Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-06-10

House o Commons In 1853. after fun Argument solemn
~ resolved 10 be illega9 Illegal for Court Of Kings
bench la l6si illegal in the judgment OF the House OF
Commons In l763 the undersigned are slow TO believe
that an american House of Representatives in 1884. will
be found 10 assert, Auercan citizen 10 admit their
legality
In conclusion the would observe that nei
Their OF Them gave his voice Tor the resolution creating the
ontee, deemed the inquiry, in many o its objects.
necessary or prop They hope is not improper 10 add
the expression Of the opinion tha had the attention OF
the House been particularly drawn in debate the terms
OF the resolution. II would have received modiica-
uon; and that owing to its passage under the operation
OF the Previous Question, aud without any examination
its details that Il received in its prescn, form, the
ton o the House. Being, however, placed the
nee the undersignd were de-iIous vt discbargng their
duty a. members OF it, under the order OF the House,
the best OF their ability, sud according their
ing OF the rights OF the Corporation ,sedhe powers OF
the House, and the principles II astce. They de-
sifous oil taking up the various matters Of inquiry
rated in the resolution, viz The OF ic distress the
alleged violations Of the charter, AMI the imputed corrup
IONS OF The Bank one by one; OF consJ. ng them in .e
order III which they arranged by the House, Of nves
ngaung each according TO nature; OF inspecting the
books and examining the occengs OF the Bank arco ding
TO the charter that is in reference to all objects which, 10y
the charter, are properly subjects OF such inspection srd
examination; or IN regard 10 which The Directors might
voluntarily submit them for inspectioD and OF inqung
into the other referred them, as far as on con-
sidera'on, they should deem the committee competent 10
dc
or all these objects, the undersig ned confess that they
regarded that which stands foremost the resolution as
vastly the most Important; inquiry into the causes OF
the present distress was their hrn persuasion that the
country demanded this inquiry OF Congress A number
oil memorials aud OF subscribers them, greater by far
than have at any former period before Congress
voked the aid of the National Legislature to relieve
them IRON state oil unexanped distress An embarrass
ment unusually extensive and severe and not vet essen
TALLY aivviated, demanded inquiry into its causes Ii
was alleged. the one hand be wanonly produced
ny the Bank; and, on the other, to be the unavoidable
consequence OF the financial policy pursued by the Exc
cuve The undersigned wished make this the first,
az II was Infinitely the most important object OF their in
vesgatons; TO receive the testimony OF enlightened mer-
chants and men Of business. in the intelligent community
10 which they were sent, (who might be willing TO APP
pear before them as to the extent and the
tress; to receive from the Bank those statements oil its al
fairs which they well persuaded would most cheer
fully have afforded, and which would have illustrated
whole course in the difficult rying posonnto which
II has been THROWN aud from all other persons on whom
the committee would have hada right call their test,
mony as o.ihe manner ia which this oil the Exc
cuuve has been taken up and carried Such an exsm.
nauon The Undersigned believe, would have been useful
Congress Satisfactory to the people, powerfully eff
cent in leading TO The removal OF the heavy burdens now
lying on them This object first acconp was the
hrs in the precepi OF the House, would
nave proceeded to consider the violations OF The charter
and as the resolution OF the House does not cou6ne the
inquiry 10 those violations with which the Bank has bee
charged they would have deemed themselves authorized
TO extend their researches to those OF which the Rank
complains, particularly the Of the deposies Tor
reasons not deemed satisfactory oy Congress- now APP
pears oil record on the journal Of the Houses of
Congress H. alter these inquiries had been gone
y nau SUI 8ppeared on considering the other matters
comprehended in the resolution thar they REQUIRED or nd
united TURNER investigation the undersigned would cheer
iu"y nave ce-opsrated Ia the work. IesOrting every
source OF normaton legally available as far as the same
could by the charter be required fro the Bank or Ie-
gaiy received or compelled from any other quarter
In the progress Of such investigation so conducted
disclosures had been made OF requiring or autho
rizng any further on the part of the Hous.
the Undersigned would not have been behind the most
jealous u their associates in denouncing TO the House
and the country. different view OF their duty was
however taken by their colleagues resulting series
oil measures, om which the undersigned
found themselves oblg, TO dissent.
