Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-01-23

quarterly examinations Of the Bank pap.r in IN,
custody OF the President Then follows the sen
s"oe enJohinS upon HIM TO superintend the conduc,
Oh al persons employed in the Bank, and To sign
sne ois and notes at the Bank ISSUED by the Bank >
90 mat II Is perceived far as this bye-law can
MAKE apparent, that, provided the Stockholders
s .1um preserve elsewhere the plates, moulds, and
blank bank paper, more securely than thew were en-
abed to preserve the money in the vaults Of the Bank
OF virginia, and keep just accounts of the quantity
uheurrent paper delivered to the printer and re-
eeseo back from HIM, and how much uncurrent paper
n "aeu on hand Maelzels automaton might be
made 70 have discharged the other important duties
OF PRESIDENT, required by that bye-law
:, KNOW, SIR, full well that these are not
All me other duties of President; that he is
sn,ei Director at the Board OF Directors, and that
much Is due 10 skill and experience which require
ume 10 become mature. But, sir, is there no other
gentleman IN Virginia who possesses thar skill and
experienced Perhaps not. Perhaps we are destitute
anu need some foreign importation. will not ask
SIT, IL there be no other citizen of virginia who nos
sesses AS pure character as high INTEGRITY ne Ia,
nonor, as the President Of the Bank Of Virginia =
FOR while the possession Of these are conceded IN
nln all must be aware that others too possess them
iuhy ana sir, as At will he conceded on all sides
atthere does live in Virginia some senteman-aye
sr' many gentlemen, equal TO the occasion if the de-
cease oil the President had rendered il imperative IN
decide whether to repeal the charter Of the Bank or
us e superintendent of its affairs TO some other
gentleman, ] will upon this occasion present IN.
subject to the Legislature in another ASPECT IL is
conceded that there various persons in the COM
monweaiih, OF as great personal worth as the Presi
oent OF the Virginia Bank; also, that several are
competent TO discharge the duties of President nj ,b,,
Institution. The present President il is assumed
possesses more financial ability than Is al,solutely
demanded TO discharge those duties And. sir 4
would then place the proprety of example, against
snperebundant skill; and then decide how ,s /, re-
preventative Of Virginia, should act. This MI.
Speaker, Is a common-sense question; and believe
the peop'e oil Virginia will understand the solution
| perfectly.
How much does this loss facilitate resumn,;on If
| specie payments, winch We all so much long fort
ask this House the great body ofthe peopeia moi
10 be taxed, and smarly taxed for this generous prn
eiple oil the Presidenil The State holds large inte
rest IN the stock of the Bank the Board of Public
w orks, the President and Directors Of the Literary
Fund hold stocks in this Bank; and thew arc
all owned by the people-aye, sir, and they are en-
Titled to have dividends; for what srl Merely for
the purpose Of drawing the Dividend No, sir: but
10 answer the demands which must be made, and
Which, II not paid from this source, must come from
me pockets III the people-yes sir from the pockets
OF your constituents, and my consuents-your
poor neishbor, and my poor neighbor; for sir there
IS no evadlns this dun. The State demands the tax
and the citizen must per force paw IT, The prnnor
on OF loss sustained, pertaining exclusively to the
great BODY OF the people, is something short of
SSoOOOO. Ii will not suffice TO inform the people
mat the losers III the main were mere bank stock
holuers Tor they well know that they have los, them
parcel OF the people, and that widows and orphans
whose dead husbands and dead fathers relied on the
character of the Virginia Bank and the hiph esti
mate OF It's President ana by their last writings Or
nerei Investments of their slender means in the stock
OF that Bank now suffer smsly for their husbands
and fathers confidence and vain trust The widow
mas less means for her msintenance-the ORPHANS
fewer comforts. l do not speak of absolute
des,hution. do not mean tina, they s;arve =
perhaps II is the want OF new Stockings or another
handkerchief; not absolutely bread. Why should
they not possess these cheap fuxuries-their ftino
and accustomed comfortsl Sir, because the President
of the Virginia Bank possessed in too eminent n de-
gree the principle Of confidence
| MIR. Speaker, the chief evidence of eeneros.
ny | have discovered in this whole business
Is IN the instance of Dabney, cited bv the Pre-
sldent, and which ! therefore may be well ex-
eused for reading from lis own address to the
stockholders he apparent habits of industry and
" economy of the Teller, his diSeRgaged manner
hIs general demesnoai in and out Of the Bank the
reSpecahllity of his connections his wife and fam
ny, his service IL tue Bank for ten years the uni
" yesSai confidence OF the community in which he
" lived from his childhood, the recommendation un.
