Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-16

of justice stern, who believed that IT'S oe
mands inc xorabe, that he could not be sats-
fed with the mental anguish the agonized sensbility,
which but pure and honorable mind could feel,
and which had Frustrated Doctor Brockenbrough upon
bed Of sickness. But he to be removed for the
sake of example .-That was the main ground taken
as a reason for his dismissal If an example were ne
cessary, an example had already been made Of that
agent in the Bank, who acknowledged on all
hands the most culpabe the affair. lie repeated,
that if example proper in that case, an example
had been made and made in the person OF that officer
who had been most pable in the matter. Gentlemen
commended, that Anthony Robinson onght not to have
been removed-then surely: there much greater
why Dr. B. should not, for his neglect of duty
much less in every respect. But gentlemen SAID,
because Anthony Robinson was removed, that there
fore DR.. Brockenbrough ought TO be- To establish
their position, they must first prove that the TWO
were equally culpable. Whether Anthony Robinson
properly removed or not he did not mean to say;
with his removal they had nothing to do;-he was re-
moved without any consultation with or cooperation
on the part of that House, by those who had the right
so remove him. Surprising that wrong had been done
in his case, that surely why they should
do wrong in the of DR.. B.-but, supposng that
right had been done IN the former case, then did they
derive from his punishment that example for which
they contended. The example, too, had been made
upon him who was the most culpable and, therefore,
the good effects Of the example would doubtless be
more apparent;-besldes, the force of any example
which we could make in the removal Of DR.. b., would
These men, two several occasions, when they were
under the smart of pecuniay loss, had sustained him
by overwhelming majorities They have just elected
five Directors in the Bank favorable the reelection
of Dr. B. II is in power defeat his election
and we cannot therefore make example of him. even
iii were proper. If then, the removal Of Dr. b.
not called for example, did all the circumstances
of the sllcw such general unfness on his part
to discharge the duties of his station as 10 Justify and
call for his Dismissal? He thought that this would not
be seriously commended He might appeal with conf
dence to the universal opinion entertained of DR.. B.
to shew, that there such unftness for the dis
charge of the duties Of his Office lie knew that il had
been believed in that city, and throughout the State
for thirty years, that he most accomplished e.
nancer and able Banker. He did not want to know
more than the general management of the Bank, and
the results of its operations disclosed enough TO assure
him that he was an able fnancier. The Bank from the
time of IT'S fras existence TO the present hour had
under his management safely passed through the sever
est storms About 1919, this Banking establishment lost
more than one third OF ITS capital as proved by the
fact that the value its stock fell to 60 cents in the dol
lar Since that time, the Bank had again lost third Of
its capital which consisted that time (Which was be-
fore the late ncrease) of 100000 He alluded to its
subscription to the James River and Kanawha Compa-
n.y. 1t was forced to subscribe that company $780,
00O and that, all practical purposes was as dead
loss TO the Bank if that had been distracted from
the vaults. That was sixth of its capital. 1t had
since lost FIVE hundred and odd thousand dollars more
seventh of its capital the three together making loss
the Bank had lost since 1919, absolutely lost thirds
OF its capital yet at the present be believed
that the stock in the market only some fifteen
twenty per cent. below par He felt that he need not
enter into any details to shew that this Bank had been
well and sklfuly managed when he could point to ge
neral results such these At different periods the
Bank had lost twohrds of its capital and yet that its
stock was only some fifteen twenty per cent below
par These facts were TO his mind conclusive evidence
of the financial abilities the President Let it not be
said, that DIR. Brockenbrough had led the Bank into
these difficulties, and therefore deserved credit for
rescuing her from them. The difficulties of 1919 were
the difficulties OF the times from which the Bank OF
Virginia had suffered, III common with all other bank
ing institutions, in consequence of the heavy and un-
foreseen commercial failures. The subscription 10 the
James River Improvement forced one; and the
late loss he had sustained had occurred in conse
quence OF any act OF DIR. Brockenbrough. He had ne
heard whisper until now Of the want of skill or
ability of that officer. He had heard, he had known
for more than ten years, that suspicion had existed
against DR.. B.-a suspicion, having any thing for its
foundation, rather than the belief Of his neffcency to
manage that institution. When lie first came into the
Legislature of this State proposition to increase the
Banking capital OF the Slate foot At that time
DR.. b. was looked upon by many with suspicion. He
had heard the argument urged, if upon that floor
least BY prominent members of the House. that if they
increased the capital of the Bank of Virginia, such
Doctor BrockenbrouGh's skill in finance, such his
ability banking officer, that he would not merely
get the control of the banking institutions of Virginia.
Virginia Monster. He had heard Doctor Broken
brough account ofhis financial ability, denounced
He had known him TO be much feared with his little
monster here Bdde with his big monster was fear.
ed elsewhere. What had occurred SINCE TO change all
of sudden, the current of opinion: What had occur
red since, TO convince certain parties that This same
Doctor peterborough, who then the extraordinary
and accomplished hnancier, who TO give such
vigor and strength 10 the Bank Of Virginia that it
was 10 become Colossus to bestride and overshadow
the State, 10 convert him suddenly into an imbecc,
utterly unit TO manage that institution A change had
indeed come the spirit of their dreams But If
any doubt entertained of the financial ability Of
the President he might refer to the proceedings Of the
stockholders Of the Bank to dspel that doubt. The
gentleman from Tyler, had commented severely on
their conduct-he told them that they had acted i'm
properly in going into the election of directors I'M
Ill they had spoken He supposed the gentleman
thought, if they had waited to see the result of
their deliberations, that then Sir Oracle having
opened his mouth, these dogs would not have dared
10 bark. His belief was, that these stock.
holders had an impression that they were, at all
events, just as we'll capable Of taking of their
own interests as we were for them. 1t might be
that these keen clearsghted stockholders, thought
that they knew about much of their own business
as the members Of the Legislature did They d fer.
ed with the gentleman from Tyler They thous ut tina,
they capable OF acting III the matter without our
advice and assistance. No doubt in This they were
greatly mistaken. In his opinion, the stockholders
were the best tribunal 10 decide upon the Presidents
conduct. They were men smar,ing under pecuniary
loss that loss which made men kccnly and sen
sitively alive to every thing likely to affect their in
terests than any other, and generally rendered then
hut little disposed TO favour those who had occasionct
1.-THE very fact that this body Of gathered toge
Their under the circumstances of the case and acquan
ed with all its details-the very fact that these
had by majority of more than three elected the
President, had proved conclusivey TO him, that the
President had not lost his character for financial abb
y The stockholders had no feeling to crafty: they
had improper purpose 10 subserye-ther only object
could be to obtain good bank officer; these gentlemen
had TO the consideration of the subject with calm
and settled minds, had repressed the feeling which the
heavy pecunary loss might have been supposed 10
gender, had sacrificed all the rancor which existed be
tween prominent men ofdieren parties, and had given
him their support. The gentleman from Tyler had
gued, that nasmuch as these prominent leaders in
party who differed much with Dr. b., had forgotten
their party antpathes, therefore there must be
thing rotten in Denmark.-Thc result Of that proceed
ing had brought his mind to very different conclu
sion The party men to whom he had alluded, had not