But while there was form, in which the undersigned
were prepared 10 meet every part of the resolution under
which the committee raised-the form most conso-
nan TO the wants and wishes OF the country 10 which
MI other matters OF party crinnaton ingniican
compared with the great q~ee ee tho causes ia. lust
responsibility and the rec,ies Of the present sore dis
1.-THE Term unique slionably ia wlich the resolo
was viewed by considerable class to.e who voted
ior ;, III the H0usemie UNDERSIGNED freely adult MA,
inquiry by their colleagues. the majority the commit.
tee the purpose Of the majority the House was not
misiakep They think that candid person, contem
piasg all the circumstances OF the case, tom the first
demonstrations OF policy the part OF the Executive
hostile TO the Bank, down The measures in sup
port OF that policy in the House OF Representatives. wi
deny that lis object was the overthrow OF the institution
and the impeachment OF its directors before The bar OF
public opinion, not before that Of the judcsl tribunals
oil the land OF gross mapractces, corrupons frauds;
and that the inquiry 10 be conducted 10y the committee of
which the undersigned composed the mnoily was
posed 10 be OF the measures TO promote thar end So
lar from this being denied, The understand il
10 be no, only admitted, but claimed meif on the
part oil The friends OF The present Administration OF tie
National Government
How was II natural that such INQUIRY should be met
by the Bank, or rather by those who have been
by me STOCKHOLDERS wiit ITS drectIons The Bank Is
legal abstraction. To charge the Bank with bribery and
corruption, IL TO use words which have accurate
ing, false. The party implicated is the deco
and officer; men OF character; known 10 the COM
nuny as some OF It's most useful ihbers aud
ornaments; men oil probity uDmp ia private life
Some OF them are merchants, whose word, ia the rosf
important Transactions would he deemed as good as ber
bond; and hers professional characters no adorn
the highest tribunals OF the country These are the par
~ impcdted-chargcd with most cruel and Derfjous
design TO bring universal distress upon the country ior
the sake OF paltry selfish ends; and promote
further charged with coIIupiing the conductors OF the
press, corTupng the people in the oil their cleo
tive franchise, and corfupung the eubefs Congress
Are honest aud honorable charged with these odous
ynisdemeanOrs, 10 submit to the charge without muir
nur TO acknowledge The reasonableness OF making il
the expedency Of investigating it, all vague and inspect
ned AZ II Is The realty OF PSiRd Jdcid case against
them! Does conciOus innocence rebuire them 10 admit
that there Is ground Of suspicio Does the strong aud
indignant feeling that their characters oursged lille
their rights invaded, cali upon them voluntarily 10
take the cuprlrs place. and endure tile ignoiny OF what
they Deem uDcsed Tor and a vexaious inanisiuot2
Or is il rather the natural dictate OF proud and CON
scious innocence 10 place themselves upon their
beneath the egis OF the lawl II 90 TO my neigbbor as
honest my self aud say, you are syyinder and
knave, shall he meeky ask 10 enter lis house Law
open his ledger and his letter book aud Invite collect
the materials out Of which may prejudice the public
sgsins him the directors OF the Bank are citizens as
honest and vrluoUs any OF those in office or out OF it,
high or low, who charge them with corruption A good
Is as dear 10 them 10 their Their stake
In the welfare OF the county is great The success
with which they have conducted affairs Of the great nsti
tuition entrusted to their care is matter OF opinion; il
Is notorious TO all the world. AT this monent notsgith-
standing the fearful warfare waged against them by almost
every branch Of the Government OF their own cclnrv
faarc rpliI Ia nanIa .nftfot Ut.