The Arkansas banner., 1845-01-01

OCT, lo44, upon the adoption ot the Re-
 port of the Joint Select Committee upoa
 he petition cf the Hon. I. II. Serier.
 MR. PRESIDENT:
 do not arise with view to abuse Col Sevier, or the Committee who have made this Report in his favor but to defend myself and the Committee of the last Legislature, who reported in the sale of the $500,000 worth of Smte Bonds for the Smithsonian legacy; and to show the great injustice which is done by the commit tee ot the present Legislature, to that of the last. It Is known to you, sir, that was the only member of the present General Assem- bly who signed the Majority Report of the last Legislature, who was present when this investigation was ordered and was not permitted to be on that committee, and con- sequently could not be heard in it. l am aware that there has been great efforts made to induce the members of this Legislature to think that l have acted inconsislently on this subject. These efforts must fall to the ground when all the facts are known.-- The Report to which allusion has been made, that was signed by me, was drawn up by the gentleman from Union, of the other House, on the 22d of November, 1842, on the morning of the day upon which Col Sever was elected 10 the U. s. Senate Mr. Field was expected 10 make his report on that morning, and was opposed to many parts oi II, which conceived was erroneous, and signed this as thought counter re- l port. It was never strictly examined by me, but barely read to me, and signed ii. It | co yfba then understood the instructions, which l never had heard read but once, and then in a hurried manner from the books of the Bank. The impressions then received in conheXlon with Mr. Davies statements about the transactions induced me 10 think that the Commissioners were justified by the nstruc- lions hence being friendly towards the Com missions was inclined to say what, from the HgJtts defore me, believed that the com mlssloners were justified by their nstruc- tons. But 1t will be seen by the Journals ol the last House of Representatives, at page z, that Mr. Field asked to be excused from reporting at all in this case; and the House excused him from reporting. The same Journal at page 72, shows that Mr. Calvert oi Saline, Col. Sevier's personal and politi- al friend, upon more mature consideration, moved to reconsider the last carried motion of the House, and that vote being put, the last motion, eXcusing said Committee from reporting, was recOnsidered, and further time allowed them to complete their investiga- ton. This then shows that the investiga- ton was not complete; and hence 1t ac- counts for my coming to different conclu- sion after entering into the re-investgation. l had been added to the Committee some time after the Committee was raised; and, as we'll as | recollect, attended but one mee- ting prior to the day of the election of Uni ted States Senator, When we entered upon the re-inyestigation, all the statements that were taken as testimony, were sworn 10 and Mr. Davies statements, that he refused to swear to, were excluded as evidence.- After that the Committee took the state ments of Messrs. Hanger aud Newton on oath, and the resolution of the Central Board as follows, was examined by me, viz: {" Re solved, That the necessary measures be now taken to obtain from the Governor five hun dred thousand dollars of the Bonds of the State, bearing 6 per cent interest, and have the same sold and inueSied in specie, ant such other eastern funds as will be best cal culated to meet the wants of the commun
 ty, and support the credit and interest of tho Bank; and that the principal Bank at Little Rock be put into operation with as little de lay as possible, for the purpose of discoun ting on indiuidual responsibilities only, uu til otherwise ordered by the Board. :" This with MT. Willamson's letter from New Or leans to President Davies, and other letter published with that Report, and thorougl examination of the Bank Charter, brough me to the conclusions and opinions which
 now maintain, and will endeavor to presen for the consideration of the Senate
 will turn to page 31 of the Journals o the last House of Representatives, and the re g solution here shows, that the committee o s the last Legislature, were specially directet to inquire into the sale of the 800 Sat bonds sold for the Smithsonian legacy, an according to all parliamentary usages, th committee could not, in making this specia investigation, look into other transaction beyond the range of what was made thei special duty in this case. And here is on great injustice which this report has done tn former committee. They state in this report at page nine, that there was a studied silence , Ssc, about the sale of the 1000 bonds, t , Beers, and say that 1t imparted plausiblity ; Sc. This very report, at page 43, contain P the very table from which the former com . mltee made the statement of the allowanc of five thousand dollars 10 Corcoran an that the commissioners retained the sam amount themselves; permit me to read thi table. Here are the charges for ncgoiiaun the 300 bonds; here are all the transactions respecting the same, and this table shows that, afier giving Corcoran S5,e00, the charge for Sevier S2,000, and for William son -3,000. Now, sir. this able shows tha this allowance was for this negotiation alone and II this was allowed lo the commission CTS for both transactions, why have the, . failed io make it appear on thei, seitlemea with the Bank Why did they mol state i
 this table, also, the sale of 1000 bonds io D. Beers Thy, on laeiF own setllemep with the Bank, show thas they did allow ill fss.....,.., M 2. sf9 f..- tts v.rstfaa.. .r,t ,tta