Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-05-27
,ssion and contempt much

YOUR committee, under your resolution, render
ed il probable, and in some measure necessary,
that your committee should express its opinions
of the relative rights of the corporation and the
House of Representatives. 70 avoid all mis-
and future misrepresentation it
was desirable that each question should be de-
cided separately. Contemplating an extended
but unwilling that an apprehen-
sion should exist of improper disclosures being
made of the transactions of the Bank and
its customers, your Committee, adopted a
resolution declaring that their proceedings
should be confidential until otherwise ordered
by the committee and also resolution that the
committee would conduct its Investigations
/" without the presence of any person not requl-
red or invited to attend" copy OF these res
outions was furnished to the Committee OF Di-
rectors, in the hope that the exclusive control OF
a room at the Bank, during its hours OF business
would thereafter be conceded to your commit
tee, while the claim Of the Committee ofDirect-
ors to be present when their books were submit
ted for inspection, should be postponed Tor decl-
sion when the books were called tor and produ-
ced by them.
On the 2Sth ult. this committee assembled at
the banking house, and again found the room
they expected to find set apart for their use pre-,
occupied by the Committee of Directors, ana
Others, officers of the Bank. And instead OF
such assurances as they had a right to expect,
they received copies of two resolutions adopted
by the Board of Directors, in which they were
given to understand that their continued occu-
patton of the room must be considered favor,
and not matter of right; and in which the
Board indulge in uni ust commentaries on the
House of Representatives; and intimate an APP
prehension that your committee design TO make
their examinations secret partial, unJust, oppres
sive, and contrary to common right.
When this communication had been reao,
adj n meet
chamber, at the North American Hotel. Not
outstanding all that had occurred, the CORES
pondence with the committee OF directors was
continued. If in so doing an error was COM
mitted, let it be imputed to the belief that great
forbearance well became the Committee OF the
immediate representatives of the People.
While it was thus doubtful whether room
could be obtained in the Banking house, without
conditions being attached derogatory to the
rights and dignity of the House, and conces-
sion in advance of claim set up by the Bank,
which might seriously incommode your commit
tee in their business, they determined TO execute
your resolution, ifpracticable, without intrudlng
on the Directors of the Bank; they therfore, re-
qured of the President and Directors, IN Wrl-
ting, to submit for the inspection Of the commit.
tee, at their committee room, on the Sd day OF
May, certain books and papers OF the Bank,
which might have been thus produced without
interruption to the ordinary business OF the
Bank The reqHistion, in terms implied the
| presence Of the directors or their committee.
On the day named, the Board addressed
written communication to the committee, de-
caring that they cannot comply with that part
of the resolution of the committee Of investlga-
ton which requires that certain books of the
Bank be sent to the North American Hotel, this
day, at II O'Clock"
Your committee are of opinion that this re-
fusal of the board of directors to submit the
books of the Bank to the inspection of your
committees is violation of the Bank charter,
and contempt of the laws and authority OF the
House Of Representatives.
The reasons for this opinion need not be here
repeated or enlarged.
1t has been maintained, and is insisted, that
the right to inspect the books of the Bank car
ries with it the power to perform that office out
of the banking house, TT cannot be done con-
veniently and efectually therein, and your COM
mittee cannot perceive that just ground OF COM
plant exists against claim ofpower, in a COM
mittee of either House OF Congress- which, by
the laws, and with wise regard to the public
interest is conceded to the judicial tribunals of
both the Federal and State Governments.
The facts already stated, demonstrate that
room could not be procured in the Bank for the
use of the committee, withouta concession not
to be recalled, which would have made your
committee dependent on the courtesy Of the
quiry, and the various communications receiv-
ed from the directors and their committee, an
nexed to this report will fully. corroborate this
statement.
Having failed to accomplish the object of pro-
curing the books of the Bank for inspection, at
their committee room, your committee felt it to
be their duty to demand their submission for that
purpose, at the Bank, of the President and
Cashier of the Bank, the usual and general a
gents of the corporation. For that purpose, on
the 9Th day May, having apprised the commit
tee of directors of their intention, at one O'clock
they repaired to the Bank and then required the
President and Cashier, each of them respective
ly, to produce certain of the books the Bank,
for inspection of the committee. This was re-
fused by each Of those officers, forreasons sta
ted in writing, and to be found in the appendix
to this report
In this REFUSAL your committee believe there
was a substantial violation of the Bank charter,
and contempt against the authority OF the
House committed.
They are of opinion, that your committee
were under no obligation of right to recognise
any agent of the Bank other than those gene
rally known as such, and make their duty and