Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-05-01

report OF a committee. The minorit,
do not mean, so far as they are concern
led, to impair the chartered rights fthe
bank, by attempting an investigation oil
the law and the facts before body tina,
us not constitutionally authorized to try
} them.
4 The exclusion OF the directors an
pointed by the President is nowhere
shown 10 have heen ordered by the
board, or by the President OF the board
They have not been appointed Oh Ger
tain committees, and this is all that car
be said, and the same may probably be
Fsald OF many directors appointed by the
private stockholders. 1t depends upor
the pleasure of the board, and is mat
ter OF administration. Whether there
was any thing in the capacity or dispo-
sltions of the individual directors refer.
ed to, to make their appointment upon
certain committees proper or improper.
1t might be deemed invidious in a paper
OF this kind to inquire, particularly as it
is understood that the senate of the u
nlted States have not advised their re.
appointment to office, and they there.
tore do not at present stand in the posi-
ton OF public servants, whose acts re-
quire further investigation.
The expenditure of money for print
ing and circulating pamphlets has not
been questioned by the Stockholders
They have been fully apprised of it,
and they have more than once re elect
ed the directors who have authorized it.
The right to print and publish is con-
stltutional right. II belongs 10 corpora
tlons as well as to natural persons. II
cannot be previously restrained, and it
cannot be subsequently punished, except
by the sentence Of court, when it is
proved to have been done in violation
OF law. If it has been necessary to de-
lend the directors of the bank from as
PERSONS upon their characters for what
they have done as directors, or to pre-
vent the credit of the bank from suffer
ing by imputations upon its solvency, or
the integrity of its administration, the
expenditure belongs properly to the
bank, because it is IN vindication of the
operations Of the bank. As to such ex-
pendi,ures, the stockholders are the ul
Innate judges, and all the stockholders
are bound by vote of the majority rat
flying the expenditure, as much as they
would be by an order to incur it. The
ratification, by the re-elec-.
ion of the directors who ordered it, is
equivalent to an original commando
W hatever printing or publishing has
'een done by the bank, has been done
openly, without covert or disguise. II
las been done in the assertion Of "A right.
md the public have knownit. Wheth.
r. an influence equally public, and e.
lualiy innocent, has directed and sup
ported these attacks upon the bank.
which have thrown upon the institution
he expense of resisting them, it does
rot belong TO the minority of this COM
nittee to enquire.
Q. The case Of the French bill, as up
IN claim for damages by the bank, is
lot before the committee of ways and
means. 1.-THE bank should make claim
ipon congress for the satisfaction of that
demand. it would probably be referred
% different committee. 1t is before
he committee of ways and means upon
he question whether the act Of the bank
n making such a claim to the secretary
# the treasury, is a reason for dismis
ing the bank as fiscal agent of the ma.
ion, and majority Of the committee
lave decided that it is. The minority
ire willing to leave this question to the
decision of the house and of the coun-
ry. 1t is u principle which, if rigor-
'usly applied. will possibly economize
he time of the house, and the labor Of
he committee of claims. If it is IN
lerstood to he the opinion of the house
hat every agent or officer of the nation,
who makes claim upon congress or up
On the treasury, deserves 10 be dsmis.
,ed from his office, it will propably put
an end to all claims that are not thought
10 be worth more than the office, to the
person who makes them. No one can
by possibility do less than the bank has
done in the prosecution OF her claim,
and therefore safety is to be found only
in not making claim at all. This objec-
ton does not unity close the test Of the
reasons. 1t is case in
which there was no agency in the bank,
and no ,infaithfulness in any one Of her