Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-03-13

Il II ~pcb letter as san emissary Of the Bank"
would have written Does ii Indicate hostility
20 the President, or desire to remain in Office 70
tb,gart hini2 Could any friend struggle more
anxiously than did to snatch him from the brink
Ct a precipice? Instead Of considering my re-
sistance favorable to the Bank, felt satisfied
tha. the Presidents course would aid IT.
Under these impressions, as an act oil duty TO
the country, as well as to the President, and,
confess, dissatisfied with the part was expect
cd to play, | wrote the following letter
Respectfully, yours,
February IS, 1884.
The Secretayyof the Treasury 10 The President Of
The United States.
Treasury DEPARTMENT, July 10, 1888.
SiR:
l.. On the first Of the present moath, the I'M
dcrsigned had the honor TO receive the letter
which the President addressed TO him from Bos
ton, on the Goth ultimo, transmitting detailed
statement Of his views ''upon the subject Of dis
continuance Of the Government depostes in the
Bank Of the United States, and the substitution OF
certain State Banks. as the fiscal agents OF the
United States, so far those duties are now
performed by that institution"
If, when, early in December last, the desire
Of the President that the undersigned should as
sumo the station which he now holds, was COM
nua.cated to him, il had been intimatcd, that
cessation TO dcposite the public moneys in the
Bank 81 the United States, without any leglsla-
ton upon the subject, was TO constitute part Of
the Executive policy, and that The undersigned
would be called upon to carry the measure into
effect, upon his own responsibility, il would have
been in his power TO consider whether he ought
20 enter into office or not and he would not have
been compelled, as he now is either to incur the
censure of Congress, or 10 commence his service
by acting in opposition to the Presidents wishes.
But, no intimation of any kind was given,
and as the undersigned thus to come into
Office, in manner as honorable 10 the Presi-
dents hberality, as il was fiattcring TO his own
pride, he accepted the prof1ered honour, but still
not without reluctance, resolved to perform his
duty so faithfully as to merit public confidence,
justify the Presidents choice, and preserve that
Invaluable treasure, his own self-respect
IT, when, on the 30th of January last, the I'M
dcrsigued consented TO serve, and before he had
entered the duties of his station, he had known
that change Of the depository Of the public
money, notwithstanding the decision Of the House
of Representatives, was part of the Presidents
policy, and very anxiously discussed in the cabi-
net, il would still have been his pleasure, as well
as duty, to consider the questions invo lvcd care
fully. But, although late in the month Of March,
the President minated that he was agitatine
the subject himself, the undersigned had no con
cepton, that 1t was with view to any proceed
ing prior to the meeting of the new Congress
twas not, indeed, until the evening of the
day.or OF the day after, the Undersigned enter
ed into office, that he was informed that a
change Of the depository Of the public money
end
that upon the Undersigned would rest the respon-
sibility.
II Will not surprise the President, therefore,
20 learn the sentiments Of the undersigned now
Tor the first time; nor that he may fail to present
such an exposition of his views, as, under differ !
ent circumstances, he would at least have at |
tempted to prepare. Subsequently, to the LIST of
June, the President was so good as TO say, that
he would send 10 the undersigned the opinions of
the members OF his Cabinet, with his own views,
10 be deliberately reflected upon, with a view to |
frank declaration of the opinions of the under |
signed 10 the President, on his return from his |
Eastern tour. Those documents were received
on the LIST instant, and the President returned
on the 4th, so that the brevity OF the interval, |
aad other circumstances interfering will he
trusts, be regarded as adequate apologies for i'm
perfection. Whilst. however, he regrets the i'm
perfection, he is consoled with the knowledge, |
that he Is but CLEANER in the field Of inquiry |
alter officers superior 10 the undersigned in all |
the advantages OF experience, and with whom he |
will not assert an equality, except in purity Of |
purpose, and in regard for the Chief Magistrate
who has made him their associate.
ii. In the conclusion of the Presidents letter
ne has the goodness TO say, that, whilst he frank.
ly aSows his own opinions and feelings he does |
not intend TO interfere with the independent ex- |
ercise OF the discretion committed to the under
signed by law on the subject; and that the I'M |
dersigned may adopt, the Presidents respon |
siOilty, the sentiments expressed by him, in his
|
The Undersigned therefore concludes, that he
has not received the direction of the Chief Ma
gistratc TO perform an act of executive duty; but
that the President believes that Congress had a
right to direct and hold responsible, execu-
tive agent. And, accordingly, without express
sing doubt on that point, that might be thought
presumptuous, the undersigned will decide
his responsibility TO Congress, and that decision
shall be the same as fine had received an Execu-
tive order. This, however, will not, for mo-
he FRugf1gH hxr fhn don't ne md
tive Of the least abbreviaton of the respect and
attachment which, on many accounts, he enter
tains for the President; the expression is used in
order 10 evince the perfect sincerity OF the under
signed in the matter referred to him; it is used
in order to make known TO the President, that,
however grateful to him the undersigned may be
and however unwilling to incur the risk of sepa-
rating from him so soon, separation so likely to
expose the undersigned to the shafts Of envy or
Of malice, if such exist, such considerations are
overcome by a sense Of the high duties imposed
on him as public agent.
1t is not more consistent with the principles of
the undersigned TO pay homage to the Presi-
dent, than II would be the desire of the President
10 receive il; but, since it is soon his fate to
differ in opinion from the President, the under
signed boldly says, that no could have been
called to the station, now lied by him, who
could have had a more anxious desire than the
undersigned had, TO render the evening of the
Presidents life as tranquil its noon had been
glorious. IL is very painful TO him, therefore
90 be obliged to decline to adopt the course dc
scribed in the Presidents letter; he has the con
ISOLATION, however, that the very opposition es-
tablishes claim TO the Presidents respect, and
is sure guarantee Of sincerity.
Trusting, therefore, to that magnanimity on the
part OF the President, which is inseparable from
the purity Of his own intentions, the undersigned
will frankly state some of the reasons that have
drawn him TO the conclusion at which he has ar
rived. In doing so, he will present the results
of brief, but anxious reflection and incidentally
such observations as perusal of the Presidents
letter demands.
III. With regard 70 the Bank of the United
States, even if the undersigned did not consider
ii unauthorized by the Constitution, he avows |
his deliberate and unbiased belief, that the re-
newal Of its charter would be inconsistent with /
The duration Of the happiness and liberties of the
people. These sentiments are not formed as a I
potter moulds his clay, TO suit the fashion Of the
ms', or the order Of a customer: they are notll