Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-06-26

tner as to The matters TO be inquired in
to, or the modeof pursuing the inquiry:
and whereas ltHPpears, from calls made
by the committee of investigation, that
they have proposed a very wide range,
embracing, adong other things, an ex
tensive examination of the acts, trans
actions, accoMts and letters of individ- |
nails, and thu instituting kind Of gem
eral search, which is the more objection
able. becaus, if il have any purpose at
all, it musthe TO criminate those indi-
vidualr as veil as the bank, and If 1t
have not this purpose, it is without any
assignable Object, and would be an inju-
rious invason of private interests; and
whereas, under these circumstances, il
is the dutyof the committee, by all law
ful means, to protect the rights and sa-
cred confidence entrusted to their keep
ing, and to yield ooihing by consent
which cannot be Legally demanded from
them: and whereas, after careful and
anxious consideration they are opinion
that the inquiry can ,nly be rish,fully
extended to alleged violations Of the
charter, and this inquiry ought 10 be
conducted according 10 some certain
principles and rules: therefore,
Resolred, That the Committee of in
vestigation be respectfully required.
when they ask for books aud papers, to
state specifically, in writing, the purpo
SEES for which they are proposed to be IN :
|spected, and, it he to establish vio-
lation Of the charter, then to state spe-
officially, in writing, what are the alleg-
ed or supposed violations of charter to
which the evidence is alleged, or suppo.
sed to be applicable.
F! Resolued, That, in the opinion Of this
Icommt,ee, it would oery much con-
duce to the purposes of justice, as well
as to the convenience of all concerned,
lif the committee Of investigation would
furnish aspecifi, atioH OF all the char
ges inleoded 10 be inquired into, and
proceed with them in order as stated.
The undersigned opposed the call
above r.riied, made on the 7lth May,
for til. production Of books. They
feel themselves, therefore, called upon
to explain briefly the considerations
winch Influenced them. The under
signed have already stated that they
conceived the committee, of which they
have The honor to be members, to be
clotifd with twofold power, and to be
COMPETENT, or rather required, by the
ords of the house, to act ina twofold
IcapFity. They we're committee of
visl htion, appointed under the 23d sec
lion II the charter. As such, they were
authorized to visit the bank, to inspec,
the ho,ks and to examine into the pro.
ceedinS Of the bank, and report wheth
er the trrter had been violated. They
were, ;lp, committee Of inquiry into
the ca,sfs Of the present commercial
embarrassment and pecuntary distress,
and intolhe corruptiohs, abuses and NAL.
practice Of the bank. III the former
capacity they had right to inspect the
hooks OF he bank. They had this right
by the charter, and would not have had
it without the charter. In the latter
capacity they had no right to inspect
the boob, unless voluntarily submitted
by the blnk, because the charter does
not givethem that right for such pnrpo-
SEES. Tie bank is obliged, by the char
ter to s,hmit its books to the inspection
Of a committee Of visitation authorized
to report If the charter has been viola
ted: ard it is not bound TO submit them
to a committee Of general inquest au.
thoriSsd to report on maIpractices and
corruptions. The right Of inspection
possessed by the committee, as a COM
mitiee Of visitation, cannot be used by
il ID its other capacity of committee
Of general inquest and accusation, as an
Of search after crimes and
in general.
Bat the directors of the bank had
heenapprised, at the outset, by the res.
nlutionof the house Of representatives
IF the 18th Of April, that the committee
was OF twofold character. as stated
That resolution distinctly ennmerates, as
objects Of inquiry, not only violations Of
he chatter for which the books might be
inspected but various acts Of msmanage-
nent & corruption, for which they might
rot be inspected, unless voluntarily offer
ID for that purpose. The committee oiin-
,e<tigatiom had addressed various calls
" way Of resolution, to the committee Of
he directors, touching matters concern