Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-03-27
Y MORNING, MARCH 27, 1884.

but urged to accomplish selfish, If not
facious purposes. / sought no inter-
I course with those, who, felt satisfied,
hadan undue influence over the Presi-
dem, at least in relation to the grave
questions connected with the removal Of
the deposiies. Whenever any of them
} called on me. there was no hesitation in
urging me TO accord in the proposed
measure. Ii WAS contended that the
removal Of the deposites would be made
ral!ying point, at the opening Of Con-
gress, or flag up, for the new members.
" Nhenever urged a recourse, in the first
instance, to Congress, or the Judiciary,
such step was secuted, and delay re-
4 presented as hazardous.
II i had heard rumors 0fth existence of
an influence at Washington, unknown TO
the constitution. The conviction, that
such an influence existed, at least in re-
lation to the matters then pressed upon
| me, was irresistible. j knew that four
Of the six members ofthe cabinet, before
| became member Of il, had been OD-
posed to any present action in relation to
the depOsiteS; anG ! also knew that four
OF the six members Of the existing cabi.
net entertained the same views. felt
satisfied, not only that the President was
not in the hands Of his constitutional ad-
visers, but that their advice was success
fully resisted by persons, whose views
coinicered at variance with the public
interest and the Presidents fame.
Such were my impressions, when, on
the lst Of July, received a letter from
the President, dated "Boston, June 26,
1885," together with his rie,os and the
opinions Of four Of the members Of the
cabinet, vOluminous papers, in the exam
ination of which l was engaged, when
the President Unexpectedly returned to
Washington on the 4th OF July.
i, In the r,ers given by the President,
he EXPIRE ssed his opinions, that the Secrs-
tary OF the Treasury would be wisely
exercising the discretion conferred up
on him by law, by directing the depo-
sites to be made in the State banks iron,
and after the 18th Of September, if ar
rang ements to be made with them should
be then completed.
In his letter, he stated that the only
difficulty he for some time had, was, as
!, to the time when the change should COM
mence; that he thought the time should
be from the lst to the 18th Of Septem-
Der; that an agent should be sent to con-
suit with State Banks upon the practical
!, bility of an arrangement, such as the
President then proceeded to detail; but
that he did not contemplate removal Of
funds deposited, unless when wanted for
public purposes. 7 his letter closed with
this emphatic assurance:
wn making TO you, my dear sir, this
: frank and explicit avowal Of my opinions
and feelings, it is not my intention to in.
terfere with the Independent exercise Of
the discretion committed TO YOU by law
over the subject. have thought it,
however, due to you, under the circum-
stances, to place before you, with this re-
= striction, my sentiments upon the sub.
, ject, to the end that you may, on my re-
, sponsibility, allow them to enter into YOU
: decision upon the subject, and into any
future exposition Of it, SO far as you may
deem it proper"
Prior to the reception ofthese commu
j nications, had felt embarrassment, no
only in relation to the general subject
Q but as to constitutional and legal ques
. tions. ! was IN doubt as to the view
! which the President would take Of tht
10th section of the law, chartering th'
{ United States Bank, which gave thu
!, y discretion, as to the deposhes, to th'
u Secretary ofthe Treasury. When, how
ever, | read the above passage in his let
ter, my anxiety was in a great measure
if not wholly, removed. Ii it meant an,
thing, l concluded, that the Presiden
; now confirmed, what the law had already
declared, that the Secretary ofthe Trea
sury had the exclusive right to exercise
! that discretion independently Of the Pre-
. sident, and that in thus writing to me, h
had pledged himself not to interfere be
!. yond the expression OF his own opinions
y and the employ ment Of argument to hav'
J, an influence upon mine. Rehecting
y however, upon the means that might b.
u used to induce the President to disre
gard this pledge, l considered it my dut
S to comply strictly With his direction, I
gire him my sentiments frankly and fully
and these you will find in my next letter
w. J. DUANE.
n ph;ia,lal,,,;. p.hr,,rx 81 lsaA