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

purpose In this view OF the subject the House would
not even have possessed the lawful power of appointing the
committee. The committee appointed not for the pur
pose Of putting the President Directors of the bank
upon trial; il intended by tho mover OF the reso
ton that they should have the benefit of trial by jury
III Is not the intention OF the subscriber press this
course OF reasoning, 10 which its application 10 the Ia
nil he does not yield his TO those who hold tho
doctrine that the purpose for which power is granted
forms an Indispensable condition the lawfulness of its
exercise he leaves the argument bear with its proper
weight. But IL under power TO appoint investigating
committees TO ascertain by the verdict Of Jury whether
the charter has been violated not constructive power
is given TO sport with the feeling and fortunes aud repu-
taon oil honest and honorable men, because they happen
TO hold the Offices Of President Directors of the Bank
OF the United States there is surely no authority given i
he BANK charter TO py into the accounts and Pecunary
ahsacohS ana TO scTutze the fortunes and characters of
thousands of individual citizens of the Unon merely be-
cause they have an account in Bank which, the exam
ia'on oil the Books and proceedings of the corporations
must accidentally be disclosed The subscriber is under
deep aud indeblc impression that power Civ
Congress by the charter Of the Bank nor does he be-
nevr That such power can be exercised without fla
grant violation oil the principles upon which tire freedom OF
this people has been founded.
1t under this impression that he moved the anend
meht, which received the sanction OF the House. TO tho
resolution originally offered for the appointment Of an in
vesuSang committee That amendment was carried by
considerable majority OF votes in the house The course
OF Investigation pursued by the majority OF the committees
has however, been not coniormabe the principles tho
resolution adopted by the House, but those of the
original resolution, which the house did accepts
sequence which naturally TO be expected, from tho
circumstance that majority of the committee was op-
those who had voted against the amendment adopted by
the House.
The question Of the principles upon which the examna-
ton was TO be conducted, occurred Immediately the
arrival OF the committee Philadelphia and was de-
erlnned confornably 10 the view of majority of the
committee, representing far the of the house
had been manifested minority of the house
There was accordingly no restriction TO the latitude of
investigation as 1t had been proposed in the original
ton OF the chairman OF the committee. No objection
made the part of the President and Directors of the
Bank, excepting that the President did remind the COM
mittee OF the confidential of the transactions be-
tween the bank and its customers, with the assurance
his reliance that would be considered respected
Alfher books, and all the OF individuals with
the bank, called for by any member of the committee
were exhibited 20 them. Had there been a member OF
the committee thirsng Tor the ruin of a personal enemy,
or political adversary, and who, by this nquson
the accounts OF all who had dealt with the bank, could
have been put in possession of facts the disclosure OF which
might have destroyed his peace, his fortune his fame
the opportunity afforded him by this course Of
would have been too inviting have been resisted That
there was such member upon the committee the sub
scrbcr does not affirm The eagerness with which prir
vate accounts sought for, and in especial man.
ncr those OF editors Of newspapers members OF Congress-
officers OF government and all indeed possessing polii-
cal influence themselves, likely suffer in public
estimation by exposure OF their private and pecuniay
Germs, Flowed, it is TO he presumed altogether from pat
The natural and irresistible tendency oil all vesig aions