Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-01-08


times had far better Of knowing the
and intentions Of the Executive than any could pretene
TO, TO say il had not at that time, good reason To pro
nounce il Lug6ear. could soon have supposed tha
the sun would fall from the armament at my feet az tha
the Executive which stood committed before the world by
every possible act and expression OF ntexibe oPPosof
to the bank, could, under any circumstances have con
scented 10 change lis relations with that institution and
make it again the fiscal agent OF the Government An
them be reproached by the Senator from New YORK
for the confidence reposed in the good faith and SIN
certify of his own friends? Whose fault is il that the
danger of restoration Of the fiscal connection between
the Government and the Bank OF the United States IS
longer bugbear? Is it mine that OF The Senator
friends? Let facts, and the genemans own ca"oo''
If NAV appeal 10 il, answer that question
we'll iecollect Mr. President, that at the time SUI,
mted my proposition for defining by law what KINGS OF
currency should be received in payment oil Inc puelc
dues, the unsustained objection urged against by Inc
Senator from South Carolina r Caihoun) was jealous
ly taken up by the official organ here aud was again
and again insinuated if not openly chrrgfd, that was
playing into the hands Of the Bank oil the United States
and aiding and abcltng It's design oil Tecapiung o use
the phrase of the day) the public dPposiies The gentle
man from s. Carolina fankly disavowed The Imputation
of any such intention 10 me- while he sill! conendtd IN
argument, Uhough must be permitted TO say, without
the slighes, foundation of reason far as could see
that such was the tendency Of my proposition. The
press however, which has announced to The world, with
out contradiction that enjoys the favor and confidence
Of the Administration, was not sash, with ms IL
ussduously laboied 10 jealouses IN the minds OF
my constituents with regard to the views and motives
with which offered my proposition. disdhined to no
tce these insinuatons II my whole public lille, passed
III unvarying opposition 10 bank and The Bank OF The
United States, in every possible shape they might as
sumo, could not protect me from such unfounded and
gratuilous impula,iops Jisdaned 10 protect myself by
the meanness Of protesiations. sA 9lsdain It, But
what do see? Some of the very persons who
accused permitted me to be accused, by press an
nouncing itself TO the world, without contradiction, es
their organ of attempt TO bring about restoration
of the odious fiscal connection between the Government
l.i.z Dat r. Ir:ta Statas Tho TFEf
{unless appearances greatly deceive us to do The very
thing which, without shadow OF foundation, they
charged me with attempting to do-a thing which, from
the confidence then reposed in their Intentions J.
zealously acquitted them even from the possibility of
dong-which therefore, pronounced to be b"seear-
and for having done so, in behalf OF his friends am This
day reproached by the Senator from New York
But the gentleman also complains, and seems 10 think
it an act Of great improperly that referred 10 the let
ter OF Mr.. Blddle as giving an account OF Inc snsac
tions between him and the Government. Who is MI
Bidde' Is he not one Of the high contracting parties
and, such, entitled TO be heard in regard TO The ar
engagements made between his Bank and The Treasury
Does the Senator mean 10 mpeach his credibity =
Whatever opinions entertain OF the policy and pro
ceedings Of MIR. Biddes Bank have never heard his
character gentleman. or his personal honor and We
racity called into question But for what purpose did
refer to Mr.. Bidde's letter? Was il not mainly to sup
ply omissions in The Secretarys report and not TO con
tradict il? Where thsIe were discrepancies between
the one statement and tie other merely pointed them
out that the Secretary his friends gh have op
portunty Of explaining them, anG without deciding
which party was in error. But on what ground IS Ii
that in this nsacon the Senator chooses TO treat MIR
Biddle uatriendiy witness? There seems, so Ia
see nders,a nding at present between hin
and the Government. On the contrary, he volunteers
his testimony in favor Of the Government by declaring
that the arrangements made 'Grc honorable to lie Ere
eptire officers
1t was no less on offence in the eyes of The honorable
Senator seems that alluded to cerlun remarks made
on the appearance of Mr. Buchanans letter by two lead
inn ala IN n lv IN he ba N
posed 10 be conversant with lis views and policy. lie
says they Opposition journals and, therefore, no! Il
be credited in any thing relating 10 The Government
Now, MIR President person hos seen with deeper re
greet than have done The tone Of violence, exaggera,on
and prejudice which pervades The party presses oi thu
country but must say, in candor, to the Senator from
~ York. that have seen about as much OF these quail
ties the s:te as The other So Tar as The recent
transactions between The Government Sd the Bank are
concerned the journals TO whose remarks alluded might
we'll be considered exempt from their ordinary party
bias They approve the arrangement made and are doubt
less disposed 10 give the Government credit Tor that act
at least But it for wholly different purpose that
referred 10 those remarks. II TO show what in The
estimation Of Mr. Bddle friends and this point not
the enemies of the Administration IRiglt grow out oil
the connection which had already taken place.
TO wit The ultimate Reinstatement OF the Bank Of the
U. S. the fiscal agent Of the Government, and the
virtual ere establishment Of National Bank. They
were indications and timely warnings which, thought
ought not to pass unheeded by those ot US who were
opposed to such consumma,icn and for that reason
called the attention Of the Senate and OF the country 10
the 6rst symptoms Of danger they disclosed.
The honorable Senator, too, seems 10 think me guilty
OF unairness towards the President while commenting
his extraordinary proposition that committee OF
Congress should be appointed TO examine into The nj
fairs and accounts OF SubTreasurers and report such
of them should be found deauers to the E1ecure,
that did not state for what purpose The report TO be
msde-tha it with view 10 prompt removo! from
Office" of these deaul,ers The Senator far from find
ing fault with me for this OMISSION 10 thank for
- Lol
as it was for the addendum, in my humble Judgment
instead Of mitigating the objectionable character Of the
proposition, decidedly increases it, 1t renders il
apparent that the object OF the proposition Is to imPcate
Congress lin subordinate and ministerial capacity loo)
in purely Executive function, to wit, the removal
of public officers, the responsibility of which, under
the Constitution, rests exclusively the President
But would Congress, in such case, have the right,
cording the Presidents proposition, to insist and
require necessary consequence the removal OF the
deiaulters reported by their committee: BY no means
The deaulte is 10 be removed says the President, sun
less the default be satisfactorily accounted for But
who is 10 Judge Of the defaulters excuse? The Pres
dent, OF Congress- them after submitting to the
degradation of appointing committee OF their own
body to hunt up and report defauters 10 the Executive
might incur the further humiliation Of having the re-
ports Of their committee disegarded by the Executive
and overrued By the influence Sophistry OF public
defaul,er.
The Senator had also thought proper to take me 10
task for the freedom with which had examined some
of the recommendations and opinions of the President
"Such remarks, he says, ''comng from an Opposition
Member would not have surprised him; but, coming
from one, Standing The relation do TO the President
he could not but regret" Now, sic, this is very sig
nicaut rebuke, however mild in terms The Senator
may know better than do my relations 10 the President
and others. But permit me to say 70 him that, whale
those relations may be, there is nothing IN them
which prevent from speaking the language
Of truth this Oor and giving expression 10 the So
lema convictions Of my mind, under the responsibility
of the station hold here um moi here cir as the friend
Of the President but The friend of my countryas the
free and unrammeIled OF sovereign stote
TO which alone responsible. have used language
incompatible with proper respect personal and afcIa
for the Chief Magistrate shall such. But if
the gentleman supposes ,ha, to be deferred by any
.hreat Of party prescription Executive dspeasurc,
from free examination here Of measures and opinions
which my most deliberate judgment utterly condemns,