Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-01-04
POLITICAL.
from tho W. Gobe.l
The BANK MANlFESTO.-No. II.
RntlE bne -, 20.

Of the Bank in ,husng it's arguments upon Congss 10
inuacnce the members of that body in the decision they
may De called upon 10 make in relation to Executive
President Of the u s. " ~
AS The friends Of the Bank feared, its enemies ex.
Peceu, u does not attempt to give any what.
ever oil some points in the Report cf the Government Di.
rectors which made the strongest upon the pub
lie mind. In speaking Of the expenses of the Bank for
he nfst nan oil 1879, the Government Directors saw:
" Among other sums, was Of S7,sOl, stated to be
paid on orders OF the President under the resolution of
i'm March, 1881 and the orders themselves were the
only vouchers oil the expenditures found e-some
e orders TO the amount OF about 81 $780, stated that
e expenditure was for distributing General Smiths aud
MT McDuhes reports; the stated generally tina, 4,
was made under the resolution OF 18th March, 1881"
speaking OF the expenditures the last half year Of
1881 they paid ON the orders of tho
President and stated generally to be under the resouon
oil llh March, 1881" During the frs, half wear of 1892
the sum OF durisg the last half $6.35O; and dur.
Here was the sum OF $685. paid away by the Pre-.
sident oil the Bank and allowed without his being
70 render voucher showing to whom for what pur
poses had been paid To obtain specific account of
these expenditures, the Government Dire ctors offered the
following preamble and resolution viz: Wv
whereas IL appears by the expense accounts of Tho
Bank Tor the years 1891 and 1882 that upwards of eiobv
thousand dollars were expended under the
mead oil stationary and printing during that period; that
newspapers and periodical journals, and Tor the printing
distribution, and postage OF immense numbers OF pam.
Phe's and newspapers-and that about twenty thousand
dollars were expended under the resolutions OF Both
November 1880, and IL March, 1881 without aDy ac.
count oil the manner in which, or the persons 10 whom
me same were discussed And whereas it expedien
ana proper, that the particulars OF expend ure 80
large and unusual, which he only by
The examination oil numerous bills and receipts should be-
so stated as TO be readily subm tied TO and examined by
the Board oil Directors and the stockholders Therefore
Resolved Tha, the Cashier furnish 10 the Board at earv
day as possible, full and particular statement of ali
these expenditures, designating the sums of money maid 20
each person, the quantity and names Of the
printed by him. and his charges for the distribution and
postage oil the same; together with full statement as
ha nv anH
ton Of 3oih November, $780, and l1th March, 1881
That he ascertain whether expenditures of the same cha
racer have been made at any of the Offices and so pro-
cure similar statements thereof, with the authority ON
which they were made. That the said resolutions be re-
scnded, and no further expenditures made under the
same" WV
Tie Board OF Directors refused to adont This e,on.h
proposition, and proceeded TO pass resolution
their confidence in President Biddle authorizing and en-
joining upon him the expenditure further sums witou,
limit in the same mysterious manner.
We venture to say, that among all the disclosures roa.
live TO The Bank, there which so much shook
the confidence of honest men in its management and
raised the fears Of the American peope az Ills ccnseJ
expenditure OF its funds by the President without check
or Limitation IL has sometimes been necessary Tor Go.
vernmen 10 have "secref service money!" but the time
has not arrived, when The expedency of such fund
Is conceded TO corporations, aud especially TO one which
employed by the Government as its fiscal agent.
When the Bank Congress TO complain of ropcs
was 10 be expected that il would have explained Xxi.
point and made clear exposition Of the objects TO which
The money has been applied and exhibit the names Ie
persons TO whom 1t was paid. When by suDdry youch-
ers shown, that large have been paid Tor prn
ig lodlng packing, and distributing immense quantities
oil documents, speeches, political tracts and
and there yet remained than enty thousand dol
lars applied to purposes wholly planned there were
grounds 10 draw and the country did draw, the most un.
favorable conclusions as to the made OF this money
Some had so little charity 10 suppose that was apns
10 g'omg efeeoneerng entertainments 10 direct bride
ry and the buying of Uoes. The fact that no voucbars
were rendered, taken as conclusive proof that ,h
expenditures were of mature to bear the light.
Does me exposition now made, throw any light on these
mysterious expenditures? In relation TO them 1T 10 TO
tally SILENT. The circumstance is not alluded 10
W ITS forty idbOred pages! "
Does not this single fact annbilate the whole produc
uoh as a yDdlcaon OF the Bank? The Executive taxes
from that institution the public deposites alleging among
other reasons, that it has applied large amount of H.,
unos 10 electoneeTng purposes, is proved by the
vouchers IN part, and expended considers sum
through Its president in the general object the sne
chic application Of which is 10 the Governmrn,
ana even 10 he Board OF Directors, and insisted that
'ne manner III winch these moneys have been paid and
the refusal OF the Board require an account of them al
fora Tie suonges, presunp've evidence that the expen
diturc has been wicked and corrupt The Bank cones
forward 10 vndicate Itself before Congress. but in relation
10 TINS most essential point is choy mute. No expIsna
lion i giVen-none is attempted
WHY has not the Bank explained fo Conoress ,,,o
grounds OF this expenditure? WHY has il NOT SET forth
IN schedule names, dates objects and amounts, Can
any one doubt WHY 1t DARE NOT. Corruption
tcomd then be laid bare, and the porst that has been
conceived, pouid be confirmed! This is our inference
This also will be the inference OF Congress Silence
on on fs's POINT CONDEMNS THE BANK. his con.
JeSsion ~ GUILT. The abored xposilion having omit,
TED TIL, essential point must lie considered not as de-
fence 6W plea Of GUILTY. In that light it will he
considered by the representatives OF the people
But ibis Is not The only thing the Bank has omitted In
90; IL has omitted TO State why ii made FALSE RE.
rokI Of printing expenses 10 the Senate in 1882 of
winch has heretofore been convicted and now ,tnisb,
conclusive evidence TO convict itself.
On The Slst January, 1884, the Senate adopted teso
lions offered by Mr. Benton; calling the Bank among
other ihiDgs, for the following information viz 10y
"The annual amount of expenses of thr sauna u
IRON loiI TO 1881, inclusive under the heads let of
Sd contingencies" :" Jaws
on the 29h Of February, Mr. Bdle Transmitted repv
expenses Tor the time specified This statement NAV bc
seen IN Senate documcns, LIST session. 22d Congress vol
q doc DS, page 4S. 1t is there stated that these ex
PenSes J. r the year 1881, were 1855 81.
nuns exposition page 40, these expenses for 1884, are
given as follows, viz. ~
"Phnrng and circulating Reports 10 Con.
gress, 90 sso n,
Speeches in Congress, and other n,isccna.
neOu' PuOi'cS'ions, IoO557 Sc
i, U.aa 'S1 iooi' $2I,70S SO
senate ID 1882 9,755 o.
SO that the Report then made was false
ny q, $11 ,952 50
FALSE REPORT to the Sens'e la 1882, while IFS
memorial Tor new charter was under hut
u oms 10 tell tchy! Although il now says emo one con
eeaed-no one desired TO conceal one could conceal
tns Whole natter" yet IL DID conceal more tban Nil
OF 'hs mailer, aud the subsequent committee of iuveuga
uon, MOI su'PecDg that the cooperation would dare so
gtsy 10 impose upon the legislative body relied mon
'h' document for the amount OF printing expenses and
meh' ln'o no examination Of that point themselves
INC new charter was, therefore, discussed and sssed
while Congress were tailoring under erroneous imures.
sions IN relation 20 these eXpeses o. oIuced bv t L