Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-03-05
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BANK INVESTIGATIONS COMMITTEE
Mr. DAVE inquired after the report Of the Joint
Select Committee, appointed to investigate the State
Bank
Messrs- R0WLES and NEWMAN, suggested that
the Committee be required to report.
Mr. TURNER Of Sumner, said the Committee were
waiting for answer TO certain interrogatores pro-
pounded to he Directors.
After further consideration
Mr. DAF lie submitted the following:
RssoIved That the Joint Select Committee, ap-
pointed to investigate the Bank of Tennessee, be
reques ed to report the facts elected by their exam
inatiors Of the bank aforesaid at early day as
possible.
MIR R0WLES submitted the following:
RssoyUsl, That the Joint Select Committee, here
tofore appointed to investigate the Bank Of TeRnes-
see, be requested 10 report; and If they have on
last Saturday, or at any late day, prOpOunded any
heterogeneous to said Bank, which cannot be an
sWered before the rise of this General Assembly
they are respectfully requested to furnish copy Of
said ;Hterrogatories to this House.
Mr. R. moved a suspension Of the rule to admit Of
the consideration Of the resolution now, and there
upon he demanded the yeas and nays.
After debate by Mcssrs- BOWLES, TURNER Of
Sumner, THOMPSON, and others
Mr. VAUGHN said he was one Of the Committee
appointed 10 investigate the condition Of the Dank
Of Tennessee-he was ready far as he concern
ei to report the facts ELECTED by the examination.
But (said he desire it distinctly Unders God. that
know nothing about the iuterrogstories submitted
to the Bank i have never seen IN, aud eau say
nothing about their Troprie;y orimpropriety.
Mr. HOWLES 1t is known, Mr. Speaker, that
u00n this question Of the currency the House is iii
vtIeL I airaign no gsn'lemau who stands opposed
with reference o. the sC,cn we should take
upon this vexed question. coucede 10 them hon
esty Of purpose and purity of motive boxing 10 the
IL. . Hruk IN
common justice, have q right to have the same in
diligence extended TO me, ard TO the views which l
entertain. This is a rule OF justice, which no man
will deny l believe, Mr. Speaker, that the people Of
Tennessee are deeply Interested in this question.
believe that they regard with more careful con-
csrH-With more anxiety, the property and well be-
ing Of the Bankof Tennessee, than any other Bank
in the State believe that the people OF the State
of Tennessee;he voice Of at least three fourths Of
them--are in favor Of Strengthening the capital Of
the Bank Of Tennessee; Of rendering her more able
and efficient in the matter Of regulating the curren-
cy, and supplying the wants of the country in that
regard But at the same time, that l express this
opinion, also, as an individual representing my
constituents, state that if were conYnCed-if the
Committee by any facts brought home this House.
would convince me, that the bank had acted imPro
its officers had been guilty Of corruption
or of bad faith, would not extend the relief pro-
posed. With a view to get at the facts, the House
of Representatives, more than month ago, raised
a Joint Select Committee.
Mr. THOMPSON, near two months ago
Mr. ROWLES, near two months ago, the House
raised Joint Select Committee to investigate the
Bank Of Tennessee. That committee have made no
report and what is the reason now alleged? They
say they have proPouuded certain iDteTrogatOres to
the President and Directors Of that Oank, which
they have failed 10 answer. What, desire TO know
is this? When were these interrOgatories PROFOUND
ed, and what were they? l understand that they
were not propounded till last Saturday.
Mr. TURNER, Of Sumner. prop0unded q part Of
them a month ago.
Mr. ROWLES. VIII the gentleman tell me who
these interrogatories.
Mr. TURNER. The chairman OF the committee.
Mr. ROWLES One Of the Gentlemen says these
we're not propOuuded until last Sat
urday. That was The first notice the bank had Of
them Two months after the raising of the commit
tee, and now when We have one resolution, which
the final adjournment Of the session
on the Sth Of this month and another on the 18th,
these important interrogatious, which as 1 under
stand Will require weeks upon weeks to answer,
Involving the necessity of running through the
whole history Of the bank from the time Of its in
corporation down. That being the character Of the
in errogatories l ask the gentleman to answer the
question whether OF not these inerrOgaOries DO not
require an examination of the affairs Of the bank
from the time il was brought into existence!
Mr. THOMPSON. I do not consider it so.
