106 THE FREEDMEN'S SAVINGS BANK 
maintain some kind of an organization and were 
several times called together by Dr. Purvis (son 
of Commissioner Purvis) to consider the actions 
of the commissioners and to give them advice 
and instructions. Creswell and Purvis who 
seemed to think that the trustees had a right to 
advise, gave considerable attention to their 
wishes, but Leipold took the view that the board 
of trustees no longer existed and refused to per- 
mit any interference. This stand greatly angered 
the Purvises.® 
Several attempts, probably inspired by Leipold, 
were made to get measures through Congress 
directing the commissioners to bring suit against 
trustees, officials, and agents who were charged 
with illegal practices. These efforts though sup- 
ported, it was rumored, by the Treasury Depart- 
ment, were opposed by the friends of the trustees 
and by the Negro members of Congress, and re- 
sulted each time in failure.’ 
OPPOSITION TO THE COMMISSIONERS 
Among those interested in the bank, there was 
some hostility to each individual commissioner 
and much unfavorable criticism of them collec- 
tively on account of their disagreements and 
their methods of work. So unpleasant was their 
position and their personal relations that all 
would have resigned in a body, but they were 
informed by the Attorney General that only by 
an act of Congress could they be relieved of their 
9 Bruce Report, pp. 62, 74, 78. 
10 Congressional Globe, March 3, 1875, p. 2262, and Dec. 14, 1875, p. 
207: Bankers’ Magazine, June, 1875.