Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-05-06

cions; and If no did make such a v.nsr.i ~ sssp,'
"i'non, previous information OF misconduct, II IL mos, pro.
been praciised. "s"' ""'o
itis. indeed, the duty Of every director TO civ. informs.
uono o. s"eh misconduct on the part Of The board. Blu, ,ha
power TO issue . srirc farias. and 10 remove Nh. J.co.i,..
'e-s"pPoses ,h"t The directors elected by the stockholders
mhgnl abuse their power; aud Il cannot b.. presumed III,
Congress Intended to rely Oh these same directors 10 give
ihiortn"tiono i their own misconduct. The Go, r,um,nti.
not accustomed 10 rely on the Offending pat,v IN di.cIos.
os offence. II was intended that the power to i.sv. =
srm laeids, and remove the ieposites, should bs real s,d
snsenve' The necessary inesi's Of Information were
Therefore provided in the charter; and Eve officer. of m.
government appointed, ia The usual manner. resroushi.
70 the public and no. to the stockholders, were pisceJ -.
se"hneIs at the Board. and are hound, Nv the nature and
character OF their office, to resist, and, il unsurc.ssIuI- In
report 10 The proper authority every intracton Of the char.
Ir. sno every abuse OF power, in order tina, due measures
'"o"." DC taken TO punish nr correct H.; and, in like man.
hef' u their duty to give, when called upon, sry expla-
milton OF Their own official couduc, touching the manage
ment OF The institution.
II was, perhaps scarcely necessary 10 present IN IN.
senate these views Of the power OF the Executive, and of
S %e a"'eno Q. me nve diree' os appointed hy the United
S.a'es' bnt the Bank Is believed 10 be now striving tn
OBTAIN Tor Itself the government Of The country: and 4.
seeking, by new and strained constr uctious, to erest from,
,hs nahds OF the constituted authorities the salu,ary con.
troll reserved by the charter. And as misrepresentation
Is one OF its most usual weapons OF attack, have Jre,o,,I
y my duty T. put before the Senate. in a manner no, 10 DO
"i,nniers,cod, the principles on which, have acted.
entertaining, "a do, a solemn conviction Of he truth
=, ,ness principles. l must adhere to them, aud act upon
&c WIN eonsta'cy aud f,mnese.
Aware, as l now am, OF the dangerous m,ehins,iop. ~
the Bank, IL Ia more than ever INV duty 10 he yi.;i.,, q,
guarding The rights ct the People from The iur.".;r"
danger. And ! should feel that ought 10 io,icit H. COT
nuencc VITA which my countr ymcn have honored me. II
! "a mol require regular and Ill re sports Of every thing
~ inc p,occedi, gs # the Bank, cslct lated 10 aa. Ct in;,,,
',ouhy te pnoiic interests, from the pubic Directors
hnn' ~ The Directors should fail to give the i.fcrmstiou
c''ed icr, II would be my iu,petious duty 10 exc, ciss tIs
pow r conferred on me by the Nv, of removing The m from,
Once, and Of appointing others who would discharge their.
a"'es With more bacli,y TO the public. I can never SIT.
80 ~ w 10 boid ofhce under me who would coruiv.
at corruption, or who should fail TO give tho alarm ~.
ne Saw The enemies Of Liberty, endeavoting to rp mo-
foundations OF our free institutions, aud TO suffice, The Grs
People OF the United States TO the dominion of a ,,e,,
noneycd corporation.
Any Directors OF the Bank, therefore. who mich, b. -.
p'ln'ed 10y The Gpvernmsnt, would be required 10 ren,r,
10 the Executive as fully as the late Directors have Jans
anu more frequently, because the danye is more immiup mt:
a"" u would he my duty TO require of them a full detail of
every part OF The proceedings OF the corporation. or arv ,f
W. of,cers.' IN order that might be enabled TO decide wbe.
+ : S"ou.u exercise the power OF ordering a seire Jaeins,
winch - reserved TO the President by the charter. OF ahout
sich other lawful measures as the inter es,s of the coun,rv
might require: IL sioo obvious to be doubted, that m.
misconduct oi The corporation would never have been
brought TO light by the aid OF a public proceeding At tTa
Board oil Directors. The Board, WHEN called on by The Go.
vernmeni Directors, refused 10 institute an i,ouirv ~ -
qutrc an account; and the mode adop,eJ nv tie I. 49,, 80,
,he only enc by which the Object could be attained. II wonIi
ne an.u'd 10 admit the right Of the Government Directors IN
give ih'orhation, and, at the same time, DENY the means of
obtaining 1t. Ii would he but enother mode Of enabling the
nank % conceal its proceedings, and practice, with inpu-
my Ms corrnptons In the mode of obtaining the intor-
nation, therefore, aud their efforts TO pu, an end IN ,ha
ABUSES disclosed, as well as in reporting Them, the conduct
m, h ' hon AVE directors was Jndieious and praise worry; and
displayed. enIitle them, in my opinion, 10 the gratitude of
the county,. -"
But, IL l do not mistake the principles ON which ,bs Go
nate have recently rejected them, the condnct which 7
ueem worthy OF praise, they treat MS a breach Of dutv.
