Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-06-21

ledge Of .M .Mason's administration ofh'
Bank concerns; but never, on any occa'
sion, have ] known complaints so wide
and bitter rs in the case now under con,
sidcraiion."
1 The reader wants no index Of ours tc
} noiE out the prominent feature Of thi,
con,Aunicntion. 1t is as plain as the
nose on - uWebster's face.
7 The i7cN letter is from Mr. Biddle, the
President Of the Bank, in reply to tie
letter of Mr. Secretary Ingbam, and its
enclosure. 1t acknowledges the receipt
of the missivc, and saws that il has been
submitted to the Board of Directors,
"who will not fail to examine the allega-
tons of Nj Woodbury., and, should they
appear to be well founded, to apll " an
appropriate corrective" Referring then,
20 MIR Woodbury's letter above quoted,
Mr. Biddlc says
I "The obvious inference from it was,
that, under the influence of Mr. Web
ster, a Eorncr President Of the Office
was removed to make way for Dir Ma
son with an increased salary, and that
this President was using the influence Of
the Bank against the present administra-
ton.
"In answer, it is fit to say that this
view of the subject is entirely erroneous,
and perhaps the misapprchension Of
gentleman ofMr Woodbury's general in
teligonce is the best illustration Of the
extreme caution with which such state
ments should he regarded. For,
"lst. The President Of he branch wos
not chmged. The late President, Mr.
Shapl.y, voluntarily declined serving
without the slightest intimation of IL wish
on the part Of the Fank, and solely, as
he stated. 'in consequence ofhis advanc-
cd age, and declining health, together
with his close confinement to the Office,
which prevents, in a great measure, his
attention to his private business.
"2. The salary Of The ne'c President ,ras
mol increased a dollar. Mr. Mason was
employed as the counsel of the Bank,
and an annual allowance was made to
him in that capacity, which the Bank
would have been obliged to pay to any
other lawyer, and which had no relation
whatever to his other duties as Presi-
dent.
"3. M. Uebster had not No slightest
agency IN obtaining for him The appoint
meh. His nomination was resolved upon
without the knowledge either of Mr. Web
stcr or Mr. Mason; and the only agency
of Mr. Webster was, that, after the agent
Of the Bank charged to make a choice
had determined to recommend Mr. Ma
son, Mr. Webster was requested to en-
deavor to prevail upon him to serve; a
request which the agsn. naturally made
of MIR Webster as Director of the
Bank.
"a. am surprised that Mr. Woodbury.
should consider the complaints about MIR
Mason as having the rcmotest connexion
with politics; and am surprised for this
rcason:-Mr Woodbury. wrote to you on
the 9th of June; on the same day he
wrote a similar letter to me. answer
cd, thanking him for his suggcstions,and
requesting him to guide my inquiries by
stating what was the nature of the com
plants against Mr. Mason. To this he
replied on the Sd inst. and that letter has
the following declaration: H
"From the confidential character OF
this letter, it is due in perfect irankness
to state, that the President of the present
Board, AS IA POLITICIAN, is not rcry occep-
table 10 The majority in this town s. State.
But II IS al The same tune notorious, mat
The charges against him, IN his present Of
flee, originated exclusively niM his poliii-
cal friends, and it was not till they crca-
ted personal rancor and inilamed con-
dition of the public mind, seldom if ever
before witnessed in this region, that 9TH
ors interposcd, from. supposed danger
to the interests olboth the town and the
bank? i
at appears, then, from Mr. Woodbury's
own statement, that, so far from employ
ing the influence ofthe Bank with view
to political effect il is a notorious fact,
that the complaints are made by Mr.
Mason's own political friends; so that, in
truth, ifthcre be any politics in the mat
ter, it is question between MIR Mason
and politicians of his own persuasion; that
is to say, (for, after all, ] suspect It will
result in this that Mr. Mason has had
Me courage 10 do his duty, whether he Of
ftnds his political friends or not lie may
have done his duty too rigidly; hot IS
I'll sub bjeci for examination, and shall be er-
umined; but Mr. Woodbury. own dcclar-
alton to me seems to be irreconClleable
with his letter to you"
This, one would think, was a very
answer to the allegations a
rainst Mr. Mason. The residue of the
ctter describes what had been the cm-
Darrassed state Of the Office at Ports