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

No. IS.--VOLU ME AAANlI.
parent lie did discover it, and went to the Teller for
satisfactory explanation From that officer he got an
unsatisfactory explanation, and the President then said
that an investigation must take pacethen, il was that
the flight took place. and that left the matter beyond
all doubt. When he saw the explanation of the Pre-
sIdent i'll this matter the last doubt on his mind had
been removed, and he thought and still believed that
there did not exist any fact which called for his dis
cbarge-tIat there was no such neglect of duty as re-
Guired his immolaton.
1t was not surprising, under the circumstances Of the
case, that the utmost vigilance had prevailed Com
lidence peculiarly the child Of fanccd security
vigilance only the offspring of continued danger
The President had been in the Bank for upwards of 30
years, and during the whole time, had lost to the
Stockholders, from any cause, cent and he would
ask whether the uniform propriey of conduct in every
officer connected with the Bank for more than thirty
years not peculiarly calculated lull every thing
like suspicion the breast Of the President of that
sttuton. The human mind not susceptible Of
continual vigilance in the absence Of danger to stimu.
late It. DID they believe, that the vigani sen
mel, If placed some peaceful outpost 4 region
where the footsteps OF enemy had not been heard for
nearly half n century would walk his lazy round and
never be found asleep his post: Vigilance the
child of dunger and eternal vigilance could only be
existent with eternal danger Confidence and vigilance
could never exist together-the one would assuredly
swallow up the other Vigilance would never exs, in
the mind of an honest man. where there had been
slant absence of every thing like danger. II the
prerogatiye OF an honest mind, to readily conide in
those supposed honest; II only the vicious mind,
acquainted with the motives which governed itself,
that perpetually dsrustiul and vigilant He was
surprised that the President had conded in the
Cashier and the Cashier in the Teller Ii was precise
ly what always had occurred and what always would
occur, under similar circumstances. But the gentle
man from Tyler Ind argued, that DR.. Brockcnhrough
himself had suspected Green and had adnonshed the
Bank officers against hun, aud all with whom he
connected, and that, therefore, when he found that
something going wrong, that he should imme-
diaely have turned TO his account and entered
into al investigation thereof After thing had occur
red, there rarely much difficulty in pointing cut
what might have prevented it. Instead Of thinking
this matter of accusation against the President he
himself viewed il in just the opposite light So far
from thinking the admonition given, circumstance
weigh against that officer he thought it circumstance
to from their minds any doubt Of his watchlu
crcumspectIon. After he had admonlshcd the officers
against Green, who, they told all hands,
only reckless advenurer, could he have sup
posed that any officer in the Bank to cater 10 his
vainy and to ruin his own character, aud blast his
own prospects, 10 furnish him with funds carry on
his specualions Was it within the range Of proba-
blity to suppose, that man Ike Dabney, with his
high character, his standing i'll society," and with a wife
and children dependent upon hin-was 1t reasonable
for DR.. Brockenbrough TO suppose that such man
would have proved villain, when villany without
lis reward Could he have supposed that Dabney
would have been made the dupe Of such mani
would consent TO PROSTATE his character without
rcaping any corresponding advantage Could II be
supposed that any man, in the vg!ant discharge Of
his duties, could have entertained suspicious such
these Could they either wish expect TO have pub
lie officers Of such character always to suspect the
honesty Of others, in such i This That
there had been neglect in that institution, he did not
mean to deny but the House must remark that the
question was not whether there had been neglect but
whether there had been that sort Of neglect which
CURED The immolation of the President Of the Bank
not whether Doctor Brockenbrough had discharged all
his duties with the most exact fidelity, but whether
there had been that degree Of neglect 10 make his
moval from office duty
tctermin!ns tins question, gentlemen must not
forget that DIR. Bockcnbrough had been in this Bark
for 40 years and that this is the first
when there has been the slightest complaint from any
quarter of neglect Of duty by him. During all Of
that time his services had been Of the most satisfactory
character Were DR.. b young man, and had tins
defalcation occurred early his official career, he
would have judged his with sternness.
BIT he could not forget the fact that lie
old man, and had grown grey in the service of
the Bank. Doctor Brockcnbrough had entered the
Bank when he young man; he had devoted 10
It's service talents and requirements winch would not
only have enabled him 10 succeed, but which wond
have made him eminent IN any walk Of HE. Now he
is an old man, thrcescore and ten unfit for other
pursuits than such as he is familiar with; and we are
gravely asked to turn him ANONYMOUSLY out of office
for his first offence for his first neglect Of duty
The gentleman from Tyler, yesterday, put the
case Of an overseer; and asked which Of WHO
had an overseer, who, after making his crop per-
mitted it to be destroyed, would not tnrn HIM out
of his employment. Mr.. b. said he would take the
illustration Of the gentleman and turn it upon him
Suppose that gentleman had manager upon an estate
so large that it necessary for him to have SUBJ
agents Suppose that the specific duty Of keeping the
KEYS of the garner assigned 10 one OF these Sup
nose he should have discharged his duty for fifteen
years with the most scrupulous fidelity; but in an H.
iated hour through confluence IN some servant q!
tried honesty he should leave the crop exposed to him.
and that it should be stolen. Suppose this manager
should have been in his employment for 81 years, and
that heretofore he had had no ocomp1n would
lie unccremoniousy dismiss hun from his service, tc-
cause he had not discharged his duty Of general su
pervson in way 10 have prevented the unsupported
ioss' Would lie not, in such case, have been salts
fled with the dismissal of the two sub-ngens who were
implicated: He put 1t to the gentleman
from Tyler to say, whether any man could be found 10
remove this faithful manager, who had attended to his
dniy throu Ri all seasons and during long Of
wears with vigilance fidelity and zeal, simply because
some agent under him, himself too confdng, had left
open the door of his granary IN the night, and per-
nitied lis contents tn be plundered, He would
oice himself a farmer, if lie could get tins vgt-
should be well content, if from neglect
of duty lie should suffer but loss in % 40 years
He would not discharge such an officer, whatever
NIGH, be his own loss, IN consequence OF his condng
too much in his agents. He would not remove him,
unless there was something criminal in The neglect Of
his duty. But Doctor Brockenbrough was TO he re-
moved for this neglect of dntyTo justify this course
bnt two could exis-either because the neglect
she wed general nntness in him, because it Of
such character to make it necessary as public
example Was This punishment sought 10 be inflicted
necessary MS public example, Was it necessary asa
punishment If they meant to punish him, they
must shew that there had been crime; and even in that
case, he insisted that the punishment should lie pro-
poroned the offence; and he would ask, # punish
nent proper, there that House, vii SO
Ertra from he 8drss Of Dr. Br0ekcnbr"Hgh 10 tie hoard
Stockholders in july, lao:
tbe board having made this provision flh their
rarrmcnil Suddenly aondd April last by the NOR
nation dacaion in the funds entrusted 10 the
first teller oil Although there circumstances
that surprise short time before The flight Of the teller,
confidence the principles Of that Of
cer from his department during the bank,
that attributed could well understand that
yas certainly Inadequate effect Under
duc,icD the ne.lorng banks ought TO haze
of NJ