Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-13
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Monday F3rcnsa.g, Asec. az.
REPORT OF TIE SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY.

We arc always aversc from publishing long Do
cuments, convinced that hut very few read them;
but this rcpngnance has yielded to the more than
usual interest of Mr.. Mel Lanes Reports an interest
arising In no small degree from tho singular rea-
tive attitude of the Report and the Presidents
Message The President and his Secretary in
opposition, upon this most important of questions,
and exhibit the novel spectacle of recommending
hostile propositions to Congress. Which will Con-
gross consider best entitled to Difference. kltlc
question! When the President dismissed his old
Cabinet for want of unity, we could not have anti
ripated so early and remarkable split in the new:
The Globe labors, in duty bound, to reconcile
matters. 1t says,
"Report Of The Secretary of the TreaSury.-It will
s observed, that IN making his Bepe, the Secretary
the Treasury refers 10 the Of Congress which makes
his duty 10 Report upon whatever his Departs
rnent; aud expressly Declares that he performance
the duties thus eioinsd by law the Secretary of the
"IIeasury implies, however, no commitment Of any
aother Department of the Government each he ing left
free to act according L, the mode pointed in the
decentralization This passage was inserted, Doubt,
the Report itself imports, with view candidly TO in
form the public that the opinions expressed in the Re-
poit those of officer WHOM they are exaced
by tie law and not such involve any commitment on
tho part of the Executive. Some Of the views
in the Report obviously favorable Bank
than those heretofore expressed by the President, and
which it is clear still entertained by hin The Sc
cretary OF the Treasury bound NEVERTHELESS the
discharge of his duty, 10 declare franz his on senti
nents IN his own Report. The great ability and reputa
tlon of that distinguished officer will his Opt
mons high consideration. We owe j, candor, how
ever, To that dissent from the doctrines of
Report the subject Of the Bank of the United States
and will, whenever the question of rechaerng the in
stiution becomes topic of discussion, api
nlous with the independence which belongs the cha
Iacter of the .Amercan Press"
Has there not been collision between the Presi-
dent and his Secretary? Are not their variant re-
Communications the result of policy? Are they not
nging themselves different sides of the ques-
tion, with much the calculations which in the
civil Influenced the Scottish proprietor to
take one side, his eldest son the other7 At all
events, the has excited great surprise. The
National Integencer says,
stMR. MCLANEs REPoRT.-Perhaps there never
was communication from the Executive, any
ono of the Executive officers of this Government,
that has produced such n sensation the Annual
Report of the Secretary ofthe Treasury to Con
gress, which laid before readers Thurs
day last. 1t would be hazardous to assert which
of the nine parties, into which it has been whim-
sically said that Congress is divided, m ost
astounded by it. For ourselves, we have not been
able TO draw long breath since read it; and
cannot pretend to say what we think of it until we
have recovered a little from the shock of surpriZe
which it gave u.s."
We have little doubt that object of the Sc
cretary of the Treasury to countervail the eff
feet of the Presidents Message on the price of the
u. S. Bank Stock, and pleased to perceive a
pretty certain augury in it of the -charterng OF
the Bank not from any abstract love have fol-
that institution, which should be glad to sec
contemporaneously with all other Banks, swept
from existence, but because circumstances have
rendered it Indispensable.