, 1840-03-14

Mn. BuckNEn:-The following letter, by
Mr.. White to the Honorable the General As.
scmbly Of the Stale Of Tennessee, being in
any opinion very applicable, and no doubt
contains valuable information for tn. peo-
pie Of our own State. 1t has in it matter
worthy Of serious consideration. 1t lays
open the gangreae that has been, and still is
eating into the body polite. 1t shows the
means resorted to, and the ends 10 be accom-
plished, by the present corrupt Administra
ton, with so much truth and conciseness,
that | hope you will give it room in your
Journal. Every maj who has any regard
for hi, Country or the least spark of patri-
otism, in his bosom ought to give it a careful
examination; and while doing so, divest him
self Of all party prejudice.
VERITAS.
To the Honorable The General ASSEMBLY,
of the State Of Tennessee.
GESrEMES-On the 29th of November
last, in the city Of Washington, | received a
copy OF sundry p~reambles and six resolu-
tons, which appear to have been adopted
by YOU on the l4th of that month, instruct
ing your Senators, and requesting the re-
representatives. in the Congress of the United
States how TO act on 4 variety Of subjects.
An answ to the resolutions would have
been Immediately given had | not believed
il my duty to remain at the pos, ASST ned
me by your predecessors, until ZONE OF the
matters specified in them should re presen-
ted to the Senate for its action. Although !
might entertain an opinion different fion that
employed by your honorable body, and nigh,
be unwilling to surrender that opinion, yet
If no case should be presented for the action
OF the Senate, in relation to which such DIFF
ference Of opinion existed, ] could perceive
10 good reason why | should state what
course | would pursue, upon 4 subject, which
might never be presented for con sideration.
Now, however, bills are presented to the
Senate upon some of the subjects embraced
in your resolutions. and | deem it nv duty,
without farther delay, TO inform you. that ]
cannot obey the Instructions contained IN
some Of those resolutions, and respectfully
70 assign some Of the reasons which influence
my conduct.
That may be the better understood. |
will notice each OF the resolutions in the
order in which thej' were adopted.
First. As one Of your Senators. ! am
instructed "to vote against the charterinc by
Congiess of I National Bunk
This instruction corresponds with the
opinion | have repeate lily expressed & acted
on, and | could now feel no difficulty in con-
forming my vote to your wishes on this SUBJ
ject.
Secondly. ar instructed "to vote for,
and use all fair and proper exertions to pro-
cure the passage Of tn measure brought for
ward in the Congress of the United States.
commonly called the Sub-Treasurv Bill. or
Independent Treasury Bill" &c. &c.
The following, with many other, reasons
induced me to believe | ought not to comply
with the instructions contained in this reso-
luton.
1t has often happened, and will generally
be the case, that a considerable time must
elapse between the receipt of public money
from the debtor to the United States, and its
disbursement to their creditors; during this
interval the money will be much more safe
in. the custody of we'll selected Banks than
it can be in the hands Of individuals suppo-
sing them to be faithful.
Suppose any one of your honorable body
had one hundred thousand dollars of his own
money, which he did not intend to use for
xix or nine months, and lived in the vicinity
of a Bank Of respectable standing, would
he keep the money ia his own house, under
his own care, or woul | he deposit it in Bank
for safe.keeping until he wished to use it.-I
If be was a prudent man, regarding his own
interest, he certainly would deposit it.
Are we then justified in taking less care
of the peoples money than a prudent man
would take Of his own! With great defer
ence to your better judgment, / think not.
1t often happens that the receiving officers
have on hand much larger sums than that
named in the supposed case, and as tho sum
is increased and the time it is to be kept be-