Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-10-24
VOLUME 4l---NO. J2.

a course Of expenditure which corrupted the
prcss, bought over everything in politics which
could be bought, and finally Frustrated The BanF.
IL IS unnecessary here 10 90 back and review
The great contest which ended al last with the
Banks discontinue. Il was battle. without
doubt most per>everinsy fought; and had il not
been Tor The energy and wisdom OF that great
man, whose sun i now setting behind The West
ern mountains, the efforts of The Bank would
: have proved successful Driven however from
the held OF national politics. took refuge as a
last resort, in the narrow enclosure marked ont
hy the boundaries Of PENNSYLVANIA SuddenlyZ
without note or preparation without the usual de-
cent prelimlnarieso OF even fictitious meetings ana
sham petitions, bill 10 give State charter to
the National Bank, was tackled on to an omnibus
bill, driven through the House, and lifted over
the Senate. The monster was swallowed not Nv
The. usual process OF desuti,ion-no, BY breaking
lis bones, and soitenns its e1crescences-bui by
one gigantic gup and when the task was over
and when the State sat down 10 digest lis meal il
would have been hard for an observer 10 deci'e
which OF The two was 10 retain and impaH lis IL
diviciuality 10 the other The people stood by
amazed. Little better was expected from the
House OF Representatives which had >lidden
into power through the cleft opened NJ the prcce-
ding election, in the ranks OF the majority, by the
schsm between Wolf and Muhenherg but for
the Senate, a large ma jortv of whom were con-
sIdered to he sturdy Republicans some Of whom
had even distinguished themselves bv running
unnecessary iourna menlS against the monster
after II was fairly crushed for the Senate, pledged
rs Il was, nanacled a il was hy every lie of
honor AMI decency-io bow its knees. end receive
the hill with obei>ance, and softly and noiSeles>ly
To hurry il through into the Governors Ian was a
thing by which The people were shocked and
dumi'-ioundcd II is not for uS to inicrroca,e the
conscitnces and 10 scan the motives Of those who
lett The Republican party on that memora lie CO.
cason. A portion of the secret history of tic
session was adyerlcd To some wears after by a
committee the State House OF Representatives
al whose head va, distinguished gentle M n.
who, though then connected ~ association with
the Wing party, was one Of the boldest and most
uncompromising in his efforts 10 sienallv punish
The actors in the guilty scenes BY which the Har-
ri>burg operations OF the Bank were distinguish
ed In report made in 1912, on tho charges
brought against the previous Legislature OF cor
rup action on the resumption resolutions, the
committee SAYS
an regard 10 the re-charter of the Bank OF the
United States. some evidence, however, was Incl
dentally brought before the committee, from which
il would scarcely seem 10 be doubted, that the
same means were attempted, il not actually en-
plovcd. AZ that time during the session OF 1910.
The permancn, expense account Of that Bank,
before referred 10, shows the following entries
1856. May 5, Receipt OF n. Biddle,
President, S2O575 60
1886. May T. Rcceip, oil y. Biddle,
President. 5000 90
1896. MAY IT.. Voucher for incideE-
tai expenses at Harrisburg 1911 %
1896. MAY -. Receip, OF ~ Biddle s.G97 30
1896. May -, j. .. w, Ga member
Of the Legislature for professional
services. 10000 Oh
1886. May %, ]. VI. 10000 90
1886. Nav -, y. Biddlc 10000 90
1886 June Is - Bidde 5000 %
1876 June u NJ. Wilson 4 Co,
Harrisburg. for expenses 3.iGS ~
lS36 June 10 y. Biddlc 5000 90
S1o052 90
How many more Of The items Of the same
account, entered rs OF a subsequent date, icicr
hack 10 the transaction in question, the Commit
Tee cannot determine. Tter call attention, how
ever, 10 The evidence OF Jonathan Paterson, one
Of tie Tcllcrs OF the Rank, who proves the use
Of the sum of 100000 Is the officers, al OF
about the very period oil the lc-charier: The it'll
Grawal of which from the Bank was attempted To
be concealed by false entry on the looks Both
ot the agents who appear 10 have been employed
