Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-12-06
ANDREW JACKSON.
No 4
The Secretary Of the Treasury to the President o. the
United States

The Secretary OF the treasury 10 '"e tieSHS"' - "
United States
TRH,suRY DEPARTMENT, Sept. 81, 1858.
| Stn-I have the honor to acknowledge the re-
CENT of your note, returning the communication
that presented to you this morning; the grounds
on which il IS returned are, that further discus
sion of the deposite question is unnecessary, and
that there were imputatioDs therein that could
not be admitted into a correspondence between
the President and the head Of department.
Allow me respectfully to say. that it was not
with view to a further discussion, that pre-.
sen,ed nv reasons for ecining to act. agreeably
to YOUR direction, in removing the deposltes, but
to Justify my refusal; nor vast my desire or IN
tenlion that any matter contained 10 my letter
should be disrespectfu, or open to such suPpo'
sition; that any thing therein should De SO con-
strned, very much regret
NV object throughout was to justify the course,
on the two points stated in ms letter, which, un'
der the most solemn impressions, felt 1t to be
my duty TO pursue.
To shew YOU my obligations. presented CO..
py Of my commission. copy OF nv oath OF ONCE,
and copy of the law giving the Secretary OF the
Treasury the discretion to change the public de-
pository: to shew YOU upon what relied, IN my
course Of conduct, l quoted your letter OF June
Goth, and your exposition OF the 18th instant. In
the circumstances under which your letter OF Ju.
IL %. and nv reply of the same date. were writ
ten, and she we'd the new posture III which was
placed BY subsequent reflection and occurrences.
When entered your administration, | had no
knowledge that you had come to any decision on
the deposte question, or that you meditatPd
change Of depository without the action OF Con.
gress
As soon as was made acquainted with your
views. l anx,ously sought to accord with them:
and, as you invited full disclosure OF my
thoughts. BY assuring me, in your letter OF the
26th of June, that you did not intend to interfere
with the independent exercise of the discretion
committed 10 me by law over the deposites,
opened myself freely to you, against any change
Of the depository; at all subsequent stages. al.
though have kept myself open to explanation,
have invariably declined to make that change,
and remain in the same resolution still.
Permit me respectfully to say, that am not
aware, that my willingness, or unwilingness, to
afford you an opportunity to select successor,
could have had any influence or bearing upon
anv question before the Cabinet; but am willing
to meet that consideration, as well as those stat
ed to you this day in our interview.
In short, Sir, as | stated to you, at that inter
view, INV course is justihcatory towards you: |
desire no unkind feeling, have no unkind pur
pose; however ardent or unusual my language
may BE-, il is at least sincere.
Allow me, then, very respectfully. to state, as
declared at our interview, that, under the most
serious convictions Of my duty, refuse to aid.
assist. or in any way participate in the proposed
change of the public deposltory-that refuse to
relinqulsh post conferred upon me BY the law
and that, without in the most remote degree
meaning any sort Of dIsrrspect to you, protest
against any interference. on your part. with pow
ers and duties which, believe, were designedly
withheld from the President, aud committed to
the Secretary Of the Treasury, the fiscal agent Of
the law.
With fervent wishes that your measures may
conduce TO the advantage of your country, and
to the honor OF yourself.
au, with the utmost consideration,
Your obedient servant,
w. J. DUANE.