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

Their are, nor are alleged TO be, violations
OF the charter: and, consequently, in
reference TO which the directors are not
required to submit their books for inspec-
ton.
HI d il pleased the house of repre-
sehtalives TO create two committees, one
Of visitation, under the 23d section Of
the charter, and one Of general inquiry
under the power OF the house to send
tor persons and papers, these two com.
mlttees would not have been authorized
TO amalgamate or interchange each oth-
ers functions. The committee Of char
ter visitation would not have been au-
thorized to engage in a general inqsisi-
ton, nor would The committee Of inaui-
Iry have been authorized to demand the
books for inspection.
| But TO what avail has the charter linn
tied the objects for which the books may
be inspected, and protected the corpo.
ration, and those who transact business
with il, from the annoyance and mis-
chief of general search, if a commit
lee OF visitation may be clothed with
the functions of committee Of gener.
al inquiry: and having got the books
into their hands for one purpose author.
lied by law,may use them for another pur-
pose not authorizedby law III is plainthat
II this could be done, the limitation Of the
right OF inspection would be illusory and
worthless. In order to render the lin
ltation efficient, the committee Of d.
rectors required Of the committee Of
investigation to specify the objects for
which they demanded the books. For
some objects the demand of the books
was according TO law: for other objects,
not being bound by law TO yield them,
the directors were at liberty 10 with.
hold them, or to submit them, accord
ing 10 their discretion. They, therefore
needed "a specification, TO enable them
t" discharge their duty under the char
ter, as well as TO protect them in their
rights; TO enable them 10 distinguish, in
the acquisitions of the committee ot in.
vestigation, how much was author tative,
under the statue commanding obedience
and how much, not being authoritative
they were at liberty 10 concede or 10
withhold.
There was the more reason in insist.
ing OH this right to make the limitation
on the inspection Of their books availa-
bic, because, as has heretofore been OBJ.
served, the inspection itself is in dero-
CATION OF the natural rights of the cit
zen, who ought not, under any circum.
stances, to be obliged to criminate him.
self. 1t pleased the legislature, regard
ing the corporation as their own legal
creation, to require them, when ac,u-
sed Of violating the fundamental laws
of their existence-the provisions of the
charter-to submit their books TO com
.mittee authorized 10 report on that fact
alone. But to transfer this limited fight
of inspection to other committees for
general powers Of inquisiiion, ard for
q general purpose OF reinforcing self.crim-
inatiob is illegal and and inequitable.
10 do this by indirections; 10 cloth
committee Of visitation, and thus to &C.
quire right to open the books for one
object and then to inspect them for an
other, would be to attempt 10 accomplish
M Cho w itoeh uHdutihIILtu3 ny ucdu3
peculiarly unwariantable.
For these considerations the under
signed regarded The directors as justi6-
ed in requiring Of the committee Of The
house specification of the objects Of
their inquiry: The ground taken by
the committee of the board is, as the
house perceives, a ground Of legal right.
assumed by The directors, under the cir.
cumstances of the case. This is the
the third occasion on which the. bank
has been visited by committees Of the
house. In the year 1918, a commiftee
was appointed TO examine the affairs of
the bank, then in disorder. The COM
mittee thus appointed was, by the terms
of the resolution, directed to reoorA
whether the charter had bsen violated.
and the resolution consisted mainly Of !
specific alton Of alleged violations. n
executing their trust how ever. The sssnm.
mittee extended their Inquiries 10 the
general management Of the bank, and
examined IFS president, other officers.
and directors on oa..n. To this COURSE
Of inquiry, the ba.nk deemed i, for it's In.
terest to submit. The undersigned are
not aware rhat any resistance was made
to the d..-mands OF the committee. Gin
the ..ortrary THAI rn-.sx