and in their judgment, the measures which ,bev ,oaL ~
""'"in "e information, and their efforts to put an end 10
me practices disclosed, and the reports they have made
10 ~ executive, although true in all their parts, are re-
gar"ed as an offence, aud supposed to require some dcei-
sive mark OF strong disapprobaiion.
u. The views Of the Senate be such as | have supposea.
rue di,hcu'iy oil sending TO the Senate any other names
man those oi The late directors, will be at once apparent.
i cannot consent TO place before the Senate the name of
any one VINO = no. prepared, with fimness and honesty.
70 discil"'ge the duties of a public Director, in the man.
ner they were fulfilled by those whom the Senate have
refused TO confirm. II, for performing a duty law fully re-
qnired OF them by the Executive they are 10 he pur;shed
oy subsequent rejection oil the Senate, il Mould not
o"'y De useless, but cruel, TO place men Of character and
honor III uhat situation, II even such men could tie found
.o accept IT, II they failed to give the required informa-
non, or TO take proper measures to obtain il, ,ley would be
removed by the Executive. IL they gave The ~inrormstion'
,he next nomination, he rejected by the Senate. II wouId
oe unjust III me, to place any other citizens in The predi .
t""'en' III wh'ct ms unlocked for decision of the Senate
mas placed Tue estmable and honorable men who wer,
Directors during the last year.
an not In error in relation TO the principles upon
"hi'h mese gentlemen have been rejected. the neces.a-
~ eohst lnence VIII be, that the Bank will hereafter he
"tno". Government Directors, su'i the people of the Uni.
ted States must be deprived OF their chief means of ,ro
'ech"n asains'i It's abuses: for, whatever conflicting opiniors
may exist as to the right OF The Directors. appoiu,ed il
January 1888, TO hold over until new appointments shall
- 81 oNlOu tndt, WHIST their reiecfion hv
nc senate remains IN force, they cannot, without proprie-
W. attempt TO exercise such a power I'm the n,es,nt
si"'e OF lungs, therefore, the corporal ion will be enabled
eIiec'"a'y 10 accomplish the object il has been SO long
ehaedVo'i"g 10 obtain. Its exchange committees, and lis
ue'esa'ed powers TO its President, may hereafter be Jis.
penseu "i,n' without incurring The danger Of exposing
It's proceedings 10 the public view. The ssntiuels s.LirS
'he law had placed az its board can no longer appear her
Jus'ice 10 myself aud TO the faithful officers bv u hem
"e Puoic mas been so well and so honorabIy served. with
" compensation or re wsfd, during the last year, has re-
CURED oil me this iull and frank exposition of my motives
OF nominating 'hen again, after their reiec ton by the Sc
nave repeat That l do not question the right OF the Sc
ha'e 10 confirm or reject at their pleasure and il there
oeen any reason 10 suppose that the rejec ton in tLis
case hn not been produced by the causes to which I have
"'tio"'ed ~, or " my views Uf their duties, and the pre.
srh' importance oil their rigid performance, were other Than
.ney are, L should have cllesrfuIly acauiesccd, and at.
,emp'eo 20 hnd others WHO would accept the uncnviable
~ D.. D' cannot consent 10 appoint Directors of the
DdhN 10 % the subscryient Instruments O silent soert,-
tors, oil Its abuses and corrupiions nor cao I ask Lo,o,a-
oe Hhe o undertake the thsnkIess duty, " ith.tbe r,rt.i,
prospect Of being rebuked by the Senate Tor lis faithful
Executive. 40
repeat That j do not claim a right 10 inouire into. n :
onciaHy 10 censure, the acts OF the Senate. Ru, ,Io
situation in which the important, Interests of sLs an -
People, vested in the Bank Of The United State. .nJ a.
iee'ed ny It's arrangements, must necessarily be left by
10 rJtr'ion Of The gentlemen now re.uonin.ted 49,
n''e my outy 10 give this explanation 10 the Senate.
s"u SUBMIT me mailer to their re consideration. lit shall
DC ue'eIiIined by the Senate that all channels of in
H.ma " IN relation TO the corrupt proceedings Of this
dangerous corporation, shall be cut OIL, and the Govern
heni and country LEI, exposed TO its uniesfrsineb machi.
nSuohs against the purity Of the press, and public Iibe rtv
! shal, alter having made This effort 10 avert 81 or.at an
eVi' resi-, Tor The Jnsnficauon of my official course, with
rsspse'iui confidence on the Judgment OF the American