Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-05-29
CONGRESSIONAL.
In SENATE-MARcH II, 1884


The following message was receive
from the President of the United States, b
Mr.. Donelson, his secretary:
THE MESSAGE.
Washington March 18th, 1884.
To the Senate:
| renominate Henry d. GiIpin, Pc
ter Wager, and John L. Sullivan, c
Philadelphia, and Hugh McEIdery, @
Baltimore, to be directors in the bank O
the United States, for the year 1874.
diselaim all pretension, of right, Of
the part of the president, officially t,
inquire into, or call in question, the rea
sons of the senate for rejecting any nom
ination whatsoever. As the presden
is not responsible to them for the rea
sons which induce him to make nom
ination, so they are not responsible t.
him for the reasons which induce then
to reject it. In these respects, each is
independent of the other, and responsi
BILE to their respective constituents
Nevertheless, the attitude in which Ger
tain vital interests of the country are
placed by the rejection Of the gentle
men now re-nominated, requires Of me
frankly TO communicate my views Of he
consequences which must necessarily
follow this act OF the senate, if it be rot
reconsidered.
The characters and standing of these
gentlemen are well known to the COM
munity, and eminently qualify them for
the offices to which propose to appoint
them. Their confirmation by the sen.
ate, at its last session, to the same off
ces, is proof that such was the opinion
Of them entertained by the senate at
that time; and unless something has &C.
Cured since TO change it, this act may
now be referred to as evidence that their
talents and pursuits justified their Sc
lection.
The refusal, however, to confirm their
nominations to the same offices shows
that there is something in the conduct
of these gentlemen, during the last year
which in the opinion Of the senate, dis
qualities them; and as no charge has
been made against them as men or clti-
zens, nothing which impeaches the fair
private character they possessed when
the senate gave them their sanction al
its last session; and as il moreover APP
pears from the journal of the senate, re-
Gently transmitted for my Inspection
that it was deemed unnecessary to in
quire. into their qualifications or charac
ter; tits to be inferred that the change
in the opinion of the senate has arisei
from the official conduct ofih gentle
men. The only circumstances in thei
official conduct, which have been deem
ed of sufficient importance 10 aitrac
public attention, are the two report
made by them to the executive depart
ment Of the government; the one bear
ing date the god day Of April, and tn,
other the 10th day of August last; boil
Of which reports were communicated t,
the senate by the secretary of the treas
ury, with his reasons for removing tn
deposites.
The truth Of the facts stated in thes
reports is moi presume, questioned b
any one. The high character an
standing Of the citizens by whom the
were made prevent any doubt upon tn
subject. Indeed, the statements hav
not been denied by the president Of III
bank, and other directors. On the cor
trary, they have insisted that they wer
authorized to use the money Of the ban
in the manner stated in the two report
and have not denied that the charge
there made against the corporation al
substantially true. 1t must be takel
therefore, as admitted, that the stat,
ments Of the public directors, in the r,
ports above mentioned, are correct an
they disclose the most alarming abuse
on the part of the corporation, and Il
most strenuous exertions, on their par
TO put an end to them. They pro,
that enormous sums were secretly la
ished, in manner, and for purpose
that cannot be justified; and that Il
whole Of the immense capital of Il
bank has been virtually placed at Il
disposal Of a single individual, to be u
ed, If he thinks proper, to corrupt Il
press, and to control the proceedings
the government, BY exercising an und,
influence over elections.
The reports were made in obedienl