Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-11-20
Eom ,he Globe Of yesterday.
WILLIAM j. DUANE, ESQ.

Inc fpunuS Of Tue ptuk pdpSfo' AH'S "obto"
and uaprovok ed attack upon the integrity. dis.
cre,,on and honor OF the President and his Cabi-
net. must sssprise those who do not know the
man, and are unacquanted y it'll the ground assu
med uv him an w ashington. For reasons which
will hereafter appear, it excites no surprise with
US.
TtIere follows Mr.. Duane's letter. which was
published in the Alexandra Gazette OF the 18th
instant
Mr. Duane processes, as he constantly has
done heretofore, that he Is opposed TO the Bank
of the Uaited States. 1t was undoubtedly his
supposed accordance with the. President in his
yeas relative To that institution, which prodoced
his selectlun as a member Of the Cabinet. At
the tone that se,ee ton took place, the subject OF
a removal of.the desposites was under discussion
in the country aud 10 the cabinet AT the CON-
mencement of Congress then pending, the Pres
dent and Secretary of the Treasury had expires
sed a dlstrust of the safety Of the public depo'
sites in thu Bank Of the United States, aud the
latte, had gone further and said. that this, /" la
ken IN connerion ,cifh the necessary arrange
msnts. IL, anticipation Of finally closing Us busi
ness, hore suggested an enquiry into the security
ofthe Bunk as The depository Of The pubic
funds Wten Mr.. Duane consented 70 take
charge OF the Treasury Department, the House
of Representatives mad expressed no opinion up
on the subject, and he-well knew that 1t was un.
der coosuleratssa and undecided.
After the opinion OF the House was expressed,
the subject continued TO be- agtated in the news
papers, and we are informed that memorial
prayins for their removal was circulated in Phil
abel pha, TO which many signatures were obtain
ed. and it i, scarcely possible that Mr.. Duane
could have been unapprsed OF IT before he came
to Washington.
Tie agreed 20 accept the Department, therefore
and actually went into il, with perfect knowl-
edge that this subject was in agitation.
On coming into Office. be found that the Presi-
dent had already required, from the members OF
his Cabinet, written opinions upon the subject;
that three members. viz: the Secretary OF the Ma
w. the Postmaster General and the Attorney
sG.oerat. had given opinions favorable to a reno
val, and that only one member had gwen a writ
ten apinion asa,ns, it. There were, therefore.
fsree op,nions in fapor Of the remopai, and only
one sgains, IT. The President, and the three n,
fayorsof removal, constituted majority Of ihur
tonne. Another member Of the Cabinet. who
gave no wrlt,ra opinion, although someehat dis
Inclined 10 the measure, assured the President OF
his support IL resolved on bv him
sSrhis was the state of things when Mr. Duane
tonk charge Of the Treasury partment Not
doubt was entertained, we believe, bot that he
wsssalready with the majority in opinion, and
would proceed, IN convenient time, to execute a
measure which was deemed essential to the in
terests of The country.
While on his notherB tour, the President CON.
municated TO Mr Duane, by letter, his dellbe.
rate upigon upon the subject, no, in spirit of
dictafion. bat Of kindness From Mr.. d.. 5 new.
ness IN office, II was supposed. We presume, that
he would iee heavy weight Of responsibility in
executing sn important measure, and this the
President was DESTROYS to diminish as far as the
expression Of decided convictions could do IL.
A few DAYS after his return, the President was
astonished at being informed. IN a tone and man
ner scarcely respectful. that Mr.. Duane differed
with him 10 opinion, and would not, with his ex-
istins Impressions, remove the dep0sites, but
promptly intimated that he would not eontlnae
in situation to enbarrass his measures.
A free interchange of opinions then took place
between him and the President. and as, in case
of removal, it would be necessary to ascertain
beforehand from the principal State Banks on
what terms they would receive the depasites, it
was mutually agreed that final decision should
be postponed untl an Agent should be sent TO
obtain this information, Mr.. Duane maintaining
that, although his present impressions acre ad.
verse to the measure, his mind was open u con-
viction.
In drafting instructions for the Agent, howe
yer, he inserted a sentence declaring that there
was then 20 sufficient cause for removing the de-
posites, but that the information was wanted TO
enable the government to act it any cause should
thereafter arise.
This palpable decision uf the question before
hand. Which would have made the mission OF the
Agent Buga;orv and ridiculous, drew from the
President letter, IN which he desired toknow
whether Mr.. Duane was already determined not
to execute the measure. IL. after full inquiry and
ad,isement with his Cabinet the President
should be Of opinion that it ought be done.
In reply TO this letter, Mr. Duane explained
his object in so wording the Instructions, ,sclar-
ed that his mind was still open to conviction,
land pledged himself, in the most explicit terms.
that $. j.. afier reeeieirg the informafion and
hearing the discussion. he should not con sitier
il has dtdy as The responsible agent Of TIE taso.
TO carry into effect THE deeisio,r The President
might then make, he ,couid. from respsef for
a \