Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-05-27

charge their duty, they present part Of this
s.s s,,Sss o asSrss o yops with
dix, declarsiory OF the believed 10 be possessed
aud the purpose OF your committee.
They believe that these resolutions will OF themselves
vindca,e their couduct and proceedings om all these
puaons which a'e to be found in the various comnuu
cations OF the Directors, aud their committee, and will
serve TO show that they have afforded justification
Whatever Tor the sordnary position al naeiy taken
by the Comni,ee q. directors aud The Board. But that
Their determination not TO permit any conduct ot theirs not
Involving breach OF charter 10 be in, have
been en- ettsned long before II known your
committeeman that Il " conmun sied until every
other means OF preventing the animation proved una
vang But tor this conduct which your committee
not regard distinguished by rsnkness aud candor. the
abseee OF your committee, from their duties the House
would have besnoi much sbor nusnce.
Believing they had now exhausted in their Efforts
ecute the duty devolved 'hem. all reaonahe
depending solely upon the provisions OF The Bauk charter
10 obtain the inspection Of the books OF this cofporaon
your Committee we're at last Reluctantly compelled
sort 20 The sutp@nas which had been furnished to them
under the seal of this Hou.e, aud atsted ty its Clerk
They thereby on the inst directed the Marshal
Eastern District OF Pennsylvania to Nicholas Bid
die President and thirteen other persons Directors OF the
Bank. 10 attend at their Committee room, The DAY,
OF liz O'Clock at noon, TO testify concern the OF
which your Committee were authorized to inquire, aud to
lfiug with them certain books therein inpe
The Marshal served the in form OF law
at the time appointed, the persons therein
before The Committee aud presented a written commune
cation signed by each Of them, the OF each
the OF the subrGns (Which is in the appendix
10 'hs repoit in ibis paper they declare, hat they 90
hot produce the books required because they
the custody Of either u.s. as has her. toor.
stated, o the Board. aud add considering that
raors aud Directors parties the edingwe
do not consider ourselves bound TO testify and
four committee will not dwell long 10 answer these
Technical excuses for Ibis eupi ol the lawful
.1e rouse. they are TO be found large ia the writ
zen document above referred to. Most OF Them il is be-
even' nave been already satisfactorily answered The
TWO mover excuses herein set forth, cannot but he com
oemned as Insufficient The first is founded, ON very
'hheh distinction between the power OF the Directors a.
persons and as corpoa,o The same persons have AID
4 "A.
custody OF HE books Is in them but ms iniy d,,s al
mougn eo'ec"veiy assembled, the hooks are not
uh"er ufr control Thus, by stenusted echne aitv
The lawful authority OF the House to be de6ed n i,
one room Of The Bauk they be esteemed as "indy
quar- si'z-ns' who may lawfully disregard subpoena
huees ecum, because they have not the hook demanded
IL IN another room OF the house, by transmiqra
W." no, known 10 Heather philosophy their identity is
so"e' "ey nave become mere ideal creatures OH ~ lch
not even subpoena adj teslcsndum can be served To
make ths excuse still extraordinary let il be re-
meoered That seven OF the gentlemen by whom Il /, ot
,ereu ad been appointed by The Board of Directors II,
mott The books OF the Bank and of cour.e
that purpose. r- WI
The assigned for the refusal TO be sworn /, para
lei WIZ" ihai which has just been ered-,hat as cor
Paofs ana Directors, they parties
Of The House, and therefore bound to give iesmoy
MS humane rule TO be ound in the criminal law which
'na' no man shall be compelled to crminste him
sou anu one winch this committee would be unwilling
under any circumstances deny; but your commute. as
nos e VI any pincifle OF evidence which will ex-
cuse person Tor refusing TO give testimony smLy he
cause u may subject him 10 a civil action
ihete are provisions in the Bank charter making tho
Decors liable 10 civil suit, il proved 10 have patc,pa
ted IN cet'an TRANSACTION therein niioned But
no' 10 DC supposed that any thing can be found ON Inc
oks oil the Bank that would subject he Di,sc,o,s ~,
ehnsi prosecution Even ii the latter supposition be
not eniirely without foundation, still il is insisted liza,
witness Called on to testify. do .o unes. the tour,
oner tribunal before which he appears shall adi.e
,ha' he interested That question the witness cauno,
oe prrn'ted to decide Tor himself otherwise
no ~ &c w',hne1 without good cause As the sup
P, ION a' me Directors, or the corporation under III, r
CONTROL TO be considered parties In The inoss, III
committee was directed s institute, it has already been
e'ed 10 nus report and needle fur her repv IL
TIE nqsest ID been md had satisfied
OF me PRESIDENT that scire facas ought TO issue ,en
and not ill then, could the Bank DrecIors hecon.
