Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-03-13
WILLIAM j. DUANE.
TO TIE PEOPLE OFTHE UNITED
STATES.
LETTER !.


FELLOW CITIzENs-W When was rude
ly thrust from Office, OH the 23d of Sep
tember last, | resolved, for the reason
stated in my late letter to Gov. Taze
well, TO rest upon my acts as an officer
and nv reputation as a man, unless th'
one should be misrepresented, or th'
other assailed. And, in order that th'
responsibility, Of any disclosure of pas
occurrences, should rest upon the Pres
ident, / notified him, ere ] left Washing
ton, on the 9Th Of September last, tina
should hold him accountable for the
Mal-conduct Of the publisher Of his Off
ciai paper; and that, as the public repu'
iation usually suffered in conflicts be.
tween the chief magistrate and ex-min-
listers, l would avoid n controversy, and
only repel assaults which he should
sanction.
So little effect had this suggestion, and
so necessary did it appear 20 the Presi-
dent to prevent sympathy for me, which
would be censure upon hImself, that the
official paper continued, after my retire
nent to private life, 10 circulate the most
fagitious impututions upon my character;
and yet, when the President saw, in q
public print, an extract from one Of my
private letters, published without my
consent, and containing nothing but the
truth, he affected to be very much Of
Tended; and, instead Of directing q refu-
tation of what had said, he broke the
seals, that closed the cabinet and our
correspondence, in order to sustain a
false and malignant attack upon me, on
the I 9th Of November last.
1t was necessary to notice this; but E.
ven on that occasion, l did not repel this
aggression; nor did invite the people
TO look upon the stage, much less behind
the scenes, where their dearest rights and
interests are sported with by incognI
performers; on the contrary, merely
published brief defensive address, so
little indicative Of ofresentment, that it was
pronounced, even by dispassionate men,
reprehensibly mild.
Several grave questions, connected
with my case, have long been discussed,
not only in congress, but throughout the
country; the instructions given to the
Presidents agent, for making inquiries
as 10 state banks, are before the Senate
Of tho United States; and in my own de-
fence, ought TO give some explanation
respecting them; doubts have been ex-
pressed on The floor of that body, wheth-
er there had been due foresight and
warning, as to the evils that now exist,
and it is due to myself at least, that l
should show, that in this respect, as well
as others, did my duty. In September
last, the President appealed 20 the peo-
pie, by publishing his reasons for direct
ing removal Of the public deposites;-
and as soon as congress assembled, my
successor in the treasury department
presented a statement in relation to his
agency in removing them. 1t seems,
therefore, to be a duty to myself, IL not
TO the public, to present, in detail, my
reasons for resisting the President; and, j,
at least, his friends cannot complain OF
my appealing to the people, since l
barely initiate his own example.
iii had heretofore feh any doubts OF
the propriety Of addressing you, they
would be now removed; my correspon-
deuce and conversations with the Presi-
den, we're again misrepresented, in his
official paper Of the 7th inst. and at the
same time vile aspersions, palpably sane
toned by him, were again cast upon my
reputation. So that, even if no obliga-
ton of public nature required some ex-
planation now, It is demanded and Just'-
fed by this new display Of vind'ctive-
ness.
Under ordinary circumstances some OF
my fellow citizens might, perhaps with
propriety, censure any exhibition OF doc
uments, or exposition Of facts, on my
part; but, i trust, that they will now re-
feet, that il is in sclf-defence ! resort to
the course pursued by the President
himself; that l have preserved silence
for nearly five months, amidst invita-
tions and even taunts on one side, as
well as under q slanderous persecution
on the other.
Without saying, therefore, at the out
set, how Car | may 60, l consider my
seIf released from all impediments, but
those, which sense Of duty to the pub
lie and respect for myself may impose.
Art III ....nraIlv m, n r. nun ed with