Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-02-22

of Judgment on this point, as IL Was IN tile fIe-
sident to expect me to change at Will my con-
yctons in relation to the public deposites, or to
accept his reasons for doing an act, which my
own Judgment condemned.
Whilst abiding to this subject, Will take &C.
casion to repel the vile imputatlons OF the 9TH
cial paper, in relation to my motives Tor resist
ing removal of the deposites. the Pre-
sident's sanction, it has been inslnuated that my
course was dictated by corrupt understanding
with the Bank of the United States; and in the
official paper of the 10Th instant, am even call
ed g the emissary of the bank. =
Without any desire for Office on my part,
had been called to a high station The selec-
ton was generally approved OF; and yet In less
than four months, was contumehously remoV-
ed. To excuse this act Of outrage, became
matter of much consequence. Sympathy Tor
me would be condemnation OF my opplessof'
and. therefore, the official paper sought to IN
fuse into the public mind suspicious as TO my
neutrality-suspicious., which found ready recep-
tion on the part of men, who being base them
selves naturally supposed, that could not nave
made a sacrifice of Office under the public, with
out an equivalent elsewhere.
In the community of which am member,
there are many devoted friends OF the president,
who disagree with me; but think, there is not
one, who believes the nsinuations of the oft-
cial paper to have any foundation. So, far,
therefore, as my immediate fellow citizens are
concerned might with prOprety treat these
derogatory imputations with silent contempt
But, beyond this community | am not generally
known, and hence it may be expected by my
fellow citizens at large, that l should notlce
them; and feel the less dissemination in doing
So since distinguished senators have condescen-
ded in their places to repel similar inputations.
Accordingly, | pronounce each and every as
sertion or insinuation of the official paper, I'M
putting corrupt or improper motives to me, Tor
resisting a removal of the depostes, to be
false, foul and malignant. Further, aver, that
there is not even colourable preteXt or apollo
gy for any of the imputations cast upon me. |
have never, directly or indirectly, received,
nor have ever had the promise or expecta-
ton of receiving any loan fee, gift, benefit ia
YOUR consideration, or other advantage what
soever from the Bank of the United States, nor
from any of its officers. | have never been pre-
senty nor contingenty responsible to 1T, nor to
any ofits officers. have had no direct or indirect
correspondence or communication with the bank,
nor with any officer thereof, with the exception
OF letters on file in the Treasury department.
and with the exception of a single letter, receiv-
ed from the President of the bank, enclosing
me. as the friend Of the late Mr.. Girard, his ora
ton on the occasion of laying the corner stone
of the Girard College, on the 4th OF July last, to
which letter merely gave such reply as cour-
teSy calls for on like occasions. Far from de-
SIrlnG to favour the Ddnk, L nave DIT dill proper
times avowed and maintained my opposition to
it. And, if any words can express more full
ly and emphaticaly my absolute freedom from
all design to favour the bank, desire they may
be considered as used. believe that the bank
was entitled to the depostes, according to So
lemn contract; believe that it had right to
them, unless the Secretary of the Treasury
could give satisfactory reasons to Congress for
removing them; as Secretary of the Treasury
could not give reasons satisfactory to myself.
believed that the act of removing the deposites
would be unnecessary, unwise vindictive, arb-
trary and unjust; and although opposed to the
bank, would not be an instrument to effect any
such scheme, as that which was proposed
Therefore, laying aside, as was bound to do
my personal prepossessions as a man, | acted
solely from considerations, which dared not to
disregard, as an officer
1t must be manifest from the conduct of the
President, that it would give him pleasure, if he
could exhibit a shadow of proof of the charges
ofcorruption insinuated against me. | accord
ingly invite and defy him. and all those who may
desire to crafty his vndictiveness, or their own
passions, to point out any act on my part, which
can sustain the infamous imputations of collu-
sion, corrupt understanding, or even concert
of action, in the slightest particular with the
United States Bank. w. J. DUANE.
February l7th 1884.