on this occasion are now deceased, and 10 have
proceeded further in such an investigation, with
ont having the lime 10 prosecute il 10 lis iu eX-
Stances
Such is what the Bank did for the poll
teal purity of the country. /! is sad
thing lor an American 10 see how poientlv
did the spell work but still s2dGer Is II for
every PENNSYLVANIA To look back upon the
fraud the intrigue and the diShonor, which has
thus been brought upon the State 10 which he be-
longS. He cannot run lis eye back ten years on
the legislative journals without seeing every vol
tbo o,.;Io of
which the poison worked There was the char
ter obtained bg what means is Shown by The sud-
den tergiversatons OF politicians, and the eXtraor
binary disbursements OF The Bank. And then. as
lit conSumaton, came the Governor election ot
1878, with us scenes ot violence and irand-
There are 10 be- iound reports OF legislative com
mites exhibiting the fact that. 1T election aier
election. large suns OF money were sqUandercG
az the polls from sources which no one cot II dis
cover and there also is the truth strongly lustra
tel, thai when the moral principle once breaks
down before an assault from one quarter il readi-
Is Yields 10 temptation from ;.nciner. The ren
who received money Tor their individual votes. did
not hesitate iorcihly To tear open The ballo,-bcX,
or iraudr.eniv 10 stuff il with false votes. II il
TO be said that il another Bank were chartered II
NIGH, steer clear Of the political errors which
made the last>o fatal! The last Bank did what
lis nature prompted il 10 do il made use ol The ma
CNl0t!6 IL pbS>sSStd Ol tut tI III
ends and il made use Of 1t without stint. Will
not another Bank, when il con>idercs itscl. al
taclieG-and into an attack Will lie tortured every
rustic in the political atmosphere he liberal
OF those pons oi which It's armory Is iulls
j. human nature 80 strong that il can be expected
when the time draws nigh, for il 10 surrender
possession OF its gains ana its power without
struggle VIII not an expiring Bank clutch ct
any instrument that might promise 10 procure Tor
il an extension OF lis existence VIII not an eT-
isting Bank adopt any means which viii bid far
To obtain Tor il an extension OF us privileges J.
Iiano,her Bank b. chartered, the same penis will
br encountered "a came near running the country
under the auspices OF the last.
The object nj the preceding pages has been
10 point out what the EaLk do for our business
moraiiv for Our commercial stability, and for
orr political integrity. Let not he result o; tie
inquiry lie passed by unhcedcd. II may Le thought
light hing that the Ole and rigorous na&im>
with which We began our national career should
give place TO others more accommodating. one
o.the worst Signs of lie times is The caliCun ness
with which the reproach Of dishonesty is horne,
and the siigtne>s with which the avenues OF
temptation are guarded. But, he assured. that
habits OF business looseBess, OF reckless specu'a-
ton of private luxury il once they eat inio The
Republic will bring i, Ia the dust. Already The
/ good name OF three States has been solled; but
stu t9ere Is I'm. 10 sop 'hc plague IIH >o''E
further five would check lis progress, We NUT
sill down gTaycIy aud earnestly 10 he work, de-
termnei lha; il necessary We will cut of our
right hand, or plncs on; Our right eye Call back
the good old walch-word> Of former times, he
DAYS of orr countrys childhood, when our mus
cles were hardening, and our strength settling, and
our shape moulding, and ask the wise and brave
men OF those better days. how il was they lived,
and how j; was they conquered. They viii point
TO their simple homes, to their frugal habits. to
their severe morals, 10 the cold, cushioness
Churches in which they worshipped God and the
urornamen,ed brick Cou.,-houses where the ear
Is committees met, and from whence the Revou-
ton vas guided, and then they will point US 10
Bunker Hill, to Princeton and 10 Yorktown. Let
Us bring home the moral they teach. To revenge
no parry grief, 10 secure no public spoils do We
90 on, to the struggle Arise then, men and breth-
rcn, and for the sake Of our young and dear
country, di>honored as it has been by those it