Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-07-06

are defeated. They wish to avoid, if possible, y
q resort to "defensivc accusation" but the
w ashington Republican newspaper of this city, |
whichis identified with Mr.. Edwards, continues
its labors to shed "disastrous t~wilightr over the
the Committee. That paper carries
on the. face OF it the evidence of its being eu-
trciy dcyotcd TO the views of Mr.. Edwards and
other enemies of Mr.. Crawford, now, as it has
been from the beginning. Wcdo not say that
the editorial articles, respecting the late i~nvcsti-
CATION, arc pcnncd by Mr.. Edwards himself, but
they bear the Impress of his mind, aud bctray,
to every eye, the work of the master spirit.
These observations are made in no mood of
hostility To MIR. E.--towards whom we enter
tain no sentiment of that sort. The injury
which he attempted to do us, at the session be-
fore the last, we freely forgive him anI the re-
tribution upon his public errors is sufficiently
severe to disarm even hatred itself. We hope
to convince him and his friends that silence is
their bcst policy. Acquiesccnce in his own act,
Is what may be reasonably expected of every
man; aud, having anticipated the decision of
the President, by retircing from his Office. there
can be no boubt but Mr.. f.. would consult his
own peace, and the wishes of his friends as well
as his adyersarics, by suffering tho matter TO
rest where the Report of the Committee has
placed it. Hoping that these suggestions will
be taken in good part, we pr0Nnett 10 The cx-
ecntion OF the purpose fer y2 took our
pen in hand.
Wehavc c%ursorily run over sSscs which,
have appeared in the paper of fkEdwarls par
ty, on the subject Of the reportX Committee
OF Investigation. We do nota they pre-
tend TO say that Of the allcf kainst the
Official conduct of the Seca Ne Treasu-
~, any one ofthefn has be6aESf Med, but that
OF having favored Banks ~ifE dSpcsites of mo-
ney, with a view to aid thcm to resist a pressure
which might otherwise have broken them down.
The magnifyiug this into n high offence, dcsery-
ing the same sort of punishment which has be-
fallen ihm who preferred the charges, shews the
ingenuity OF the writer indeed, butt bctravs ut the
same time the wretchcd poverty Of the materials
he has to work upon.
What is the simple history Of the transactions
connected with the banks in this district? Re-
ferring to the period of resurning specie paw
ments, the earnestness with which Congress-, &
theENecutive cooperating with Congress, labor
ed to effect thfs object, is we'll remembered. The
Bank OF the United States was about to go into
operation, and it was evidently in vain to attempt
to establish and maintain a specie circulatio I'm
less the Bank of this District and of MARYLAND
would agree to resume payments in Specie. At
that critical moment, an appeal was made to
them by the government. In consequence of this
appeal, a meeting of the Presidents and C~asticrs
OF the BANKS of this District, was held, to con-
suit on the cXpedicncya and safety ola Resumption
of specie payments. That measure was opposed
at this Meeting, as fraught with perilous consc-
quences to the Banks. In reply to this objcc-
ton, two gentlemen, highin the confidence OF the
government, stated, that they were authorized by
the Executive to say, that, in case of a pressure
upon the Banks in consequence Of their acccding
10 the wishes OF the government in this respect,
every aid and facility would be given, within the
power of the Executive, TO sustain them. 1t twas
IN consequence of the pledges, thus given, that
the President consented that deposits should be
made in some of these Banks, when application
was made for that purpose. The power of di-
rectlng In what Banks the public moneys should
be deposited was thus used, as il was also IN the
western country, for purposes the most bcneii-
cial to the community, and to the government of
indispensable importance. Witii.ut this judi
clous system of measures, indeed, the govern.
mcnt would have been bankrupt, as il would
have been impossible for it to collect the public
revenues. Without these measures, the public
land debt would have been almost wholly lost,
and sales OF public lands entirely suspended; &
but Tor these measures, the nation would have
yet been inundated by a miserable and worth.
lcsspapercurrency, underline influence Of which
the credit OF the government was nearly pros
trate. With this explanation, there was moth
ing in the conduct of the Secretary Of the Trea-
sury; IN tins respect, which was not merely JUS
tIiiable, but prudent, sagacious, and polite.
But 1t Is, after AL, not the Secretary Of the
Treasury upon whom the Edwards party are
now dealing their blows, but the President.
Every. thing relative to these operations had the
assent and even previous appreciation of the
PRESIDENT, by whose authority the Secretary
acted. These measures were those Otis Pre- !
sident, through his Secretary, and, in the whole
course OF bis administration, there is not a pc |
Rod of it which rebounds more to its honor tLan
that In which 1t SO proyidentiy, safely, and eco
nomlcally, brought back the currency to a
h~eaithiul state, and, i'll relation TO our financial
ueath' l.Nat. Int.
NasulNToH, 30ti June, 1924.
10 lie Editors gMe Washington REPUBLICAN,:
Gentlemei: knowing that my correspondents
WIN Mr.. David Barton, of Missouri, was wholly of
a private nature, ] was much surprised 10 find he
had communicated it to the public through the me-
dunn of youf paper of the 29,, inst. But, since he
has chosen TO appeal TO the public to justify the gross
insult offered to my feelings and honor, hy his note
of the 9Th May, [ am, in justice TO pyselt, bound to
furnish a hief exposition Of the whore affair.
Whilst the official conduct of General Rector.
late Surveyor-General of Missouri, SC. was under
investigation, 1 was called on Ivy him to explain
some circumstances connected with the surveying I'm
winch L had been engaged in Arkansas, unfier con-
tracts entered into with him. Whilst making thai
explanation was Informed that Mr.. Barton had
filcd witti the documents in Gen. Rcc,or's case, a
certificate of some debts, which had once existed,
and for which | had beer sued: which drew from mo
the remarks contained in the subjoined paper, mark
ed (A.) The paper containing those remarks was
submitted, with Gen. Rector's defence, to a COM