Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-09-23

Messrs Gales & Seaion--I deem IL proper to Of
Ter public explanation nj some of the reasons
which led TO my resignation, on IN, lith instant, OF
the Office Of Secretary OF the Navy, ard, Tor that
purpose, ask n small space in tho National Intelli.
gcncer.
Al the Cabinet meeting he'd on the 18th Angus,
last, 1.-THE Attorney General and the Postmaster
General being nbsent,) the subject Of an Exchange
Bank, or institution, was brought forward by the
President himself, and was fully consdetcd. Into
the particulars of what passed, | do not propose
now to enter. IL will be sufficient to say that IL
was then distinctly stated and understood that such
nm institution met the appreciation of the President,
mud was deemed by him free OF constitutional OBJ
lcctions; that he desired &c Congress should deem il
necessary TO act upon the subject during the SESSION.
that such an institution should DO adopted by that
body, and that the members Of his Cabinet should
aid in bringing about that result; and Mcssrs Web
ster and Ewing were specially requested by the
President TO have q communication upon the sub
lect with certain members of Congress. The insti.
tuition then spoken OF was 10 be located in the Dis
trct OF Columbia; TO be authorized to establish
agencies in the States and Territories with power
10 deal IN bills Of exchange between the United
States and foreign Countries, and IN bills q! OK
change drawn ia one State or Territory and p,ya-
BILE IN another State Territory; and the exercise
of this power not TO depend on any assent
expressed or implied, OF the States within which
such agencies might be established.
In consequence of what passed at thu meet ing,
saw such friends m Congress as deemed II proper
to approach, and urged upon them the passage of a
bill to establish such an institution, assuring them
that did not doubt It would receive the approba-
ton Of the President
The bill was passed, the Public know, and
wasmet by the Veto. Now, Il the President, after
the meeting of the 18Th August, had changed his
mind 10 the constitutional power of Congress
and had come to doubt or deny what he had admit
tel IN that meeting, (Which is the most iavorab lie
Interpretation that can be put upon his conduc y It
was, m my opinion plain duty on his part to have
made known to the gentlemen concerned this change
q IN off rel thpno mol. for
the unpleasant situation IN which they were placed
by his aSency-or, at least, 20 have soitencU. by
full explanation OF his motives, his intended Veto of
measure ~ promoting The success OF which they,
at his request had rendered their assistance. But
this The President did not do Never, from the mo
men' OF my leaving his house the 18th. did he
open his lips to me on the subject. IL was only
from the newspapers, from rumJr, from hcarSay I
learned that he had denied the constitutonaiiiy Il
the proposed institution, and had made the most 10
Tenn nSscverations that he would never approve a
measure which knew was suggested 10y himself
md which hlu been, al his instance, introduced
into Congress 1t was still IN the Presidents power
by proper statement in the message containing
his objections TO the bill, 20 have supplied these
omissions, and in some degree at least to have re.
plred his former neglect; hut when that paper came
Co bo read, II was found that so far from saving
frankly that he once favored and had been willing
10 sanction the bill, but had been lei OF such was tie
hcl) by subsequent reflection TO adopt ilerent
views upon the subject, he treated the measure as
one evidently inconsistent with his previously cx-
pressed opinions, aud which il ought not 10 have
been supposed for moment he could approve
Whether this conduct Of the President is suscep-
rble Of lust defence reasonable excuse il is not
necessary now 10 inquire. | have rot heard, nor
can imagine Hny grnund for either. Whether an
explanation {" II has been offered to any one of the
gentlemen concerned know not, but none was Al
ary time offered 10 me- and while forbear TO make
the remarks, obvious and painful rs they are which
the transaction suggests, declare the conviction that
tins conduct o the President, standing without known
defence, excuse, or explanation, constituted Of no
other reasons had eXstedl ample ground for a with.
urawal from his Cabinet without delay.
rs scarcely necessary to say that have not sun
posed, and do not now suppose, that difference
merely between the President and his Cabinet either
MS TO the cons'lutIonnlily or the expcdency of
bank, necessarily lnerposes any obstacles TO a full
and cordial corporation between them in the gen
orai conduct of his Administration: and therefore
deeply as regretted the veto OF the first bill did
not lee! myself at liberty retire on that account
from my situation. But the facts attending the mi.
uailon and dIsapproval Of the last Till made case
totally different from that-one IL is believed with.
out parallel in the history Of our Cabinets; pre-
Heniins, to say nothing more, measure embraced
md then repudil,ed-etforts prompted and then
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS rendered and then treated with
scoTn or neglect. Such n case required in NV
Judgment, upon considerations private and public,
That the Official relations subslsling between the
President and myself should be Immediately dig.
solved. GEO. e. BADGER.
wAsHTNoToN, SEPT. Is, ISiI.