Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-01-13


the restrictions imposes on these corporations were
! something stronger than ropes OF sand. The next
question was, how that determination was TO be
made known, and how its action could be rendered
eleciual for the correction and prevention OF the
injurious and dangerous disregard Of legal rest aints
| oy the banks IL was clear tina, the only mode by
which those objects could be attained, was 10 hold
them 10 strict accountability, and 10 punish them
tor every breach OF law IL had been quantity said
that corporations had Soa's and were consequent
ly irresponsible to punishment. II they could not
punish the corporations they could attain the same
, effects by holding their officers to strict ac-
, countability. And that in fact the only way in
which the Purposes OF remedial and preventive Jus
tice could be attained. Il would be unjust to hold
! the stockholders TO an account foe the msdeeds Of
their agents, and II would be Intellectual for the
rection Of the offenders. In the case before them,
they had already seen the extent TO which the Off
, GERS OF the Bank OF Va. had offended. An had OF
Tended, and all had paid the penalty except the Pre-
sident. The Cashier had offended in the same man.
ner and TO the same extent the President is chaIg
ed to have donc;-his defence the same. He,
too, conhdod too much IN his subordinates; yet 1t
availed him nothing; hts honor, his honesty were
not impeachei. all were unStaned; yet all feel that
he was properly removed from office, because he
tailed TO observe the duties and obligations prescrb
ed by law. IL violated law demanded his removal
, violated law made the same demand in relation to
the President, If his case presents the facts
lie had not understood the defence OF the President
to be placed on other grounds than those occupied
by that OF the officers. IL was not denied that he
h"a oSeH SuiltN W ol ON repc0eu anu
} long continued negligence. Ii not denied that
he had been unfaithiul TO The law and the charter
OF the bank. Ii was not denied that his failure
tuhl the requirements OF the law and the charter had
been followed by the infection of the greatest injury
TO the stockholders and the State. IL acknow leds-
cd that II he had discharged his duties, all would
have been well. IL cannot be shown that he
should not share IN the responsibility that has crush
ed the actors. lie was first in dignity, first in posi-
ton, FIRST in power, and should not be second in
sHonsbilIty.
Ii gentlemen could show how the observance of
these laws, that all acknowledge to be whole
some, and Is absolutely necessary the well being
OF society, could be enforced in any other manner
than 10y making an example OF those officers who
disregard them, they would attain their object and
relieve the House from the necessity of calling for
the removal Of Dr. B.; but they could not
The friends Of DE-. Band the zeal of no mans
friends had been like tha, OF his since the days. when
at the beck of Roderick,
.lnstaut from eopse aud heath arose,
Bonncts and spears. and Bonded bows
Of clansmen, ready TO DO his bidding unto tcath-
conscious that his defence cannot be made by any
argument on the facts OF the case, cali to their aid
all the powers OF fancy and OF elOquence, and APP
pea TO our feelings the ark of his safety ii once
moved. The gentleman from Richmond City, in
the same moment that he ackuo lodged that he has
been Negligent, asked II any could Law his hand
on his heart and say that he will be vgilant in
future. The wise have told us that the past is the
mirror of the future: When they look into that
mirror, they perceived that DR.. b. had been habitu-
ally negligent OF his duty; had habitually set nj
nousht she bye laws of the Bank and the statutes
OF that body. Seeing this, how could they expect
change OF conduct for the fuiure2 The eternal fit
ness OF things require that the causes should
produce The same effects. Conduct was the result
OF character and the character which has made Dr..
B. needless of the law IN the past, would make him
needless OF the law IN the future. The gentlemen
from k chmUnd and Accomac urged rs tie defence
Of DR.. u that his negligence had arisen fron over
confidence IN men, and they had enchanted them with
htfrhy hpafa t,s.
lofty and ennoOlng qualities that elevated their
nature, towards IT'S original purity-ond Of which
they would fam induce them TO believe that this
virtue OF confidence was the chei.-They had reused
by their descriptions Of the demCnilc condition Of
those who were devoid OF the eminent ouaily OF
confidence. He yielded TO one in the extent Of
! his admiration OF tina, quality and all lis kindred,
! and Claimed TO oe far removed from that demoniac
condition so trighuuliy portrayed by gentlemen -
r but he regarded it os entirely social virtue; as
e beng out OF place when present elsew here-Con-
fdence IN men has been the bane OF nat.ons-lhe
fountain OF all evil TO them. Ii gentlemen would
turn TO the pages OF history land consult the fate OF
? every Zee people, they would perceive that conf.
