State journal & flag., 1846-08-21
VOLUME B.
The State Bank Commission.

and published in the Democratic Watch. tower of 22d July, is loo lengthy for our columns this week. The gist of the writ. CTS argument and enquiries may be, how ever, condensed in the space we can, con- veniently, appropriate to this subject. He argues--from lhe meaning of the several acts of the legislature, providing for the a2- ponlment of commissioners, &c., as under ssood and acted oa, by the several Govern. ors of this State, from 1883, to the passage of the late act appointing commissioners that 1t vas al,cays intended, that such agents should reside contiguous to the banks for which tbey were appointed, that they might be enabled, as far as prac- tcable, 10 group within their personal know ledge, the nature and extent of the trans actious of these institutions" After al. luding, briefly, 10 the causes which lead 10 the passage of the act for the appointment of these commissioners, the writer says:
 "ln enactng you to the discharge of this res- ponsibIe trust, how far the legislature was inhu- enced by your different locations, which had en- abled you to observe through the past, and know for the present, the condition. nature and demands, of each branch of this most importan mt business, is quite apparent.
 The interests of three great divisions of the State, totally distinct from each other in their trading polnls and bank connections. were n> volved in the liquidation of these institutions. The Tennessee valley embraces one of these di- pisons, detached from the others in i's bu,iness relations, and to some extent dlssnar, in the pursuits and habits of it's people and reqnir, d commissioner familiar with them. their means, and liabilities MT. Cooper was found to pos sees these advantages. he immediate terrto- " and trade of The Bigby and Warrior rivers, had also their local bank, and exclusive points of traffic and required commissioner conver- sant with the haolts and means of their people. Than. Col. Lyon, no man would better suit this section. The third, last, and by far he largest of these divisions, belonging 10 the trade of the Alabama River, and embracing all the eastern portion of the State with its mill ons worth of produce, by reason ot it's more extended and di. verslfied interests had the strongest claims to a local commissioner. To represent and adjus 7, the bank assets ard liabilities or this wide scope of oeuntry,Ex Governor Fitzpatrick was thought emnently qualfied: but for reasons not peculiar to h,mselE he declined trust, fraught with such difficulties and responsibilities, as might well de. ter any man from accepting. Then 1t Is hs- torlcal fact that from first to last, when ever bank agents or commissioners were 10 be em- ployed, the legislature or executive never lost sighl of the axiom, that those only who best knew the parties to the transactions, that were the subject matter of these commissions, were alone qualified to discharge the duty. But apart from this more potent reason. in which ttis sectional practice of appointing colnmis sioners is founded, it would have been demanded and made necessary by just and equitable dis tr,buiion oi legislative and executive patronage, 10 which the claims of east Alabama by no means inconslderabe for large portion of its population having domciIed within the State in the day of her depression, have now to submit to the distressing burthens of her adversit, without having enjoyed the immunties of her fee'ing prosperity. In filling the vacancy occasioned hy ex. Gov Fitzpatrick's refusal to accept the trust rendered to him by the leg stature, 1t has been re- served for you gentlemen for the first time to defect from this presciptive rue ofappolnting commissioners. The reasons that have led you thus to infringe legislative and executive usage, and add with confidence--to disregard the
 
 must have been potent, and hope they may prove satisfactory to the public."
 The writer pays mer;ed tribute to the industry and business capacity of Gov. Clay; but adds, with equal justice and truth. in speaking of his appointment to fill the place of Gov. Fitzpatrick, as ihe rep oc Iobo in tended bv the legislature
 "That for all practical purposes, commis. eioner might have been chosen from Texas, who knows more about and could manage better, the banking interests of East Alabema, than any one or all of you"
 The writer concludes thus:
 "In conclusion Gentlemen, it will not be new to you, when tell you that interests ofuncom. mon magnitude are committed 10 your care. doubt if in the history of these United States il is written, that any one of them ever before in- trusted so grrat stake in the hands of three men. And while am unwilling to believe that an any matter touching the great business of your Cumn sslon, you will act from prejudice or caprice, yet, the appo niment of ex.Sen Clay is by reas n of his lo alton. SO obvious depar- trre from the intention of the legislature so opposed to the will of The people; and the req son of Il so in onceivable; that beg leave 10 prop,u d To ,ou Commissioners and his Excel iency the following m'erroga'ores, for the pnr- pose 'f ehcitng inc facts that influenced you in this matter; md respectfully ask that you or some one of you, will answer them as specifcal- ly as possible Fnst Was Ex-Senalor Clay appointed Ay the Board Tn session: did major ity of the Commissioners, with the Executive, concur in the appointment, and if so, are these facte spread upon the minutes of your proceed ings? Secondly. Was any one or mo per- sons from East Alabama recommended to your consideration, to fill the vacancy in question {: and if 50, what person or persons, and were they satisfactorily recommended? Thirdly. Did any one of you without consulting the others, tender the place to Ex-Senator Clay, before it was known authortatively that Ex-Gov. Fhzpat- rick would not accept: and was it to screen such one from the embarrassment of disappoint. ing Ex-Senator Clay that others consented to hie appointment, when otherwise they were dis posed to confer m il a different quarter!
 These questions Gentlemen, relate to matters of strictly public nature, in which the people are deeply interested, and about which they have right to be informed. Such information it is confidently believed you will not withhold from them."
 The subject to which the foregoing arti. ~vr