Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-11
(Erom the Giobe.)

The Philadelphia papers inform us that the judy
ment creditors of the u. S. Bank have attached the
debts due to that institution by Messrs. Webster, BIddle,
Riddle, and others. We hope that the secrets of The
prison house will now be unfolded. II is time TO
bring the despoilers Of the widow and the orphan to a
Just reckoning. But a few years ago and MIR. biddle
denounced the Democratic leaders as fugitives from
the penitentiary. If half what is alleged against
him be true, where should he now be? 1t is painful
to see the tone of society among US so demoralzed
by the practices Of late years. Men occupying the
highest social position are detected in offences the most
shameful and ruinous to the community, and are yet
permitted to hold up their heads in the very presence
Of their victims. In England, when the South Sea
bubble exploded, all who were even remotely suspected
of participation in the fraud, were driven lgnomlnious
" from the country, or were put in jeopardy OF LIE ana
estate. Here, the plunderers Of the innocent and the
con6ding IRE permitted to occupy the highest posts, po'
Ilitical and social. Law died an exile and in poverty
His American ~imitators, though more guilty, brave
public opinion with IN unblushing front. ihey seem
10 feel no remorse for the misery they have inflicted
We have heard of two ladies', the widows oil gallant or
6cers, who are reduced to beggary by the fraudulent
insolvency of this Inflated institution. We know the
case of q gentleman who, at an advanced age, has los'
the sole dependence of a numerous family. Such IN,
stances are without number. They have filled the land
with desolation-they have sent many gray hairs with
sorrow to their graves-they have wrung agonlzing
signs from many broken hearts; and yet The authors Of
such complicated, f~ar-spread misery still revel IN their
i'll. gotten wealth and honors.
But the officers Of this ill-fa.ed institution are not
alone guilty. Those who made use of their political
importance to obtain enormous loans, or rather gifts
far beyond their possible means of repayment, are
equally ~culpable. They knew that the president and
directors were but the trustees of the %con6ding stock
holders, comprising many helpless females, minors
and strangers. In demanding, in accepting these enor,
mons loans, they participated in a breach of trust, and
deliberately ~plundered the orphan and the widow
They have wasted upon their pride ard tteir passions
the competence of hundreds. We have been led to
these reflections by the presence of MIR. Blddle IN oul
city. 1t is rumored that he has been in frequent con
s~uilation with Mr.. Webster. Are they contrivine
some means of defeating the legal process to which
they are in common subjected This is the general ane
very natural opinion. Will they be permitted to elude
the consequences of their enormous offences? 1t wa'
currently reported at the time, that Mr.. Webster hat
wiped out his colossal debt to the Bank, By an assign
ment of wild lands in the West-the value of which
was certified by the accommodating and accommodate
MIR. Doty, who, in spite of his tainted reputation, wa
rewarded with the Governorship of Wisconsin, vaca
ted by the ignominious dismissal of the gallant ant
meritorious General Dodge. Can it be possible iha
the vaunted era of reform has already introduced int
our Republic, practices that would disgrace the worn
out despo,isms of Europe' Are the power and inter
ests Of this nation confided to men whose favorite
and associates are the Dotys, the Curtises and the Ora
pers-mcn from whom even their own political friend
turn with DISGUST?