Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-03-30

which thought, ought TO regulate the conduct OF
Rsnublicau Chief Magistrate Having heard that m
sinuatons absurd enough, surely not nni'equeh
made that the friend Of The President, 'oougu
aiding in his election, but that determined IN advance
10 oppose his administration RICH, or wrong, he'e",
submit the litter referred TO, that the public may luose
whether the spirit in which il was written was NOT wa"
of true friend and whether the suggestions II CONTAIN
ed not also those Of true and rejecting
"CA,rLE Hit, April 9Th, ~
"My Dear Sr-You will excuse, am sure, the lIoef-
" | un about - take. No has more sincerely ue'
sired your elevation your present distinguished SOU"
than have dune. None more an1ionsy WISH "' .""I
in it. These sentiments have deie1n'nr" t ns
express TO you with the frankness you desire h"'"'
from all your friends, The thoughts which occur 10 me
question OF the deepest interest to you'se ano 'e
country. c,, ,h,
the subject of the Treasury Circular is still under your
consideration have drawn that inference particularly
from an article signed T. in the GLOBE OF Inc ISL 's'
which, from the internal evidence suppose, " H.; ~
an official source The article shows evidently oins III
favor of maintaining the Treasury Circular and yet
wha, is the result of its reasoning and statements;
That the measure is Of but little or no cihcacy, et!he'
for good or evil, in commercial ana nnahf'a ',eM
while in It's political operation, 1t is 'yurtonS lake
This o he about the favorable view that can be
presented of the matter What ought TO be The conse
ouence, This measure, which, il is admitted, does mel
ther much good harn has been condemned by iage
maiores in both branches of Congress- and Bill a5'
roGn,pr il, passed BY vote OF nine tenhs IN one House.
aud near three fourths in the other, which "oud now
be the law Of the land if 1t had been returned as hhh
i, ouph, TO have been, 10 the Legislative Department
"Ough measure Of such character TO be maintained
by the Executive against overwhelming an expression
Of the of the Representatives of the people and the
States? Would it be in harmony with The genius OF our
Institutions might ask indeed, adyerlIng TO the well
known and invariable practice both in England and
France Of ministers yielding TO parliamentary maloes,
however small if would be in harmony with The genius
Of any constitutional Government: think, then, my
dear sir that your through this difficulty is very
plain one. Whatever you msy think ct the Treasury
Circular, Congress- whose full control over the matter
cannot BE- questioned and 10 whose consideration was
expressly submitted by the late President has pronounced
upon it, by mojoes sufficient 10 have given the force OF
law 10 their opinions spite Of Executive objections 1t
the opportunity had been afforded 10 them In carrying
out their will thus solemnly expressed the responsibility
is not upon you, but upon them, with whom the Cons
tuition lodges both the power and the responsibility
This view Of The matter at relieves all the delicacy
you might otherwise feel in departing from measure OF
your predecessor.
On the other hand this measure be maintained al all
hazards in The teeth Of Congress- in what situation will
that body be placed at lis assembling, and especially
that large msority of your friends who voted for the
repeating Bill They cannot be expected 10 change their
course on question which was so thoroughly consider
ed BEFORE and is there great danger that they would
come TO its consideration with feelings deeply wound
ed, and possibly highly excited by this manifestation
Of Executive disregard for The Legislative will: have
had opportunities which could not in the nature OF
things al in your way, OF knowing the feelings which
exist large body Of your and true friends, this
subject; and with that knowledge, should very poorly
perform the part of friend myself, if did not express
you, my deep conviction that, i'll adherng 10 the Tres
sury Circular under existing circumstances you will
lake upon yourself burthen which never imposed
upon any Republican administration before On the
contrary act what Mr. Jefferson calls the vital prin
cple OF Republican government, from which there is
appeal but 10 forceacquescence in the decisions Of the
mojorty-and public opinion will support you, even the
candid Of he minority will justify you and you will have
phaanx of numerous and Jealous friends who can and
will sustain you ugains, any selfish facous opposition
"fou will pardon, | know, the frankness Of this
municalon in The motives Of sincere friendship which
dictate it, and remain, my dear Sir. with the highest
respect very truly yours, WIN. Z. RlFES.
His Excellency NJ. Vas BuaES, President u s.
The Presidents final determination, we all know
adhere to the specie circular, and after, w.t.
the month Of May 81 the suspension Of specie payments
By the Banks occurred have always believed that if
the President, on his induction into Office, manesling
his respect for the Legislative will had promptly rescind
ed the specie circular the of cash
by the banks would no, have taken place. but if il
had, he would at least have done every thing, which de
pend on him, 20 avert 1t The country moreover. would
have in such proceeding the part OF the Presi
dent, sormn declaration Of his purpose found his
administration the broad basis Of public opinion and
the national lude nent and to superior every
influence The liberal minded and patriotic of every
party would have been conciliated 10 his support and
guiding his future by the Republican pnci
PIES his administration might have rivacd in popuiari-
" and the great exempar of Mr. Je
determination, however, to maintain an obnoxious
against The declared and almost unanimous Of
the Representatives OF the people, regarded by many
oninous indication Of design build up. by
nagement and indrecon, the practical supremacy of
the Executive powertO al nuught the opinions of
Congress- to rely party discipline and gSiciai in
fusnce The supports OF his administration instead of
the free and unbough approval Of the people and their
representatives.
Another question, however som after arose, which
threw this int" the shade and has since almost wholly
absorbed the public attention Shortly after the suspen.
sion OF specie payments by the banks, which 10
have taken the Government entirely by SURPRISE though
the unhappy progress OF events had certainly prepared
the minds of rejecting in various parts of the
try for it, the President called Congress together for the
first Monday in September. At this called session, he
brought forward The memorable Sub Treasury project,
proposing collect the whole Of the nation in
gold and silver alone and 10 commit it, for sale ping
and management TO the exclusive custody of Executive
agents Considering that this identical project had al
ready been under the d"iIberaon Of Congress- when il
received but hryihree votes in body consisting Of two
hSndred and forty members and the political friends Of
the President with solitary p,ion had recorded
their votes against it, his recommendation of it, a, this
tme was undoubtedly very bold movement and
tied and reused into unwon,ed tone OF remonsrance
of his Oldest and most implicit admrerst And
yet my opposition to it, calmly persevercd in from dali
y Strengthening conviction of its fatal tendencies 10
the liberties and happiness Of The country but
panied with the atoning declaration OF a determination
TO "snk swim with the authors of it, is the unpar-
donabe sin, which has brought upon The fierce and
proscp,ye denuncations of which have been the de-.
voted subject, if not yet the inundated victim The Pre-
sden at least, has right 10 complain Of me for this
opposition. He had, at very early period, information
Of the views which had long entertained the sub.
Jet, and which would render it impossible for
10 support The measure, if he should finally determine
to recommend livery after he had issued his pro-
camation converting Congress for The Isl Monday in
September he addressed letter, under date of the
25lh May, 81 informing me, that he great question of
the session would be the nature and character Of the fu
views Of the different plans suggested which, he did me
the honor 10 say she would be Of great service
10 him" These views, in compliance with his request,
gave him very frankly and distinctly in letter wrote
him on The Sd June lS37 extract Of whch being the