Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-12-07
No 2.
The Secretary of the Treasury to the President of the
United STATES:


United States:
TREAsURY DEPARTMENT,
Sept. 2lst, 1888. !
Sir.-I have the honor to lay before YOU
j. copy Of my commission, enpow cring aud enioinnr
me 10 execute my duty according Law, au,horiz
Ing to hold my Office at your pleasure.
q copy Of my oath Of Office, wherein solemniy pledg
ed myself TO execute the trust committed to with
fidelity.
copy OF the 10th section of the law ehar,cring the
Bank Of the United States whereby the discretion ts
discontinue the deposie Of the public noney la thai
alone.
Anextrsct from your e me the 26ih Of June
wherein you promise not % Interfere with the inirpen
dent exercise OF the discretion, committed TO me BY che
above. ntionsd) law over the subject.
o. An extract IRON your exposition OF the 18Th inst
wherein you state, that you not expect me- ut your
request Older, or ,ics iicn do any act Which may
believe TO be IL sgal, which my conscience may
denim.
When you delivered to me, The 18th inst, the expo.
sion oil your vie ws, above referred asked you whe
tier was to regard IL direction, by you me- re-
move the drpos,es You replied that IL your direc.
ton 10 me oremove the deposes but upon your cspon.i
bility; and you had the goodnes. add, that, II would
stand by you, would be the hsppet day OF your lilo.
Solemniy impressed with profound Of my obi.
aud upon my impressions unailed by any advice
such as expected respectfully announce TO you, cir.
that refuse TO carry your directions into effect.
Not because desire 10 Illustrate your wishes; for IL
would be my pleasure TO promote them, il could do
SO, consistently with superior obligations
Dot because desire TO favour the Bank of the United
States, to which have ever been, am and ever shall
be opposed. ~
3. Not to CRAFTY any views, passions, feelings Of my
4. BECAUSE consider the proposed change of tho dspo
STORY In the absence OF all necessity, breach OF tho
public faith.
g. Because the measure, IL not in reality appears to be
vindicuve and arbitrary, not conservative or just.
Because II the bank has abus DO
the judiciary able and wiling 70 punish; and In tho
last resort the representatives Of the people may
2. Because The last House Of OF the Uni
ted Stsiesponouncsd the public money in the bank Of
the United States sae.
8. Because, II under circumstances, change OF de-
posory ought TO be made, the representatives of the
people, chosen since your appeal TO them in your
message, will in a few weeks assemble, aud be willing
and alberto 20 their duty.
o. because change to local aud esponsibe banks will
tend shake public confidence and promote doubt and
mischief in the operations Of society.
TO- Because is not sound plicy in the Union 10 os,er
local banks, which, in their multiplication and cupdiy
derange, depreciate, and Danish the only currency
known TO the Constitution that Of gold and silver.
III. Because ii is rot prudent 10 conde In the crude way
proposed by your agent, in local banks when
Of all The banks dependent In great degree upon
each other, dollar in silver cannot be paid for six
dollars OF the paper In circulation.
IL Because tsdangerous to place. in the hands Of Sec
rotary OF the Treasury dependent for Office
tive VIII, power TO favor punish loo al banks, and
consequently make them political machinery.
IL. Because the whole proceeding must tend diminish
the confidence Of the world in regard for national
credit and tepuiAop inasmucli as, wha'ever may be
the abuses Of the directors of the bank u 5. the evil
now to be endured must he borne by innocent persons,
many Of whom abroad, had right coide in the law
that authorized them TO be holders Of stock.
IL. Because believe that the efforts, made in various
quarters 10 hasten the removal OF the deposes, did
originate with patriots statesmen, but in schemes to
promote selfish and factious purposes.
15 Because has been attempted by persons and press
es known to be in the confidence and pay oil the admin
isiraon TO nimdas and constran the Secretary OF the
Treasury, TO execute an act in direct opposition 10 his
own solemn convictions
And now, sir, having with lrankness, that
disrespcct, and with feelings such lately decia, ed
them to be, stated you why refuse to execute what
npr esaru rnnna tai
act OF duty, by announcing you, that do intend
UNFAIRLY to leave the post, which the law has placed
der my charge and by giving you my reasons for
fusing.
1t Is true. that on the 22d Of July you signfed In lar.
guage sufficiently inelligble that you would then
from Office unless would remove the
deposites your final decisions il may also he true that
should then have put it to the fest; and il is also true,
that under well grounded assurance that your bank plan
the only then embodied in the instructions drawn ND
by for your agent, would be, aboriive that
Tor this and other Causes would be content did
my willingness 10 retire, if could with YOU.
But am not afraid TO meet the verdict of generous
men. upon my REFUSAL reflection aud after what has
should be asked to do II l had frail reputation
had any sinister purpose TO answer might be open
censure for neglect OF punclious deicacy; but
have no impure motives, much less can attain any self
sh end barely choose bewee of retire me nj
and another: and choose that mode, which should lie asst
OF all have preferred II had not exalted and redeeng
considerations in its avor.
have, besides, your example: do not say, that
after you had promised not TO interfere with the inepen
uent exercise OF the uisCreu0n vested III by law,
you wrong in interfering, il you really thought the
public welfare superior consideration observ
snce OF assurances made TO mel You say that err,
when upon solemn sense OF duty, prefer mode of
removal from this station TO another.
The course is due 10 my sef preserv aion well
10 the pubc for you have in all your papers held out
assurance, that you would not 'nerere with the
dependent exercise Of the discretion committed by
law, the deposes and yet every thing but actual
removal OF me from office, has been done TO effect that
So that were to 60 out OF office voluntarily, you might
be able TO point to official papers, that would contradict
ii said you inerIered, aud should thus he held up
as weak or faiiiess agent who regarded delcacy
shewn 10 HIMSELF more than duty TO his trust
Sir, alter all confess TO that have had scruples,
for il is the first time that have ever 10
weigh question Of the kind: but content, that it
shall be said OF me- that in July last forgot myse and
my duty too, rather than that il should be said that now,
knowing The course that you pursue had in any way
avoured IL: on The contrary, if have erred, willing
10 be reproved, but my motives mpugn.
My refusal 10 resign, cannot keep me, moment
longer than you please, in Office that sought,
and at removal from which shall not greve my
accounf IL must the contrary hasicD exit. So that
IL you shall proceed in Wrestling from the Secretary Of the
Treasury the citadel in his possession the only be
accomplished by mandate, which will be my apology
for no longer standing in the breach
And now, sir, allow TO repeat you, in sincerity Of
heart that in taking The present course, under solemn
OF my obligations, feel your account,
far greater than my have been your early,
uniforms and steadfast friend T. have unkind dis
position, but shall cherish those Of kind nature, that
feel. You proudly occupy the hearts Of your country
men; but still il is the lot Of humanity, times. to
regret your present proceedings; and devoutly wis
that you may live TO all my crebodings conacted,
and your followed hy results to your
country aud honourable 10 yourself.