Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-01-15
MIR. DUANE'S EXPOSITION.
10 The People of the United States:


pear before you, at least to repel impul;
tons cast upon my character, contained i
publication in the Globe, the official ps
per Of the Executive, of the precedin
day.
Ii the calumnious attack referred t
had not bt en- obviously sanctioned by th
President of the United States, such is tn
character Of the newspaper under his pro
lection, that | should not have felt sci
called upon ro-notice it.
In addressing you, nave hesitated be
tween the adoption OF general e1posl
ton, and of brief defensive address, &C
companied by that part OF the correspond
encc between the President and myself
which the official paper seems TO have
challenged me to produce. | adopt the
latter course. In the correspondence yor
Will find ample materials for an accurate
comprehension of my case --one OF insult
and oppression.
On the 4th Of December, 1882, without
any solicitation ON my part, was unex
pectedly Invited to accept the office Of
Secretary Of the Treasury. sought to
Stinii ttiO SlttiOii5 anu uiG IOiioCtit "
serve until asked for my decision on the
3oth Of January, and then consented re-
lactantiy.
No doubt, subsequently to, as before the
Adjournment of Congress, spectators, for
their own selfish ends, agltaled the depo
site question, and kept up an excitement
ie!t by the President; bat it was never
minated to me that he desredto concen-
trale IN himself the power to Judge and
execulc-to absorb the discretion given
to the Secretary of the Treasury-anG
even to nuliily the law itself. never
heard until my entry into Office, that he
meant to remove the Jepostes, without
further inquiry by Congress, Or that he
had asked The options OF the members Of
the cabinat Oh the subject; Oh Tie contra
ry, when, al CT having entered the trea-
sury department, unpledgcd, uiirammel
ed ahd unsuspicious, was informed oil
what was mcttitated, | felt surpiise 81 the
intelligence, and modification at the man.
Ter III which il was co.nmuiit ated TO me.
On the Sd of June, The President him
sell made known TO me what was in con
temptation, aud at he had taken the
opinions OF the members of the cabinet on
the point; two OF whom concurred with
him, two OF whom did not concur. and the
fifth had not yet given a written opinion.
He said he would submit to NE The writ
ten opinions OF the four members of the
cabinet, with his own views; and that be
would expect me to give him my opinion
frankly and fully. AS if to urge me to
avoid all reserve, he assured me, il a let
ter, dated Boston, J,tne %, transmitting
me the opinions and Uieaus, that sit was not
his Intention to Interfere with the indie
pendent exercise of the discretion com.
n,itted to me by law OF this subject"
But, when, on the 10th Juy, gave my
opinions frankly and fully, as an honest
minister and man should do, there was ev-
cry return but that OF appreciation. On
the contrary, on the 22d Of July, was
asked whether it was my intention 10 re
fuse TO remove the deposlles, if, after in
quiry by an agent and Amusement with the
cabinet, the President should decide to
remove them, as, in such case, it "would
become his duty, in trankness and candor,
to suggest the course which would be nc.
cessary on his part
Not on my own account, but as an act
Of duty to the country, now subjected
my pride aud feelings to restraint, 10y ten.
dering, in order to avert present hostile
breach, a future surrender of my post, in
case | should not ultimately concur with
the President. But, before my concur
renee or non-concurrence was made known
and whilst still held in my hands the
manuscript exposition, which was read in
the cabinet Oh the 18th September, and then
delivered to me by the President for my
consideration, he virtually dismissed me
as an officer, and insul,ed me as man.
by causing the official annunciation, here
unto appended, No. l, to be published in
the Globe Of the Goth September.
Yet, after this, whcnit must have been
obvious that, independently of other con
siderations of great weight, was absolved
from all respect for any past assurance
as letter No. Q, which personally pre-
sentcd to the President on the 2lst of Sep
tender, according TO my promise of Sep
tender 10, was contumeliousiy sent hacl
10 be, in letter No. eliminating the exist
ence ofimproper impu'ations in mine, No
2, calling my attention to my assurance o
July 90, and enquiring whether concur