Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1841-06-12

ana the committee could not ascertain
the nature of; and whereas, no explana-
ton on this subject has been subsequently
obtained, and color, is thus given to i'm.
putations cast upoG the late and existing
Bank of the United States that its funds
had been used corruptly. And whereas,
under such circumstances, entire silence
on the part of the stockholders would be
inconsistent with their regard for The rep
utallon of their country, and with their
own self.respect,, therefore,
ReSolUed, That the stake which we
have in the honor and welfare Of our
country now and hereafter, is far more
precious than any personal interest which
we can have IN any chartered institution.
ReSolced, That we denounce and con-
denim as hostile to liberty and subverslve
ofyrtue, any expenditure or oan, if any
such has been made by the Iatc existing
Bank of the United States, under former
administration, for the purpose OF lnfuen~
cling the public press, operating upon the
public suffrage, or securing the aid of le-
gisators or other public agents for any
object whatever.
ReSolced, That for the sake of the pub
lie example, we regret that the Committee
appointed by the stockholders in January
last, failed to obtain knowledge Of the
particulars OF the expenditures to which
they have referred IN their report, and
that public thanks will be merited by those
who, possessing the knowledge, shall dis
close it.
RcSolped, That in such an inquiry as
that which was in January, affecting the
fame Of the country and the safety OF its
institutional full development of truth was
a higher consideration than the ephemer-
al interests Of individuals or stockholders
and that for this and other reasons we DO
not concur with the majority of the inves-
tigating committee in snPpresslng the par
ticulars of active and suspended debt.
Here Col. Drayton rose, with much
excitement, and said-I will not say that
in former times the press has not been
bribsi by the officers Of this Bank; | will
not say that the legislature has moi been
so brbed, or that politicians had not been
thus brbed. But do say that the pres
sent Directors have had nothing to do
with such things. They have used none
of the money oil the bank since l have
been an officer in it, in any attempts to
bride either the press, politicians or legis>
lators. If they had, such course would
have been most detestable, and deserving
the execration Of the community.
The committee have already cOmmen-
ced against all those former officers of the
Bank whom they think liable in law -
they have picked out the most prominent,
and those who deserve to be punished first
according to law. They have engaged
two Of the best lawyers in the city to aid
the counsel of the Bank in carrying on
these prosecutions to the full extent of The
law, and they can do no more.
The wrongs committed have not beer
done by the present board Of Directors,
they are not guilty of the guilty acts.
Mr.. Duane was asked to Withdraw his
resolutions.
Mr. Duane said--I shall not withdraw
them. Every effort that has been made
to ascertain how these large sums of mon
ey have been expended has failed. Can
any one doubt that if those large sums had
been expended honestly that the re-
cords of the barkswould have shown how
they we're expended Certainly not
We have right then to infer that these
large sums were used for corrupt nefarIous
and dishonorable purposes. That corrupt
means were used or attempted by the for
mer officers of this bank TO obtain a char.
ter. And you negative my resolution it
will be conclusive proof that this bank has
something yet which ii dare not show to
the light OF day; and that it could not
stand formerly without the employment of
corrupt and dishonorabe means. (Great
applause and exctement.)
The first and second resolutions of Mr.
Duane's we're then put and carried.
The third was re-read.
An old gentleman with long crooked
nose here rose and said, MIR. Eyre is
present, he has been an officer Of this bank
he was in the Legislature when this bank
got lis charter, perhaps he can tell us all
abOu; this bribery and corruption SO much
spoken Of"
Mr. Eyre-I have been unfortunate in
both these instance. was in the legs-
lature and in the management Of this bank
but didn't get single slice of the spoils
in either case. (Roars of laughter and
applause.)
The third resolution was then put and
carried.
The fourth resolution was then re.read,
and Mr. Kenpedu made n curiouS rau=