Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1841-10-15

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this avowaI. said 10 the President at
once, that what had feared would lead
10 fatal dissensions among our friends,
! now regarded as rather fortunate than
otherwise; that his veto of the bill then
before him would lead TO the adoption oil
much better one. also congratulated
him upon the happy circumstances OF
the delay which had taken place in
sending in his Veto Message. The
heat and violence which might have
been expected. if the Veto had been sent
in Immediately upon the passage of The
bill, would now be avoided, Time had
been given for cool reflection, and as the
Message did not exclude the idea Of
bank in some form, no unpleasant
consequences would be likely to follow.
he expressed his surprise that there
should be so much excitement upon the
subject; said that he had had his mind
made up on the bill before him from the
first, but had delayed his Message that
there should be time for the excitement
to wear off, that nothing could be more
easy than TO pass bill which would an
swer all necessary purposes; that it
could be done in three days. The next
day, having occasion TO see the Presi-
dent again, he requested me to furnish
him with such information as the War
Depa partment afforded of the embarrass-
ment attending the transfer & disburse
ment Of the public revenue 10 distant
points on the frontier, in Florida, &c.
tie at the same time requested me TO
draw up brief statement Of my views
upon the subject, showing the practical
advantages and necessity Of such fiscal
institution as he had thought of propos.
ing Such information as could hasti
ty collect from the heads o! the princi.
pal dIsburslng bureaus Of the Depart
ment handed to him on the evening OF
the same day, knowing that time was of
the utmost Importance in the state in
which the question then was. He re =
ceved the statements gave him with
manifest Indifference, and alarmed me
by remnrkDg that he began to doubt
whether he would give his assent (aS |
understood him) to any bank.
The nexf day "wednesday, 18th Au
gusD was the stated time for the weekly
meeting Of the Cabinet with the Presi-
dent Mr. Webster, Mr. Ewing, and
myself, went at ten o'clock 10 lhe morn
ing, and we're Informed that the Presl-
dent was engaged with Messrs Berrien.
Sergeant, and, think, Mr.. Dawson, of
Georgia, We waited until they retired,
and the President made his appearances
about three quarters OF al hour after
wards. Mr. Badger came in soon after
tine President joined US. Messrs. Crit
tenden and Granger did moi attend. The
conference which ensued was a long one
lasting two hours at least, according
10 my recollection. cannot pretend to
detail all that was said; neither can |
undertake 10 give the language employ
ed BY The President upon every point,
nor of the members Of the Cabinet, |
can only state The substance of what was
said upon those points which most at
tracted by attention.
The President commenced by stating
that he had been waited upon that
morning by a committee of members of
Congress, who desired 10 know his views
upon the subject Of a baDk--such a one
as he could sanction. He had given
them no satisfaction upon this subject,
but had informed them that he would
first consult with his constitutional ad
vsers-hls Cabinet-!hrough whom hp
thought it most regular that his views
should be communicated lie asked the
opinion of his Cabinet upon the correct.
ness Of the ground he had taken; re-
marking at The same time, that The ha.
BIT of expressing his views to members
OF Congress upon subjects OF so much in,
terest subjected him to great embarras
menl and much Misrepresentation
That question being disposed of, the
President adVerIed briefly, but without
much connection, to the relation in which
he stood 10 the Bank question, and his
disposition 10 go as far as he could com
ply with the wishes of his friends. He
spoke Of the relation that existed be
tween him end his Cabinet, and how ne.
cessary il was that he should have their
support. Would they stand by him?--
lie much preferred that The whole sub
ject should be postponed until the next
session; but if it was necessary to act
now, he thought plan might be devised
which. with their co operation, might
be carried through. lie wondered why
the Senate continued to postpone acting
upon his Veto Message, which was YET
to be disposed of. He supposed it might
be to hold it as rod over his head; and
had some doubts whether it was proper
that he should consider further upon
the suhiect unIiI the Sanata hoA Joo;dod