Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-05-25

editors who support the the minority in what
does this differ from ir'p'id in the hands of the go
vcrning powcran engine for the Supprc of all free
dom oil the press as well for the oppression every
editor, whom may suit the purposes OF the predominant
party TO discredit or destroy.
Entertaining these opinions and hecy os to, c pri.
eple on which they founded had been sanctioned bv
mo House its"lf in the resolution adopted, Tor the APP
pon'ent oil the committees, the subscriber lid earnestly.
though Intellectually resist and oppose the call by the
committee Tor the accounts with the bank of Editors Of
newspapers TO all persons Of that highly respectable.
and important profession their accounts bank were
well as TO other members of the cuinnuutv their private
and domestic concerns which no power TO examine the
hooks and proceedings of the bank could authorize com
mittee OF this House to expose 20 public gaze To single
out The editors of newspapers for this invious exposure
VAS in the opinion Of the subscriber. dsanchzo them
OF ther gha az cizens and "a men, and assail
them IN their reputation their interest and their credit
No Tor inc purpose OF bringing them to trial by jury,
where "Y nShi dc'cnd themselves, their fortunes, aud
their characters, in presence of their peers but TO hold
them up as acconpces in corruption with the Bank To
accomplish two objects by opcra,ion-to dcfanc the
bank by coourdble charges of corrupGon which il would
never have opportunity rcpCl Nv fair trial accord
ing TO the laws Of the land-and TO dcCnc any editor or
newspaper having account in bank whose politics
might be opposed to majority of the committee instCa
ted by the rivalry and hatred Of antagonist editors of other
newspapers IN The same city, or ncighhourlool.
The majority OF the committee did the subscriber doubts
not with pure intentions otherwise decide and the ac-
counts OF editors OF newspapers with the bank were call
edi In reviewing this decision and the proceedings of
the committee subsequent upon H. lie deems his duty 10
declare that none OF his objections TO it have, in hi, judg
mcnt, been removed He views it as precedent Of nor
tentous cvi unu Sablc cncroachmcnt of arbitrary
authority upon the freedom of the press as an oious pcr
sccution OF individual citizens To PROSTATE The influence
Of personal political advcrsorics by hand of power
vi the class OF accounts thus produced those of one
newspaper establishment only underwent the investg
OF the committee. Those of James Watson Webb and
Mordecai NJ. Noah editors OF the New York Courier and
Enquirer, of the distinguished and extensively
circulated Journals OF the Union Mr. Webb was examin-
"a upon oath by The committee at his request Mr..
Noah transmitted 10 the committee his own affidavit made
before magistrate OF the city of New York Mr. Sas T.
Burrows private citizen, editor newspaper
but connected with the responsibilities of Mcsrs Webb &
Noah the Bank subpenoed appear before the
mec but as the subscriber believes with a lust estimate
OF his rights, did give his attendance No
was made in the committee TO issue compulsory procc 60
against him. As editors public Journal and in In
acter guardians and protectors of the freedom of the
the subscriber Is OF opinion that neither Mr. Webb nor Mr.
Noah ought TO have appeared in person by affidavit be-
pe the committee ii in their transactions vith the Bank
they had committed any violation of law they could not
De examined as witnesses cninate themselves if they
had committed violation of law the inqu<oraI powers
oil me committee did not extend TO them. Their transac
hons with the bank, unorbildcn by the law of the land
were no more within the lawful scrutiny Of the committee
man the dwelling house. the hresde the bed chamber
OF any of them These in the darkness of hea
then antiquity the affairs OF the household gods To
touch them with tho hand Of power is prof,na,ion 1s
sacd however, in repuaton they already were and
had been, account of these transactions bv their no
cal enemies and the enemies of the Bank, from false and
exaggerated rumours concerning them which had crent
INTO public notice. certainly unnatural and per
haps not improper in them, full canor and SIN
eeTlty, what their transactions with tho bank had been
r rom these 1t appeared that in August 1881 James
Watson Webb obtained at the Bank OF the United States
eioah Of twenty thousand dollars upon his note en-
dorsed by Mordeca NJ Noah
The application for this loan made in nerson ~, NJ
Webb was sustained by letter Mr. Noah and sun
dry statements relating 10 the pocun,ry condition and
oit oil the New orN Courier and Enquirer The letter
IRON Mr. = bah enclosed the President of Tho RAM
10y Walter Bovine Mayor OF the City of New York who
had been one OF the earliest Directors the Bank with
recommendation Of the application itself TO be considered
as business transaction 1t was so considered kv tbc
BOARD OF Directors who accccded TO tie desired But
me Editors OF the Courier and Enquirer had long beer
mey SUI are ardent AID active political parsans and their
newspaper has been, and continues deeply immersed in
that portion OF political affairs Immediately connected with
elections The peculiar character sustained by the poner
and its editors, at the time when this application for loan
was made was that Of devoted friends 10 the present adj
. w. and particularly 10 the eminent citizen at its
I'D s,nnson p'!oa puc 9aDsnf 10 ooed o9 NJ 1 no..