Litchfield enquirer., 1834-06-12

WORTH woo 0t1efe0 from the OtSeI MetuUets
Of the committee Of Investigation, has been
published. They say that the bank charter
authorizes committee to Inspect the Doo.s
and examine into the proceedings Of the nank'
and report whether the provisions OF the char
ter have been violated, but they deny that Ell
Their house OF congress has power by the char
Ter. tn authorize a committee to prosecute
secret INQUIRY of indefinite character, after a.
nv or every abuse probable or possible. They
ASSERT that ff1c committee do not possess the
mower TO issue warrants Of general search, and
compel the appearance Of persons and the
production of papers, for the purpose Of find
ing out by these papers whether those who
bring them are not guilty Of some inspected
misdemeanoFs. The principles Of iustice COM
pei no man to eliminate himself, or TO furnish
the means of his elimination. The govern
ment as stakeholder has no rights not pos
sessed by the other stockholders. The mi-
nority regard the right claimed by the COM
mittee, 10 exclude the directors from the room
during the Inspection Of the books, as being
without foundation. II was claim to take
the books out Of the possession Of the direc-
tors, 10 detain them, to carry them oil. A
right to inspect the books does not involve q
right 10 take possession Of them. The mi
nority believe that the reguisitiOn ofthe books.
~ UC G1IbbCO away ttUNb SAC ua4M w q NOOtI
10 the hotel, was totally lseyOnd the authority
of the committee. They ;hink the directors
were justified In demanding Of the committee
Of investigation 10 state specifically the pur-
poses for which they proposed to inspect the
books, as they had no right by the charter to
inspect the books, except for the purpose of
reporting whether the charter had been viola
ted. They regard the demand Of the inves-
tigating committee f0r copies of all CORES
pQndence between any officers of the hank
and members Of congress, and a statement Of
all loans made to members Of congress, and
to editors Of newspapers, and OF all fees paid
for legal advice, as highly Objectionable. To
search mans private papers is an infringe
ment Of the natural rights Of mankind. The
constitution reserves to the people the right
TO be secure in tbeirpersons, houses, papers
and effects, against unreasonable searches and
seizures. The committee had no more right
to call for letters written By members Of con-
gress to officers Of the bank than TO call for
their letters 70 other persons. In the call for
statements Of loans and fees, there Is an i'm
putation Of bribery and corruption. Ifmem-
beers Of congress are. on clear grounds, srs-
peeled of being corrupted BY the bank, let
them he named, lei the charge be stated 10
form. and let the guilty be punished. These
general insinuatiops belong to The partisan
press. and are out OF place in the proceedings
Of the committee. The minority say il may
seem gratuitOus ID them 10 be over-forward
ia repeiling the charge Of corruption. as they
and their political friends are not on the side
Of The house which il was necessary for the
bank TO brihe or buy. The minority enter
tanned doubts Of the legality Of the process
by which the president and directors were
suusnOued to appear az the hotel with the
credit bn0ks of the hank.
The following IS an extract from the con-
GLIDING paragraphs Of the report.
They think that no candid person, contenl-
plating an the circumstances Of the case, from
the first demonstrations Of a policy on the
part or the Executive hostile to tho Bank,
down TO the recent measures, in support Of
that policy IN the House Of Representatives.
win deny that its object was the overthrow Of
the Institution, and the impeachment Of d.
rectors Before The bar Of public opinion, ii NOT
before that Of the judicial tribunals Of the
land, or gross malpractices, corruptions. and
frauds; and that the inquiry to be conducted
by the COMMITTEES, Of which the undersigned
composed the minority, was proposed TO be
one OF the measures to promote that end
so Ear from this being denied, the undersigned
understand il TO be not only admitted. but
claimed a. merit. ON the part Of the friends
Of the present Administration Of the Naiion-
III Government.
How was Il natural that such an inquiry
should be met By the Bank, or rather by those
who have been entrusted by the Stockholders
with it, direction The party implicated 10
the directory and officers; men Of character;
men known TO the commonly ~ some Of its
most useful members and brightest 0rna-
ments; men Of probity, unimpeached in pri-
vate life.
Some Of them are merchants, whose word
in the most important transactions, would be
deemed az good as their bond; and others are
professional characters, who adorn the high
cst tribunals Of the country. These are the
party mplicated--charged with most cruel I
and perfdious design 70 bring universal dis I
lFess upon the country, for the sake Of paliry /
selfish ends: and. to promote these ends, far /
her charged with. corrupiing tho conductors
Df the press, coTrupting the people in the ex-
srcise Of their elective franchise, and coIrup-
ling the members Of Congress.
Arc hOnest and honorable men, charged +
with these ddieus misdemeanoFs, to submit'to
The charge without murmuf; to acknOwI- I
ridge the rcasOnabieness Of making e.; the ex-
pediepey 0f Investigating il, all vague and un-
specified az It Is; the reality OF primn facie
case against them? Does conscious inno-
ceDce require them 70 admit that there il
ground Of suspicion! Does the strong and
indignant feeling that their characters are out,
ragged. while their rights are invaded, cali up
Dn them voluntarily to take the culprit's place,
and endure the ign0miny Of what they deem
an uncalled for and asvexatious inquisiii0n?