Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-04-16

consistent with the principles which MIR.
Duane had previously y laid down in writ
ing, as those which would direct his con-
duet, and he considered the prol osllinn
as a mere inesse for the benefit OF the
Bank, and treated it accordingly"
l shall not here stop To comment upon
the P,esld nl's secret sentiments, re-
sp, citing me, which seem tn have been
so well know 10 "ihe AGENT and "oth-
ers," writer's for his official paper, bot
will show what was my proposition.
W hen II was know eaily in Septem-
bcr, that ! persisted IN my refusal to re-
move the depoSites, aud even hesitated
whether my duty to the country did not
forbid IL surrender ol the post in my care;
some q the members of the Cabinet APP
pcarcd to desire that "a middle course
might be pursued. was as ed whether
| would fix upon day, on which ] would
remove the drposites, after the meeting
OF Congress, in case that body should
not act Oh the subject Whether ibis
inquiry was or was not made with view
10 an explanation with the President, |
do not know but when was requested
to state my sentiments in writing, ! did
50 in letter, dated September 9Th, Of
which the following is an extract:
"My conviction has been and is, that
no cause for a change Of the depository
does erisi, such as warrants the exercise
of the power conferred on the Secretary
of the Treasury; that, until adequate cause
TO change shall arise, it will be his duty
TO deposite as at present, unless Con-
gress shall otherwise direct. So that
| can give no assurance bot these; | will
change the depository as soon as Con-
gress shall direct me to do so, or as soon
AS such cause shall arise, as will, in my
Judy ment, justify the act; but, il Con-
gress shall not sanction the removal of
the deposites Chat is, do 50 previous to
removaD l AIN not at liberty to say, that
l Will act at "a given time; for l do not
know that at that time there will be any
more reasons than is now Tor a change.
! "This is the result Of reflection. l will
respectfully and without bias listen to
what may be said hereafter; but l have
no expectation Of varying in the least
from my present position. l am willing,
and ready, and ANXIOUS to 60 home, as
soon as the Pre- sident shall say such is
his preference, rather than do what
should ever after regret and condemn. /"
Thus it appears, l refused to fix a
day, consented to remove the deposites
in case Congress desired it, and stated
my readiness 10 retire as soon as the
President should even express his pre-
ference for that course. Here | mi ght
rest my defence, but consider il duty
10 proceed.
In my letter of the 10th ofJuly, / said
that, 10 Justify my own act in removing
the deposites, | must rely on my own
reasons, and not on those of others, OBJ
viously alluding TO the offer made to me
by the President of his reasons, in case
| should not consider my own sufficient.
The official paper, however, says, l re-
fused to act even upon reasons "LegIs-
lative," or Executive" This is not
only contradicted by the proposition a
bove quoted, but by the whole course of
my written and oral discussion with the
President; it is also controyerted by
what stated TO the legal adviser Of the
! President, my successor in Office, at all
interview had with him by the desire ol
the President himself. And to show
more precisely the nature of my argu-
ment, quote the following passage from
paper drawn up on the lOlh ol July for
the purpose OF meeting the Presidents 5
Statements:
"You Ube Presidency are of opinion
there is radical error III my view OF
that part OF lhs subject discussed, which
relates to reference Of the question OF
the dcposlles to the next Congress. In
order to demonstrate my supposed error,
you ass, whether the depostes can be
removed, except by the Secretary ofthe
Treasury? to which there can be no 9th
er reply than, that the Secretary alone
can remove them. You, then, however
inquire whether Congress can make any
+ provision for II deposlle Of the Rblic
, money before its removla? to which yol
reply it cannot, and that removal there.
/ fore, must be the first step. In this
however | cannot concur on the con
trary, | am satisfied that Congress may
control the whole matter. Your conclu
sions are, that the existing grounds io
removing the depostes are sufficient, ant
that, SO far, C,nsress have nothing
TO do with the question that II woul,
be throwing on them responsibility no
: belonging to them, but to another brancl
OF the Government; that when q chang'
, shall be made, it will be time enough Il
| submit it to t~ revision of Congress, bu
I that until the change be made they can
not act But, sir, cannot concur II
! this view of the subject; the positions,