Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-04-03

'ne guIdance OF deliberate reason, d
any act, that has not the stamp Of manli
ness upon its front. He does not thin
that the end Justlfes the means, or tina
there is any distinction between mora
and political integrity. No doubt, tn
President believes the proceeding, unde
consideration, To be fair, manly, an
sound. The under,i igned has Iearne,
not to say ogmaiicaIly, that he is right
and that another is wrong; II is sufiicien
for him, that whilst he sincerely respect
the sentiments OF the President, the un
ders'gned cannot II, his pleasure chang,
his own convictions, or present to Con
g,ess reasons for an act that he believes
to be arbitrary and needless.
Ii is true that Congress gave to tn,
undersigned the ri ght to use this arbitra
ry power; but for what purposes? Sure
ly not to enable him to usurp Executiv,
or judicial authority. 1t is the right O
the President TO arraign, and the right oI
the Judiciary to try, the Bank. Upor
what preteM can the undcrsi gned wres
these powers from the legitimate organs:
Or, can it be iancied, that Congress
transferred to the undersi gned, powers
possessed by themselves? What, then,
is the fair conclusion, in the absence OF
all explanation, as TO the motives of
Congress- Surely, that, dictatorial pow
er was conferred on the Secretary oithe
Treasury, for occasions demanding sud-
den and extreme action, or as salu,ary
check upon the Bank, or means to pro-
mote the conclusion OF its affairs. II
never could have been conferred to en-
able an individual, whose appontme
has not vet been confirmed by the Con
execute yindictivc Justice.
Is there, then, any cause for sudden
and extreme action? The undersigned
admits, that the views in the Presidents
letter are very striking; they must, when
presented to the People, or their Re
upon the question of the renewal of the
charter; Uut he does not believe that
they warrant the mdersigne I'D resort
ing TO the proposed measure. Ii must
be very strong case, indeed, that would
justify the notification Of contract,
made by all the departments Of Govern
ment.
Cd. The measure would be consider
ed extreme and arbitrary, because the
last Congress acted upon complaints a
gainst the Bank, and because the next
Congress may follow the example Of the
ha nrntnpl,I chat tho
last Congress doubted the ability Of the
Bank, to meet its engagements /; the
House of representatives., 10y vote of
lO9 TO 4G, decided that the Bank was a
safe place of deposte; and one of the last
acts of Congress, authorized the Secre-
Iary Of the Treasury to lend Million Of
Dollars to the Bank without security p
What has since occurred, that should
the undersigned, in treating
hese evidences of confidence with con
empt? What reasons could the under
signed give for reversing the judgment
IF those, of whom he is the mere agent;
w hat has occurred, since the last scs-
'ion of Congress, to change the ground
hen held; If any thing occurred, prior
o the entry oftbe undersigned into Of
ice, on the lst OF June, why was not his
PREDECESSOR called upon to act' And, if
'othing occurred prior to that time, what +
las since happened, that cou'd justify
he undersigned, who has not yet be-
ome acquainted with his duties, or been
bove forty days in office, in exerting
owers, affecting not merely the Bank,
ut the whole community: Is he to take
for granted that the last House OF Re-
rcscntatives was ignorant, or corrupt
Or is be To conclude that there has been
aud or mlsmanagcment on the part of
le Bank! He does not pretend, that
u adequate investigation was made by
le last House of Representatives; but I
lat House decided on the evidence
reduced 1t was not competent for any
gent to furnish adequate proofs, the mi
Drity of the committee of investigation
pclare that, a full and protracted inqui-
, by Congress is necessary to the de-
,lopement oitruth; and yet il is expect
J that the undersigned shall either have
culties superior to those Of Congress, !
bardlhood that dsregards their cen !
ire; it is supposed, that although body f,
lth power 10 send for persons and pa /
RS, were unable to come to a decision, c
favorable to the Bank, or even to cx- u
ess a disbelief of its safety, the undcr- {
yncd, without any such inquiry or pow i
To inquire, is first to do what Congress [
)uld not do, and then refer to the rca. b
us of the President as a iustllic cation. "
Ich a reference would not, and ought a
{, to answer as defence; the under C
med is thrown on his own reasons, and, b
he acts, and has none, hc must stand %
n posture before the world, not more a
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