Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-05-14
PWHIRI9AEa
From the Nashville Republican, April23.l
THE LYNCHBURG VIRGINIAN,
THE STATE BANK OF

THE STATE BANK OF TENNESSEE.
During the late Presidential contest, and amidst the
animosities which that bitter strife engendcred, il did
not surprise us then TO see, what we often did see, the
most atrocious crimes, in the absence of all proof, as
cribed to the werthicst and most unofiending citizens of
the Republic. The angry passions were then i'm a blaze
the very volcano of vituperation was then pouring out
its slanderous lava upon the land-and infatuated parti-
Fans, reckless oil truth and mindful only of victory, seem
ed TO have given themselves up to an uncontrolled ca
reer OF the basest RIGHTEOUSNESS. But now that that
contest is over-when the passions which maddened
that day have cooled-whenr reason has had time TO re-
sumo its sway over the most turbulent tempers and over
the most malignant hearts, we cannot withhold the ex-
preston OF our establishment and indignation at an edi-
toriai article which appeared in the Lynchburg Virginian
OF the 25lh OF last month, in which General Jackson and
his friends in this quarter are charged with having used
the funds Of the State Bank Of Tennessee 'for purposes
Of bribery and corruption' in relation to his late cleo
ton! In short, il is directly assumed i'm that paper that
1t is owing TO such an unauthorized and corrupt use of
the funds of that Institution that the late defalcation in
the concerns of that Bank are to be ascribed! General
Jackson is not only charged with having been fully ap-
prised of these alleged transactions, but it is also assert
ed by that paper that in relation to them che gave in the
sanction Of his acquiesence." Nor does the 6oldness or
wantonness OF that press stop here. 1t further charges
that the General Assembly of Tennessee, with a full
knowledge of these facts, sitied all enquiry about
the matter, suffered itself to be treated with contu-
Macy and passed in silence over the whole affair, lest
the exposure of the Books and accounts of the Bank
might bring to light these diabolical frauds-and thereby
tarnish the reputation Of the President. Here, in one
short article, the Chief Magistrate of a great, virtuous
and free people. is openly and avowedly charged with the
prostitution OF the money of a State, over which he had
no control, to the purposes of the bribery and corruption in
the promotion OF his own political advancement;-no
with that kind of bribery which is sometimes inferred
and implied from the b~estowment Of Offices, by way of
reward on Jealous and successful partizans-but with
the open, direct and palpable purchase, with dollars and
cents, of false and fabricated oaths and statements tend
ing to his own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. The most respectable
members OF this community are alleged too to have been
his willing and wanton instruments in these villainies;
and the Representatives of the people of this State, i'm
General Assembly convened, are charged with having
nj n pintnttta mi tu,yh Al. oIA..:-- e
measures calculated and positively intended to smother
and conceal them! Then, what must be the feelings
OF every honest man in the nation, no matter to what
party he belongs, when he is assured that there is not
even the slightest foundation upon which to rest even
the most innocent of all the base insinuations contained
in The article to which we refer. Indeed, there is no one
circumstance connected with the defalcations of the
State Bank, that can induce the most charitable and Gre
dulous man in the land to believe that it was even DOS
sole for the Editor who has promulgated these charges.
TO nave acted even upon a mistaken apprehension of a
single fact connected with the affair. No! the whole
story is the contrivance Of a wretch, who, broodine over
his disappointed prospects, with a heart tecming and
ranking with the blacklist hatred towards him whom il
was the pride OF this people to exaIt to the first station
in the Republic, resorted to his inventive genius, and
drawing upon his polluted fancy for his facts, has given
to this tale, the seeming form and consistency of SUBJ
stance.
But to the matter in hand. The charges to which we
have alluded have been boldly made; and the author,
seemingly conscious OF a triumph, has thought proper
to address US directly upon the subject, and has sub
mitted to US many interrogatories touching the premises,
and demands OF us a point blank response to each. And
he shall have them; not, however, because VIC believe
that such am assassin deserves our courtesy; but because
silence on our part, when so poinedly addressed and
called out, might be held an admission Of the truth OIL
the charges thus vauntingly preferred.
And that we may leave no room whereby we may be
made subject to- the imputation OF evasion, we will pro
coed to insert each interrogatory separately aud give
thereto a direct and unequivOcal answer.
l. The following is the first interrogatory:
81. Why did Joel Parrish, the defauting Cashier o
the Bank OF Nashville, and chief certifcste-man o
Gen. Jackson, whenever the white washing committe,
needed a certificate, kee? a private book for the benef
o%fpersons to whom he chose to advance large sums, wher
he knew that those persons had no money Of their owl
ia Bank"
To this we answer, that Joel Parri,h never did keel
any such " private book" that we never before hear
OF any such " private book" nor can a single persol
be found In this quarter, who ever did hear Of such
" private book" until the inform ifion reached mi
place, from Lycbburg, in pirginid.-But this inter
rogatory conveys the imputation, that " whenever tn
white'washiDg COMMITTEE needed a certificate" calcu
lated to defend the reputation Of Gen. Jackson, tha
Joel Parrish was ready, and did actually advance th
funds OF the Bank, to all who would step for " ard. an
falsely certify and swear TO whatever might be demand
ed Of them. Now, to this we broadly assert. that 20
one single cent OF The money Of The Bank, for the sbov
purpose, or for any purpose whatever, connected vii
Gen. Jackson's election. And we assert that nothing
not even the slightest p~roof-csn be had, tending, in IN
remotestd de gree, tp ~invalidale our statement. IDdee,
we will 20 farther; and we aver, that Zach an iniimt
lion has never been Whispered In This quarter. We Al
peal 10 The friends Of Mr.. Adams. and the enemies
Gen. Jackson, in this place-and we ask them, has sue
= Ding bFeD ever sDsperffd in ihis %qTarteTl