" der which be came into the bank all forbade the
" slightest suspicion against his integrity"
| 1T Nr. Dabney's want of integrity was not sus-
pecied much less could have been imagined that
" lac or any other sane man would allow n merr
adyenturer, 10 draw and extort from him large sums
OF money, belonging 10 the Bank and conided to
| : MS care without any conceivable motive for such
dereliction of duty and If the fact had not oc-
| CURED, It would have been considered almost i'm
possible under the motives that usually control hIi-
" man actions Indeed after e!,etnptny TO analvze
the whole affair, confess 1t is enveluped in a de-
gree OF mystery that cannot penetrate That
men no em6e%ze and apply TO their own use, as
theirrapaciiy or ambition may prompt, money be-
longing " others, Is unfortunately for themselves
" anc .or society, not very uncommon case Blu,
" that one should sacrifice his own reputaton and
" incur the penalties of the law, without some bcne-
" ht 10 himself, which seems, IN the in question
" TO I've rendered probable by various collateral cir
" cumsiances, Is one of the mos, extraordinary oc-
" currences N the history of human events" " IL
Is alleged by the Teller, that the frauds began and
|" were carried on some time between the book .eerer
and Green, before he was aware Of il, and that he
TO save the book keeper, wa persuaded TO advance
" money Green's checks to make up his over
" drafs; which checks lie kept in his drawer as so
much cash, until Green could make them coed. but
" that instead of taking them Up, he continued to eN-
" act additional advances after he bad the Teller
" once ~ his power. From lhe fear of discovery
" and under the promise of Green relieve him by
the sale Of property the Teller continued this pro
-oess, until becoming hopeless of relief and certain
" of speedy detection, he became desperate and
" fed" Yes, sir, the Teller, dying as have heard
within some few mss oi this city did possess gene
rosIty-llly directed, 1t Is true but still generosity
dying broken hearted, sir, aud with thai iusdious
disease men call consumption sometimes, TO be
sure the effect of cold physical priyaiion or acct
utl'Hl ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iIs growing Sfckly with
4 crushed heart and distempcTed e0nsciencel | do
not complain of this, if others desire should not
| The man Was amiable, OF quiet manner, had no ox-
pcnsye habits, had reputation, high connections IN
society! n wife ard children, the universal cont
dcnce Of the community he rissed them all To
shield brother oicer-tc friend Hc yield.
ed TO weakness which did regard the well beng oi
another. he did at least possess generosity. But the
hrst false step taken, facility tempted farther I'll
weakness became bad habit--iil the tolls were all
about him-'until, becoming hopeless of relief and
certain Of speedy detection, he became desperate
and fell Returned, sr-V 0luntarly-to submit him
self TO justice And in one abyss, are now, cha
raceT, past confidence, the interests Of hs family and
himself Tie is receiving his rews,G-but do hope
the Father Of Heaven viii have mercy upon him -
What led To- IRbnry's defalcaton Whol There
are certain periods, sir, returning at regular .ner
walls, when the people never forget 20 count what
treasures they have lef remaining they do not for.
get TO require accureie accounts, and 10 SupcrnenC
the conduc. OF their officers do not know SIR, thai
shall ever again have the honor of a seat in q pub
lie assembly, even desirot; but expect la allort
an account Of my stewardship when | get home -
This will he duo tu my constituents. ana due 10 my
self Aud while ] feel confident that ! DO not pos
seSs the ability 10 authorize To expect to guide th,
opinions Of others IN any degree nor further desir,
IN respect 10 the conduct OF other gentlemen ~ ihi,
particular, than have already expressed and ever
fynnding alone will occupy the position on which
have already decided, it has occurred to me how
should account 10 he good people Of Norfolk Bo
rough, we've ~ favor the rc-1ppontment Of the Pre-
sdcnt Suppose, sir, some Of my constituents shoulC
require Of me to give an account Of my conduct /.