American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-12-12
Corcoran a. Riggs.

CorcOran d Riggs.
The Republic responds to our interrogatories,
relative to the insolent demand of these bank
ers to be made the sole depositaries of the
"House funds" by assuming that our para
graph was written by "Selden, Withers s. Co.,
or some one for them" and that that firm issue
"vredeemable paper "shinplasters."
Now, that there may be no mistake, we tell
the Republic that, having undertaken to an
swer for Corcoran & Riggs, we will not permit
them to make false issue, nor to dodge the
true one. The question before the public, and
to which they should respond, is by what right
do Corcoran s Riggs demand to be made the
sole depositaries Of the House funds? In other
words it is, what claims have these bankers to
the use Of the public money? That is the issue,
and the Republic shall neither dodge nor blink
it. Before we proceed, however, and that we
may not be liable to be misunderstood or mis-
represented, we deny that our interrogatories
were written by Selden, Withers Co., or by
any one for them. They knew no more about
them than the editor of the Republic himself.
Upon the subject Of "irredeemable issues "
and " shinplasters," and of the pretence Of OPP
position to "Selden, Withers & Co.," now set
up by the Republic on that account, we venture
to say that no one, having any regard for truth,
will say that, for all the purposes of currency,
their issues, although redeemable in Virginia
funds, are not better in this community than Vir-
ginia bank notes therefore, it is not true that
their bank is, as charged, !" shinplaster manu-
factory"
But let this 60. We are not the advocates or
partisans of Selden, Withers s. Co., nor of the
Speaker. Our business is not with them but
with Messrs. Corcoran & Riggs and our in
quiry was made for the country in the spirit of
a free and independent press, resolved to re
buke, as they deserve, the arrogant and inso
lent pretensions of Corcoran s. Riggs, who, in
virtue of their association with foreign bankers,
have made merchandise Of the honor and credit
of their country; and, having grown rich by
such means, would now use the press to dra-
COON the officers of the government into making
them the sole depositarics of the House
funds, 'andare from day to day using that wealth
to exert an undue and corruptiRg influence over
the press, the Congress, and other depart
ments of the government Our interrogatory
presented this issue. And we demand to know
what Corcoran & Riggs have done, and who
are they, that they are permitted to do these
things. This is The issue; and we intend to keep
this issue before the public mind until it be-
comes fully impressed with the fact that we
have more to fear from the corrupting influence
of these bankers, associated and allied as they
are with the financial agents of the despotic
governments OF. Europe, than from any associa-
ton of incorporated banks in the United States
because they more in the dark What prevents
their giving brides directly to members of Con-
gress, and to Cabinet ministers? Who is to ex-
anime their books? Who is to detect their bar
gains? Who is to ascertain the manner in
which they obtain contracts? Who knows the
agents whom they employ to operate upon mem
bers of Congress? Who knows what sums flow
into their Golfers, or the means applied to OBJ
tain their contracts? We all know that they
have sprung up like fungus, and we all see
and feel the power and influence which their
wealth has given them. We ask again, who
are they, and what have they done, that JUST
fees their demand to be made the sole deposita
ries of the "House funds?"