The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-16
From the Sc. Louis Rep"0''e@"'
1EFE RANK RACK FE

We publish to-day, the letters receive by
the Bank OF Missouri, from Messrs. Fred HUH
& Co., the London Agents of the Bank All
the letters except the two last, are uninterest-
ing, so far as the charge of political influence
on our elections go. The expressions in the
two last supposed to have reference to politics,
we have italicized, that the reader may see its
full import After all, what is this great bug
bear? Nothing more nor less than what we
long time ago said, that so long as Locofocoism
hold the reins of power, no man of prudence
will have confidence enough in the State to in
vest his money in her bonds. These letters
show why il is that these bonds of Missouri
have always gone begging in the market, whilst
other States have met ready sale Capitalists
are lust like other men; they know that their
money is their own, and they will not loan it to
those who are constantly Waring against them,
denouncing and abusing them.
There is one matter connected with the pro-
duction of these letters, which it would be well
| if President Smith or Speaker Price wonld ex-
plain Without explanation, it will be hard to
make the public believe that the President did
not exhibit these letters to certain politicians
before they were called out by the order of the
House. 1t is well known, that in very few
minutes after the committee reported these let
ters to the House, Mr.. Speaker Price pulled out
of his pocket and submitted a long string OF
Locofoco resolutions. Every man who knows
Price will acquit him of the ability to write
these resolutions, Notwithstanding their flatness
and insipidity, and particularly, will he be ac-
Quilted of having written them in the few
minutes that elapsed between the report OF the
letters and the Offering ofthem. 1t would have
cos; the Speaker weeks cudgeling ofhis brains
| for half so lengthy series From these facts, il
is the general Impression that the letters were
examined before they were called for by the
| Legislature. If members of the Legislature
did not see and explain them, it is probable
that Col. Benton did and to him is ascribed the
fraternity of Speaker Prices issue.
We learn by letters from other sources than
our correspondent, that Presid't Smith attempts
now TO Justify his taking the files of the Bank
In his pocket, to Jefferson, by saying that the
Directors permitted him to do it. Will the
records of the Bank show such permission:
Who were the Directors that sactioned it, and
where was their authority TO give it? If the
| haze vas given, why did the President take
tlese tiers only? Why did he net take the
other paIt Of the salke correspondence? Why
diA lie no, take copies of the action OF the
| Directors on these letters? 1t is cause Of re-
gret that the Presidents zeal to aid the
! Calonql, should have led him to take these
1 lett rs from the files No act could have more
affected his standing at the head of the Institu-
tion, than this has. 1t has induced many, who
ones attributed to him independence ofcharac.
ter, to consider him only as the agent of par
ty. s..-
II however matterslittle now how or for wha
purpose the letters were taken from the files .
the Blk, their publication and the false censurine
which has been attempted to be cast upon Il n
| have, in our belief, destroyed the last vestise
character which either The Bank or State pos
sessed abroad. 1t 10 breach of mercant j
honor which is without an apology o. par