclng III, or coLniViu;r
al, either from motives OF gain OF alice
lion, crime thai Strikes al tbe root oI al
; society!
RI Aud if such cOnnivaDce be criminal.
how mach more Is II 10 be aiding aud a.
, betting III. or knowingly consulting 10.
5 lie escape OF tie crinnnall
Is II mere fiction Of Tie law, or in
there Ia truth. u certain course OF con-
6 duct by which man may render himself
amenabie TO punishment as -" ali aecessa-
i ny after the fact, Oh the perpeilatioH Vi a
d crime?
! W!!i not knowledge Of the crime, The
n manner and details OF lis pcrpeiralion,
: and OF the intention OF tie criminal 90
i effect lis esaape, together with the fact
=, OF aiding III, or conuIVlng az, The SAID cs-
cape, constitute " all accessory after tie
fact 2"
IL so, has counsellor at law, before q,
h irrl, before an arrangement, even before
4 an accusation, d right 10 do What o,l,rc
d men would be crlmiualiy punishable lnf
/, doing Apd whence does he derive q. i,
- right, from law or from usage!
a IL from law, were il not better re-
i pealed II from usage, can il be 100 soO!i
II abolished For, whether founded ~ y.
!. sage or 10 law, the practice can only lead
to lelraudng tie Gibbei or the PPuiien-
10 llary OF their righteous dues. ~. I. an.
?, NlOfICE.-On or a6oa5 ne I6fh Of 1prIl, Is-.,
ID gate ny b0ndf0TH0m9S ~ scott fOr SIo0 Dgs-
ch0sed OF him, aHder lie 6ekef init ks La9 s,s,,
ci0!u 10 ne sfaue 0d iNaccd uyoa ne yoSitse n,