The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-03-08
; OrrwE or BANK or VIRGINIA,

To His Erect, ncy Il. ]. Foreman, G0rrrn":
.Sr:--The Sheriff Of this county delivered to
me on the o2l ultimo paper ruSporiinS {"
he a ccny Of II letter and notification address.
cd to Inc by your ExcclIcncy, and dated Oh
the 18th ult.
What information you: Exccllcncy may
have received touching my management OF
the affairs Of the bank from what quarter Or
unou what motion such information has been
furnished, | am totally ignorant. cannot,
however, refrain from the expression Of sur
prise and modification which your Excel.
icncy's notice has occasioncd, implying ny II
,locs, ccnsurc of my conduct without III
y,s,ination and the formal initiation OF
proceeding against public oihcer, upon mere
IT Jdrfe representations.
Iron the establishment Of the branch al
this place in ISL, | was appointed one oil NY
directors OIL the part Of the stockholders. j.!
the Board Of Directors Ut the branch, nj us
first meeting, WAS unanimously elccteu
President, and have continued in that office
NOW well nigh the third Of u century. pnr-
in. all that pcrod if there has been any
whisper Of rcproach as to my Official or per-
sonal integrity, | have been SO happy hs never
IN have heard il. The affairs Of this branch
have been 10 conducted rs TO elicit the mark
cd satisfaction and approval Of The stockhold'
org. md up TO the period of the breaking out
Of this unhappy rebellion, it WINS. in proportion
TO the amount of its capital, the mort profit.
able office Of the mother bank, having durln:
that time averaged over ten per c""'. per """"m
urtrr dcductiug all losses and expenses and
Tho rrice of pr"rcrtv purchased for the use Of
the bunk. Soon after the present war began,
a. ,on,hnSiuO ihp l,1lf, oil
Directors lcft the country and have since
continued ubscni. Those remaining refused
to act. The former cashier, Mr.. Samuel Han
nah long and advantascously connected with
the institution, had recently died. MIR. Jno.
VI. Doddrilsc, who Was appointed in his place,
continued TO discharge his Office but for Il
short time. In the situation Of the country.
no new directors or officers could he appoint.
cd, was cut of BY communication by mail
or otherwise from the mother bank. ! was
left without advice or assistance AMI without
any ono 10 sllare the responsibility Of my po-
silion. Many Of the debts coming TO inc
bank were due from parties who had fed the
country. Some were maturing, which it wns
rGrcsccn wsuld not be paid when due, and this
at q time when for wan, Of civil government
the liabilities of parties could not be fixed by
protest. The debtors of tho bank, in many
instances, rendered payment in the circuln'-
ing notes Of the bank. In other instances,
creditors of the bank demanded payment and
threatened if not complied with, to sue out
attachments against the mother bank, rs now
u foreign corporation, and levy OH all the M
sets OF it's branch ut this place and within
tho jurisdiction of West Virginia. Some Of
the notes and bills due the bank were in the
ilo aIof If limit q
During all this period tho Kauawha Valley
has been in tho occupation Of alternating
armed forces. In September, 1852, ut the
period Of Liehtburn's retreat, the banking
house, with its furniture and contents except
those within thc,vault, was destroyed by fire.
Amid all the changes and casualties which
hove surrounded US, and the perils 10 which
the institution thus left on my hands has
been exposed by war, civil discord, new sys.
tens of public finances, md the flight mud
bankruptcy Of debtors to the bank, have
been left to bear tho burden Of care and re-
sponsibilily alone. No mandate or instruc-
ton as to the assets or management Of the
bank, have como to me from stockholders or
State; nor has any rule Of action, so far ~ !
nm aware, been prescribed for my guidance,
legislative or executive, at Wheeling OF
Richmond.
| Thus abandoned by oil having authority to
command or advise in the premises, and
placed in the anomalous position Of branch
cut of from the parent vine, trust have
not lost sight Of what have cherished rs the
cardinal principle of young life; fidelity to
duty in whatever position may be placed
You speak Of mo MS late President Of the
bank. | presume If there is bank, or q
branch Of q bank, at this place Mt oil, l nm
yet its President. The law provides in rela-
ton TO bank officers, rs Others that they shall
remain in Office until their SUCCESSORS arc mp.
pointed and qualified. am an aged man,
inirm in health and now little fitted for the
labors and troubles Of ny present POSITION
would gladly have disburdencd myself of
the load which is wearing me down. But
there was no way in which this could be eff.
fcctcd, and have been thus compelled to
time in office and in chargc Of the books,
papers and assets Of the bank from absolute
necessity. In this position, what were my
duties and powers? Not certainly TO continue
the institution rs q bank Of circulation and
discount These functions need the presence
Of directory. But TO collect and pay the
debts Of the bank, are rather executive duties
pertaining to the President and Cashier, if
there be Cashier. Your Excellcncy, in the
notice which has been served upon me, after
stating that in your opinion it is not proper
for me'in tho absence Of directory to ex-
change the assets Of tho bank for its notes,
or otherwise transact its business, adds: lex
ccpt it might he to collect the debts due the
bank understand this l., az guosi nd.
m | Al.