Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-12-18


December 10Th, 1884 {
In obedience to resolution of the House OF Represen-
tativcs. passed the / lth instant.
That the Secretary of the Treasury be- directed To
communicate to the House of Representatives
az practicable copies of the correspondence hereto
lore communicated, which has taken place between him
and the President OF the Bank of the United States on
the subject of the Branch Drafts and i'm relation to the
clam made by the Bank for damages, and the
pursued by that institution of the protest of
the Dill drawn ON the French Government by the Trca
sury Department" -
have the honor TO report, that the only correspond
ence on those subjects not heretofore communicated
to Congress- which has taken place between the Presi
dent OF the Bank of the United States and this Depart
ment, consists his part of letters received
here on the 2Sth and the other the Both ult.
That which related To the damages and the pur
sued by the Bank on account of the protest of the bill
drawn ON the French Government, being deemed of
most public Importance, has been answered, and copies
OF his letter, and the reply of this Department here
with communicated
Tho other letter related the late Circular from the
Treasury, declining receive the branch drafts in pay
ments OF the public dues after the close of the present
yenr-and as II wished the Department distinctly 10
understand il is at all against the measure itself
but only the assigned for it, that any
Is made there did not TO be much public nccessi-
" for fastening reply But the great pressure
OF the current business in this Office may permit,
shall be completed and copies OF both transmitted to the
House of Representatives..
have the honor be, very respectfully your obcdien
servant, LEVI WOODBURY..
Secretary Of The Treasury
Hon. JomS BELL,
Speaker Of The House Of Representatives..
BASK'oF THE UNITED STATES
Nov. 26th, 1884.
SIR Your favor of the 18th of July last reached the
Bank during my absence, and finding my that
my letters addressed to you ut Washington had been
published in the newspapers of Nashville, it seemed use
less to proong discussion which coald only infame
the passions OF the country in the midst of its elections
nave therefore, forbornc to answer letter until the
time had passed for the repetition of similar appeal from
the laws.
The whole appears to be exceedingly simple There
difference OF between the
Bank about the damages "a bill of exchange This is a
matter ofaccount which depends the existing laws and
the acts OF Congress provide specifically before what
bnna and In what manner, the question must be tried
Thus by the of the Sd OF March l77 it is nroydeJ
that If any person. accountable for public money fails
pay IT. ut shall be the duty of the Comproer and he is
Hereby required to institute suit for the recovery of the
same AID in such suit mo claim for credit shall be adj
med upon trial. but such shall been p
sencd TO the Accounting Officers ohc Treasury their
examination, and by them dsaowedi in whole or in part
The Bank has accordingly presented its for da
IMAGES which has been disallowed 1t has then retained
sufficient amount of public money for the purpose and
invited suit by the Treasury bring the subject
before the court. 1t did this and stated it, the
best II not the only mode of settling the question But
as the money itself object of indifference To the
Bank, which sought only vndcatc its own rights and
the retaining il was mere form to compv with The act
of Congress, the Bank at the time requested from
the Secretary 10 know, whether there ssany other
mode of submitting the rights of the respective parties
to the Judicial tribunals acceptable To hinand
would instantly have released the money any arrange
mcnt with the Treasury to bring the before the
courts.
There is still summary process of obtaining %
decision. BY the act of Congress of May 18th 1870 If
the public money be withheld the first Comptroller of
the Treasury issue of distress against The
party IN default who may then appeal to the Courts of
the u. States.
Either of those courses is open the Executive If
chooses neither the Bank having done duty is com
tent Before the proper tribunal the Bank will always
be ready to prove
/. That the bill of exchange on the French Govern
ment drawn without the sghtestauthorty whatev
from that Government to draw 1t.
2 That the Bank proposed to the Treasury TO collect
the money ITS agentand not pay until it was re-
ceived from France, thus avoiding the very embar-
rassment which has occurred but this the Treasury de-
cncd and requested the immediate payment by the Bank
purchaser
8. That OF the money paid by the Bank the whole
was immediately appropriated by the Treasury, and
part used IN the current expenses Of the Government
d. That when the bill protested i'm Paris. ns was
inevitable and the money paid by the agents of the
damages by the Bank indispensable act of duty
as that alone would enable the Treasury TO claim DANA
ges from the French Government, which, if the Treasu-
ry had any rghtto draw at ALL much due as the
principal
D. That the universal and indexiblc rule Of the Troa
required of the Stockholders Of the Bank to paw DANA
ges when their bills sold the Treasury have been
tested shouldt damages those Stockholders
when theyn turn have bought bill from the Trcasi4
ry which becomes protested.
All this will be made manifest whenever tie Breasury
just to PREJUDICE the question, and quite uitess dis
it.
have the honor to be, very respectfully yours,
(Signed) N. BIDDLE, Fresidcnf.
Hon. LLyi WooDBURY, Sc y. oftke 1Fsasnry Nash
ington, d. {.