Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-05-28

review or the pflnClpal measures adopted h., =.
committee, which will now, for this reasony NE
briefly examined De
1. The first step taken was call bv tboro
mittee Of Investigation on the COMMITTEE ~ On W.
rectors, for "a list ofthe books of the BanL ~
an explanation Of the purposes for which s WIN
Is designed, and the name of the clerLs" t v.
whose care and custody they are resnect,,.io
committed" This was step preminsr,,e ely
the process by which the Committee of Ing
cation, in the Judgment of the majority ooSSI,
call Tor, and take into their possession. bv ooIo
cept addressed to cerks in the Bank, any o pre-
OF the books OF the institution, in which ,Sa al
slness transactions of the Bank are enton vi
by the SAID clerks. This list was furnished I
the Commute OF the Directors, with the sta. g5
ment, however that the books were not in ~ "'a'e
tody Of the clerks, but in the general cnstod
the Board. In consequence of this statsn u! u
no attempt was made to obtain possession OF
books by demand Of the clerks. VIC
Z. VI similar character, but more obiocso.
able, because tending more directly n tbn -?
stitution of general search. and formno III
immediate preparation for it, was the riohf9 - ~
sisted on by the committee, Of an excIusivc on
cupatlon OF the room in the banking-hou %
1ered by the directors for their accommodadcr
during the inspection of the books The ,,n
oerslghed refer to the correspondence betwe,n
| ny vi investigation and the Com
mittee OF the Bank on this subject, They Won,
only briefly observe, that a committee Of SSrnn
had been appointed by the Board of Direciorr,,'
to receive the Committee of Investigation ana
submit for their inspection such books and NV
| pers OF the Bank as might be necessary In oy
hibt its proceedings according to the renuir'
ment of the charter A room in the bantino
house was, by this committee offered for Il,
accommodation of the Committee oftbe Hon
of Representatives. 1t appeared at a very ear
ly stage OF the proceedings, in conference no
tween the two committees, that the Commune
of the Directors proposed to exhibit their booLc
in person to the Committee of Investigator
expressing, at the same time their expectation
and readiness to withdraw from the room
whenever the Committee of the House shorld
see fit" in order to furnish the Commute, ~
the House the opportunity to deliberate. g;iih.
out the presence of any one, not required @,
invited by themselves to attend This rron.c
ed manner of conducting the examination VIZ;
regarded by the majority Of the Committee e
the House of Representatives as inadmssiks
and formed the subject of a correspondents >.
tween them and the Committee of the Dirac,Cs
The Committee Of the House adopted we -
solutions, by one Of which they agreed bs
their proceedings should be confidential. .!al-s.
otherwise ordered by the Committee; ana bv h.
other, that no person should be presan, &: III
| inspection of the books and examination o. n
proceedings of the Bank, except those %hCeL
attendance might be required or permitGC ~
the Committee of Investigation.
| The first resolution was regarded m3'e =
an understanding, on the part of the Co:lmit-
tee of Investigation, that no publicity woulG u
given by them, until otherwise ordered, o ne
matters that might appear in the course ca ~
examination. The undersigned assenled { Iic
resolution, with the understanding of the ma
| liamentary law that the sittings of eve1y 2oH.
mittee are open, unless ordered to be sec"c b.
the House; and that it was not in the pow2' 0.
the present committee, by vote Of their o. u,
either to shut their doors, or impose secrecy i
any persons who might attend. But the IS.
scented to the injunction of confidence il cCn.
formity with a usage which has prevaiicC in
other committees of inquiry of the House Q"
their own convenience, as q rule binding IN
themselves, and with the express reservation
that the adoption of this resolution shoulc n
no degree involve an assent to the principe g
serted in the second. To that principle r.
that no person should be permitted &c attend
during the inspection of the books of lie Sem
and the examination Of its proceedings, "hOs.
presence was not required nor assented - D.
the Board, the undersigned were strenUCJ5y
opposed. 1t was asserted as a right on th3 lG?.
of the Committee and Gas the undersigned G3G.
posed and the Committee of the DireCtCIG g.
the Bank appeared also to understand ill., "in
an intention to enforce the right. In purSuGa21
Of this intention Gas the undersigned SapDG22a)
the Committee of Investigation ceased % "cI>
their meetings in the room set apart for thaEM
the banking house, as soon as they understood
the Committee of the Directors of the BGhF 20
claim the right of being there present with hen
books, during the inspection Of the same. lis
true that, by subsequent resolution, The vor-
mittee of the House Of Representatives DIS
claimed having decided that they should IN
point of fact, exclude the directors from lIe
room, during the inspection of the books; On
they persevered in the assertion OF the flgh' 80
do so, as appears from the documents apPeh1
ed to this report.
This claim was regarded by the undeiSl5hr,'
as being without foundation and ooJecuOH"I'
In the first place. as has been observed lhey ",
lieved it to be contrary 10 the tsr P@[""0IsL"
ria for committee OF inquiry, on us own ac"J
rty, to claim the right of holding IFS SIulrst
except when celebrating and voting, III >! -
1t can only be constituted seeie' conilll" H..
by express order Of the House. SeCohuiy, ~" Una
principle involved the right of WlthdiaWlHs -.
books of the Bank from the cLsrocy OF III
rectors, and taking them into Ire 2os3cSs'Cyno
the Committee of Investigation. Dis d d ~ c
er not given by the charter, which as Ia. o.
books are concerned, authorizes coli conn Nm,
only to inspect the books" rs me ils"' onI;