Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-03-27
WILLIAM j. DUANE.
TO TIE PEOPLE OFTHE UNITED
STATES.
l. f II II Z II iii.


Fellow -ClTIzENs:-In my preceding
letter, | have shown, that the President
spontaneously elevated me to the station
from which / was so soon afterwards re-
moved; and that, far from taking Office
to thwart him, sought to remain in the
shade of private life. have also shown,
that, rather than not crafty his vindic-
tive feelings against me, he is even con-
tept to be considered dupe, for he says
that palmed myself, or was palmed up
on him. 1t must be evident, however,
that, if any one was imposed upon, l was
that person: / do not aver that ! was inn
posed upon, much less have / a suspic-
ion, that the member OF the cabinet, re-
terred to, in my last letter, did not state
the reasons OF the President for selecting
me of which he had knowledge. Amongst
those reasons, the views or wishes of the
President, in relation TO the u States
Bank, were not enumerated; nor was the
subject ever referred to, in the letters or
conversations that passed between the
member of the cabinet and myself. In
the official paper of the 18th November
last, however, il was avowed, that the
President selected me because he sup
posed | accorded with his views in rela-
ton to the bank. So that the main mo-:
tive for my selection, was not before sta.
ted. do not say, that the President
concealed his views, until after my en-
trance into Office, in order to render my
accordance more certain, after / had
made so serious a change, as that Of pri-
vate for public life; do not believe that
he did; but have much more reason to
presume, that such was the case, than
the President has to suspect, that en-
tered into Office on purpose to thwart
him.
Were fully to admit, what the official
paper alleges, that l knew that the reno
val of the deposites was agitated, that
would not affect the question between the
President and me. If he had asked my
opinion, would have concurred in the
course, which he was pursuing in De-
cember, 1882, namely, an appeal to Con
gress; it was the same course which
advocated whilst l was in office, and
. which offered to pursue myself. could
have mad no suspicion, however, that the
Presidcn intended to abandon in future
the very course which he had himself
sanctioned. All nntecedent public acts
even the respect then entertained fol
him, forbade me to suppose, that he
meant to anticipate the action of Con.
grcss, evade the Judiciary, and trample
on the law itself. 1. In his Veto Mes.
sage, he left the subject Of the Cnitec
States Bank to the Congress Of 1884
2. When, during the last Congress, he
doubted the safety Of the public depo
sites in the United States Bank, insteat
Of taking upon himself the responsible,
Of their removal, he appealed to Con
gress. 3. His personal and politica
friend was appointed to enquire into th'
condition Of the Bank, and on his Re
port the Representatives Of the people
by a vote of lO9 to 46, directed the pub
lie money to be retained, where the Law
had placed it. 4. 1t is fair to infer tha
the President himself was satisfied will
this decision, for he soon after approved
OF an act Of Congress, authorising th'
Secretary Of the Treasury to lend to th
United States Bank, or upon its stock
several millions of dollars, trust none,
receivable from France, for America
citizens having claims upon that country
Had | intuitive or prophetic skill :
Because banks and spectators contiu
ued to agitate the deposite question, not
withstanding the decision of Congress
was | to suppose, that the Presider
would become their prey? Could ] 81,
pcct, that they would be able to Persuad
him to consider Congress corruptiblt
and the Judiciary already contaminated ID
Is it credible that |, who sought to avoi
Office, altogether, wilfuIly placed myse
in such position, that my removal b
the President for disobeying, or my rs
lection by the Senate for obeying h'n
would be inevitable?
When he thought proper to ask tn
written opinions Of the members OF tn
cabinet, upon whom no respons'b,l''
would rest, was it not due to me, the
shortly TO enter his cabinet, that b
should have frankly informed me, tn
the emoval Of the Deposites, before d
meeting or the next Congress, was d.