10 The proceeding and under that principle at emit h,
conces transactions known OILY TO ihemseyss. aud sven
en e DOCKS might be used evidence against theu,
justice requires US TO add, that the Directors Will.
protested against our right examine Them declared
naa no snowiedge winch, If necessary regard 10 their
duty ard the rights Of others permitted hev wowLi na
Willingly expose without reserve. ~
a. onuer such circumstances, il is TO be regretted that
ey NOT initiated The course OF the Directors of 1919
ana 1882 by waving their supposed technical rights aud
inviting an unfesIrained Examination OF their
ouch conduct could not but have gained public aup,obs
uoh' ana IL IL hunby conceived, could not bav. b..,
reasonably objected by any persons bavioa ,;,n.
with the institution. II such had been the cose Of ,h
directors, The committee hope to be hardened tor 49,;
IL was their purpose 10 have endeavored 10 have ,fe
ea .he duties which had been enoned, thoroughly i'm
p'a'y' ana WIN tigd adherence TO the immu,sble
principles OF truth and Justice.
nus, your COMMITTEES conclude, the just power and an
hony oil The House OF Representatives have been SET =,
Thus, the charter of the fank of the II c h.s - \,
oerae'y Violated by repeated reiusas OF the Direc,ors NJ
w" corporation 10 submit their books and papers 10 ,, in
sPecton OF this Committee rr " 'e '"'
nus nave he Just expectations Of House and of tbe;
constituents been disappointed, and all means of oha,nn
e oest ana most accurate Information conc rnin t ors
I"uons OF controlling moneyed institution been cut oa
IL remains for the House and the countrv 70 do.d -,
is t's conduct OF that directory las been dics,ed ~
meir solemn duty, declared TO protect IN. inors;
% ohefs committed specially their proee,ion Ho,-
ID" " conforms 10 those principles OF action which are Re-
&c" "" conscious integrity and uprghne.s of pu,nose
VINO" ueies scrutiny and invites inves gaIon and hov
20, " S"" De received as plea of gully TO the hiyl MI
e"nos when they insist have been charged ao.ins,
Ihe corporation oil which they have the panaecnen, all
control. $3.50 '' management anu
nepe grave questions, with others growing out or The
transactions and proceedings, left TO be decided b d.
House OF Representatives. W Tue
40 enc't those opinions, the following resoluioos arc
most respectfully submitted: are
- Hesoiued That by the charter Of the B,nk Of a.
up'ed states, the right expressly reserved IN sdr
., t Y, congress by The appointment OF a committee
inspect me books and TO examine into the proceeir,
had violated its charter. J "'"e "
z. HesoiUed That the resolution of the Hou,s If NJ
Pefeh'auVe passed on the 4h Of April 1894 for ~. 80
poh'meDt oil committee, with full mowers IN ,naka r.
"esngaIons embraced in said resolution was in accod
ahee WIN The provisions OF the charter of said Ri
the power Of This House. ~ '"S '""
Hesofved, That tie President and Board Of Drec,ors
,ue D'nk OF The United States, by refusing 10 submit
r. pP"op' Tue DOCKS and papers Of the Bank as called
ior ny me committee CT the House of Renressn,,,.
nave condemned The legitimate authority of The Huss
asserting Tor themselves powers and privileges mot go
enP'a'eu ny The trainers Of their charler nor in c.a..