NIr TURNER of Sumner. believe there is not
single iuterr0gatOry there but could be answered in
one minute il the bank had been doing a legitimate
business.
Mr. ROWLES. do not know how that is. 1 have
have not all the information Of the committee. The
gentleman from Sumner says the nterrOgatOEiss, he
thinks, could be answered in one minute, if the bank
has been doing a legitimate business. That would
imply that the bank has not been doing a legitimate
business sui would arraign its officers before the
public as culpriys.
Now Mr. Speaker, l want to see these interroga-
ories I want to know what they l have
heard many statements TO their character, have
heard it alleged that the committee had brought the
bank to q psuse. have heard it limited about thai
here was something rotten in Denmark; if the in
erroga5ories be such rs the gentleman from sum
ler says they are, and they refuse to answer shall
nos be found sustaining the bank for moment. l
I'm not one of those DESTROYS to cover up fraud aud
corruption. Show me an official derelictiOn Of duty
and will abandon the Bank l am for fairness and
equal rights. l stand upon that platform Let
gentlemen convince me that the bank is endeavOr-
ng to dodge responsibility-let them convince me
hat she is avoiding their interrOgatOries because
heir answers would convict her, and | will be
amongst the foremost to denOunce the bank aud its
managers.
Mr. Speaker, this is an important question. We
rave gentlemen upon this floor who have stood by
he bank of Tennessee. How do they stand here
The organ Of the Democratic party has heretofore
opposed them and arTaigned them before the c5un-
ry One Of the organs Of the American party is
.ls0 arraigning them before the country. We stand
lers then, without any press to sustain our course
put trust we stand upon the eternal principles of
light and justice. All l ask is fair play, and that
10 advantage be taken. Let gentlemen convince me,
md those with whom [ act that the bank has been
md will no fhn first Do
lOunce her. Our situation here IS peculiar The
rgaus of the American and Democratic parties have
aken strong grounds against those who stand with
49, in favor OF the bank of Tennessee. Their course
calculated to bring about a necessity-to furnish
n aTgument-forr es0rling to purely metallic cur
eRCy. l have taken my position, and don't intend
0 be driver from 1t by any subtertuge. l COnCede |
honestly Of purpose TO gentlemen who differ with
ne and at the same time, [ ask to have the same
ule of judgment extended TO me. l undertake 10
ay this: Wind up the Bank of Tennessee-.ud !
Then you wind her up, you will wind up the people
Nth her | undertake TO say, that this course Of
oi,y will bring such distress upon the country as
re yet have not seen-that, if carried out, il will
rush all the great interests of the State. They may
urvive; our citizens have energy and industry |
hey may survive the shock but l honestly believe
hat IL would be the most cllamitOus thing which /
Guild beflll US as a State-that II would strike down
ar State credit and it would strike down our sys-
EN- OF internal improvements L WISH my views |
o before the country. l am willing to stand or |
Ill with them; l advocate them without reference |
great uames-without reference TO majorities or /
liuorities have eudeavored to regard principle;
have never been afraid Of odds against me. when
Istice was on my side. All l ask is fairness: and
there are the elements of fraud and rOtteuness in
he Bank of Tennessee. I will abandon her But l |
ont want this Legislature to adjourn and let it 20
lt that we have prOpouDdsd interrogatories which
ne bank has refused % answer, because answering
ould have convicted her. l 90 not wish gentlemen
have that advantage over me and my position
ere want them to come in and present their
lGrges, and give US an opportunity OF meeting
lem, and deciding according to the truth and evil
once and when that is done, all is done that truth
nd justice can require. 1 do not say that anything
as been done improperly by this committee /
IMPLY advert TO the fact, that more than two months
20 they we're appointed and that it was not until
st Saturday that these Undergraduates were pro-
FUNDED. Facts-palpabe and strong rs holy writ
standing out 50 plain that "he who runs may
,ad /"
Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. Speaker: I am the last
an in the world TO lmpute improper motives
cord to the gentleman from Bradley, aud tbose
hers with him, the same honesty Of purpose and
olive which | myself entertain. Blu. why this
lste 70 have this committee report: Il is true as
ated, that this committee was raised almost two
ouths ago-Taised, It will be TemembersI. AGAINST
= vote. ] told the House it was unnecessary. but
hen placed upon the committee took the position
I hut nh, Z / 1