The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-11-30

than one of written laws and public opn-
ION will always susiaia tic character OF our
/ legislative bodies 50 long as their proceed
ings are calculated 10 psoMofe the public
/ good. As for ourselves wcshal iearlHssiy
/ express our sentiments upon every crcunI-
stance that may arise IA this unpleasant
conlr0,
THE SECRET SESSION.
! On Friday, after the preliminary precee-
dings of the day, Mr.. Tillotsou, chairman
/ nj the committee appointed To Investigate
/ the charges of corruption in obtaining the
charter of The Chemical bank, rose and
| informed the house that he had n commu-
! ncation TO make, of such nature that 1t
might be proper to have the galleries aud
! loblies cleared previous TO making it,
! After some consuItaiion, amotien was made
! for the house to sit NTH closed doois, aud
carried The Injunction of secrecy has
since been removed, and we learn, thN the
communication which Mr.. Tilotson had to
make, was a letter from VIM. J. Caldwell,
declining To appear before the committee.
The letter contained aspersions upon the
character oflhe Legislature.
The sergeant AT arms WAS dispatched in
pursuit of Mr. Caldwell, who had left the
house. The letter proved to be in The
hand writing of Judge Spencer, and he has
been summoned To appear before the bar
of the house, on Tuesday next, at twelve
o'clock.
The following preamble and resolutions
were adopted by the house on Saturday.
Whereas the chairman Of the committee
appointed to enquire whether any unfair or
al.
charter of the Chemical bank, has received
Il communication from VIM. J +. Caldwell in
the words following:
ALBANY. Nov. IL, 1874.
"GENTLEMEN-l arrived in tirs CITY
yesterday, in obedience to IA summons frsm
the chairman of the committee appointed
by the house of assembly to investigate The
subject of the Incorporation of the ChemI-
cal bank. have ascrrtained to my entire
satisfaction that the committee have deter
miaed To admit IA, witnesses the persons
implicated rs parties to the corrupt means
made use of to.pr0cure the passage of an
act lncol porating that bank. Indeed, am
informed by the chairman that two Of These
persons have already been sworn as witnes.
ses. I'll appear before the committee, be
yond all doubt my testimony will be at
variance with that of some of the corrupt
actors in that scene and it will be essen
TALLY necessary, as well to he carruhora
ton of my evidence, as also Ia fix the
charge on these corrupt actors, that Nit
ncs6es should he summoned from remote
parts of the state. When it is considered
that The present legislature must adjourn
in a few days, i am decidedly of opinion
and in that am confirmed by my counsel,
were tho committee disposed to make a
thorough investigation, the short space or
time for il will not admit of such invcstiga-
ton. Twill not dissuise''the fact, that pab
lie confidence in the purity Of the present
Legislature is 50 impaired, that ii is unfit, in
the op'lfian not only of myself, but my
counsel, that such an important enquiry
should be conducted by them, or by any
committee raised under their authority
When ii is considered also, that several of
the members Of both houses are deeply
public Justice would be better
promoted 10y deferring the investigation
until the meeting of the next legislature.
owe ii 10 myself to add, that it is my
fixed determination to prefer charges TO the
next house OF assembly, against several
persons who have had corrupt agency in
procuring the passage of an act incorpora-
ting the Chemical back; and whatever
construction may be pat on my declining
TO appear before your honorable commit
tee, by those who are Implicated | beg you
to believe, shah not shrink from the ~
sponsiL'llty | havc assumed upon himself.
Your 'obcdieut servant,
WIN. J. CALDWELL.
Hon. John G. Tiiiotson, esq
Chairman OF the Com fnittce"
Which communication was proved 10 he
in the hand writing of Ambrose Spencer.
Therefore, 1t is ordered, that The said
ambrose Spencer attend at the bar Of this
house on Tuesday next at 10 o'clock, and
that a copy of this order be forthwith ser,-
ed on the said Ambrose Spencer
Ordered, That Messrs. Crazy, Edwards.
Flagg, Wheaton and Waterman, he aeon
mIllec 10 frame interrogatorie. for tbe.x
animation of Ambrose Speprer, mbn the
subject ofthe charges cop. fined inthe pre-
ccdinG letter, bearing tie signature of VIM.
}. Caldwell.
lie IMPORT MT PROCEEDINGS OF
ESTERDAY.
Albany, November 'i5.-Yester,lay i'm
meoiaf'y after the reading of the minutes,
,ne Following communication, from the
1r'n. Ambrose Spencer, was received and
read
ALBANY, Nov. Is, 1925.
Srn-1 have received IA copy of reso.
luton of the honorable the assembly rcuni-
ring me to appear at the bar of the house
on Tuesday next, at twelve o'clock. The
ground Of this requisiion would seem to be,
that a communication from William J.
Caldwell TO the chairman of the committee
appointed to enquire whether any unfair or
corrupt means were used in obtaining the
charter of the Chemical Bank, was in nv
hand writing In drafting the letter, act
ed as the counsel Of Mr.. Caldwell. and
whilst cannot consent to be held amcnable