Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-06-22
TlLGHMAN MI TiICKRR

TlLGHATAN M. TUCKER
We took occasion some days since to adj
dress few plain questions to Mr.. Hanson
Alsburys and we shall now intenogate our
friend ":ender ieos Tucker as our neighbor of
the Sentinel used to denomnate him.
Mr.. Tucker was a member Of the Senate in
1888, when the Union Bank charter passed for
the second time, and has been in that BODY
ever since. He has tweed examined the
Union Bank, as a member Of two legislative
committees Of investigation, and it is not pay
ing him any compliment to say that he UNDER
stands thoroughly the whole history of the in
stitution, from the time the charter was PASS
ed. down TO the present day. He has conned
1t well, and If he does not understand il. Il
u because he has not mind 10 comprehend
any thing. Pie was first member of the in
vestigating committee In 1899. He did not
concur with the report fthe majority, nor did
he agree with Gen. Foote' report, promised to
make separate one himself This however
he never did, and in the winter Of 1910 his
well beloved friends the MisSissippian and
Sentinel, were so charitable, and had such
implicit confidence to his integritu, that they
did not scrupe to insinuate that his report had
been suppressed by potent arguments from
the Bank. But Of this we know nothing-it
is little family affair with which we had
nothing to do.
In 1910, Mr.. Tucker was again member
OF a committee appointed to examine into the
condition Of the Union Bank. After patient
and laborious investigation, the committee
presented very elaborate report, in which
they embraced every question connected with
the Bank or ITS management. In that report
Mr.. t. M. Tucker says:
"The committee, after a candid view of the
rnauaOcnnpuf and rneDurcoo ~ ho ho,.l. -
fully persuaded that the State iciu ultimately
be compelled TO pap greater portion, If NOT
fhe entire amount, Of the bonds already nego-
tiated
The committee learn that the interest on
the bonds issued on account Of the Planters
Bark has not been paid, and that they have
been protested in New York. The first in
stalment Of these bonds, amounting TO $3.50 |
600, falls due IN lS4l, and il is not altogether |
impossible that the bank will be able to pay |
either the principal or interest There will |
m all probability, be no means of payment
except by direct taxation. With this pros
pect before the state, in relation to her bonds,
the committee are of opinion that il would be
a most suicidal policy to increase the present
liability by further issue or sale of the secu-
rites"
In another part of the report Mr.. Tucker
says:
"Ths state has already frightful amount
Of Liabilities staring IL IN The face, 'oih no pros
peet Of liquidation but By direct and oppressive
tGrdtioH."
This was the language of Senator Tucker
m lS4O-at time when he perfectly under ]
stood the question in all It's bearings-when
he was familiar with the management of the
H. al, r Al. 4
the hour Of the examination. He then con- :
sidered that the State would "ultmately be
compelled to pay great portion, if not the
entlreamount ofthe bonds,already 7" gotiated." a
Now Mr.. Tucker is lawyer, and we believe
a pretty good one. He was familiar with the r
all about the sales of the bonds /
and every thing else connected with the :
bank; and, while in possession of this infor- ,
nation, he recorded his opinion, under an oath k
hat the State would be ''compelled to pay!"- g
Does he know anything now which he was :.
gnorant of at the time in relation to the bank! :"
The charter was passed, the bonds were sold, &C
nd the terms Of the sales were known to him. pc
fthe sales of the bonds were Illegal he knew
then. II they had been sold IN violation Of -,
ne charter he was not ignorant of it; and if
be now asserts, the state is not bound to NC
ly them, why did he say she would be COM pu
elled to pay in his report Of lS40l of
1.-THE charter, and the sales of the bon"s ~
lder 1t, was in violation of the constitution,
n.y. then we are not bound to paw them-the pa
mole AFFAIR Is MULTI ,aud we d. owe TINS 81
'bt Of S5,OO0,000. And if this be true-if su
Z violation of the constitution the charter
as rendered void, and we relieved from our -,
ability as the makers of the bonds, what did w
n Tucker mean when he spoke of our fright me
u liabilities" to meet which, 'direct and op- he
'essive taxation must be Iesorted to! II we cd
} not owe this S5000,0O0, if we are not le-
ally bound for it, our liabilities are not alright d'
II but on the contrary are very moderate es
lr Tucker cannot put in the plea that he did or
ot understand the queston-it will not an en-
yer. He must give better reasons than that. -
We desire to know tohy he has changed his &c
pInions since last year, and what new lights up
ave broken upon hml We are anxious not alb
My on our own account, but on account Of the a 4,
eople who are seeking after the truth. 90
Our object at present is only to direct pub "
sttention to this report, for the opinions of IN
lr. Tucker in lS4O. We shall have occasion hu
D refer to it frequently Vicks. Wing. CO