Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-01-30
ICoNCLUDED.l

United States; made to both Houses Of Cameras ~
III Dec. 9TH, 1888. '''' u ooiisfes
III CoNCLUDED.1
:, proceedings like this are sanctione
ny the constituted authorities of the In
ted States, the appointment of directo,
on iheir part is an idle ceremony, and a
lords no safeguard to the public treasure
10 the custody of the bank. And eve
legislative enactments, in relation to thi
corporation, are Of but little value, if i
may, at its pleasure, disregard one of tn
Fundamental articles of lis constitution
anu traIisfet tv cuiIiu,itteu, tho bu
sness which by law, ought to be transact
ca by the board. tits scarcely neccssar
IN presenting this document to the cor
kslderation of Congress, to notice an Oh.
HJectlon, which has been sometimes pu,
forward against the publication of an,
proceedings which Relate to the account.
Sof private individuals. The circumstan
ces detailed, are the regular and oficia
4 transactions of the board of directors. no,
do they involve the private debtor and
creditor account Of persons dealing witt
the bank, which is alone included in the
distinction taken by the charter in regard
TO private accounts. If the argument thu.
brought forward were a sound one. there
could be no such thing as an examination
OF any value into the conduct Of the bank.
Because the business of the bank being
win individuals, its misconduct could new.
Ter be shown without bringing before the
fpublc the individual transact ton in which
the conduct OF the bank was inpeached.
And If it could make good the positio,.
that such proceedings are never to he ex'
posed to the public, because individu.,le
are concerned in them, it would effectu.
ally shut out all useful examination. and
be enabled to apply IFS money to the most
improper purposes, without detection or
Exposure. When its conduct is impeacb.
Z ed, on the ground that it has used it's GREAT
money power to obtain political influence.
the Investigation OF the charge is in its
very nature, an inquiry into its transac
'lons with individuals. And although the
accounts brought forward on such occa-
sions, may be the accounts of individuals.
yet they are also tie accounts of the bank
and show its conduct. And being the fs-
c.! agent agent Of tha government, with such
immense power to be exercised, for good
or for evil. the public safety requires, that
all of its proceedings should be open to
the strictrst and most rigorous scrutiny.
Its chatter may be forfeited by its mis-.
conduct, and would be Justly forfeited, i'll
j. sought TO obtain political influence in
the affairs of the nation. And yet such
attempts on the part ofthe bank, can never
be proved except by the examination and
disclosure of its dealings with individuals.
ID. 1t is not merely by its concealmcnts
that the bank has proved itself regardless
of the duties of its agency. Its own in
terests will be found to b" Its ruling prin-
ciple-and the just claims of the public
to be treated with but little regard when
they have come into collision with the in
terests of the corporation. This was but
too plainly the case in the affair of the 8
per cents above mentioned. A recent in
stance proves its rule of action is not
changed in that respect. And the failure
of the French government to pay the bill
drawn for the first instalment due by the
treaty, has been made tie occasion Of en-.
deavoring to obtain from the public, the
sum Of sel5G,84l Tito which no principle
Of Justice appears to entitle it. The mos
ney for which the bill was sold remained
in the bank. The expenses it incurred
were of small amount, and these the go
yernment are willing to pay. But the
coroorst ian, not content with the profits
it was deriving from the millions of public
money then IN its vaults, and viii, h it was
daily using in its discounts, endeavors to
convert the public disappointment into a
sainfui transaction for itself, aud demands
the large sum above mentioned, without
pretending that it sustained any loss or
Inconvenience, commensurate with the "a
mount it seeks to obtain from the govern
ment. The fiscal agent OF the public, at
tempts to avail itself of the unexpected
disappointment of the principal, for the
purpose of enhancing its own profits al
the expense Of the community.
Sd. There is sufficient evidence to prove
that the bank has used its means with a
view to obtain political power, and there
nv secure the renewal Of Its charter.
The documents which have been here
tofore laid before Congress, and are now
on its files, will show, that on the 3lst Of
December, 1880, the aggregate debt du'
A. h,,L uas Gao 400 3O4 "a, and tina