: dsncs had been the destruction of each. The peo-
pie Of Rome, when they rallied around julius Cse.
sar MS the guardian OF popular rights little thought
that that confidence IN him made Rome the heritage
= Of luxurious and mbeciic tyranis. The gay the
: gallant, the enthusiastic soldiers of Republican
France, when bearing the banners of victory un-
e der the lead of Napoleon, over the thrones of
ty TO an ensaved world, and had dream that their
o blood vas the cemen, Of an imperial throne to be
Il occupied by him. He could multiply examples to
y the "crIck Of DOOM" TO shsw that confidence was
: not public virtue. lie said he would ask gentle
msn to turn their eyes 10 their constitutions
c and they would see that the controlling principle
T Of all Of them was, that there to be no conf
c dence IN men. Why all the anxious subdivision
and separation of lower 7-Because men were not
to be trusted They heard from the cradle to the
grave, the Oft repeated motto that eternal vigilance
was the price OF freedom; and yet gentlemen
would have them to regard this vefy quality against
which they were auXIoUsly warned, of price
less virtue IN public oihcer Upon the same prn-
5 cp'e Of trusting to man, were these Banks es-
= hummelshine, Legislatures hejged them round
with charters the stockt Oters enacted bye laws
Z anu multiplied officers, because men are not TO be
trusted and ye; gentleman urged, a defence Of
the President that he had excess OF that dangerous
Quality For this virtue they continue him in
u post, the duties oi which he had failed TO dis
charge, TO Tie deep injury Of the country conss.
quenee OF his excess OF that virtue. The gentlemen
, from Richmond and Accomac IN their eloque and
anxious defence of Dr.. b., claimed for him impuni-
y, because OF his unequa.ied financial ability
They lad such emphasis that pon, Of their ce.
truce, that they might very properly inf thit thew
claimed FOR him n monopoly of that quality: and
would convince them that no one else could
he found competent to discharge the duties Of
: President Of tie Bank; that 1t could not pros
r.. under other guidance lie SAID that he was
DISPOSED 70 estimate very mighty d.. B's capacity,
but was not prepared 10 believe that in Old Virgin
IA, the mother OF men, and Of wise and grea, men
that the breed Of noble hoods was 60 nearly cK-
uoguishcd, that there was but one oil az. the race
Itit within her bOrGcs.
.ie GCjs, upon what hath this our Caesar fed
That DE hath 80 OuiErOHh his fellows Of"
Why should Dr.. b. have So far the advantage of oil
the hn7nciers OF VrgIniol Where are the eyiden-
ces o. this wonderful disparity between him and
ohersi There are other banks in Virginia that
have presidents, who manage their off irs as wisely
Judging from their condition, Is eyer DR.. r. man.
aged those Of this. Gentlemen haye permitted
Their eScled im1ginst.ns TO run OF with them. Dr.
y. IS no doub! an able and experienced gentleman
bat thare aTe Others, and many others equally so
~ The STATE; and the Bank Of Vlreinin viii! not ne
cessariy be resolved into is original elements upon
It's departure from him.
. The gentlemen, drawing from the ample sbd I
rich stores Of their fancy, had presented 20 tie /
house rs a moving spcctacIs--they bched an aged, /
an bonorcd citizen, bound 40 the ultnr of prejudice
his grey hairs streaming IN the bree.e--lhe min /
ls,r5 nre eager Tor the task, and in an instant be
will be the ylcia to appense evil passions and they
were calling with passionate eOquencc ~ snatch The
sctim from the knife, the deed ofinhumaniiy he
contaminated. lle insisted, this was in truth only /
"dncy's s<e'cbi" all postty. He Insisted thai II /
gentlemen would give loOge reign 20 their imagina.
tons, that they would present in equally bold re-
lef a picture OF the consequence 70 society OF !.