Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-10-02

agreeable to you, useful 10 The country, nor hon.
orable to myself.
Do me the Justice, Mr. President, to believe
that this conclusion has been adopted neither ca
pricionsly, nor in any spirit Of party feeling or
personal hostility, but from sense of duty, which,
mistaken though it may be, is yet so sincerely
entertained that cheerlully sacrifice 10 it the ad
vantages and distinctions OF office.
Be pleased, therefore, TO accept this as my re.
signation Of the office OF Attorney General Of the
United States ...... .....
Very respectfully. yours, &C.,
... -. J. J. CRITTENDEN.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Sept IL, 1S41,
SlR After the most ca I'm and careful considera.
ton and viewing the subject in all the aspects in
which it presents itself to my mind, have come
to the conclusion that ought no longer TO remain
a member of your Cabinet. | therefore resign
the Office OF Secretary Of the Treasury, and beg
you to accept this as my letter Of resignation.
To avoid misunderstanding, distinctly dec lare
that do not consider difference of opinion as
to the charter Of National Bank suflicien, rea.
son for dissolving the ties which have existed be.
tween us. Though look upon that measure as
one Of vast importance 10 the prosperity OF the
country, and though should have deeply dcplor.
ed your inability or unwilingness to accord it to
The wishes OF The people and the States, so une
quivocaly expressed through their representa-.
lives, still, upon this and this alone, unconnected
with other controlling circumstances ! should not
hrve felt bound TO resign the place which hold
in your administration. But those controlling
circumstances do exist, and will, in my own
Justification place them in connection before you.
1t is but just TO you to say that the bill which
first passed the two Houses OF Congress, and
which was returned with your objections on the
l6rh OF August did never, in its progress, as far
as know or believe, receive at any time either
your expressed or implied assent. So far as that
bill was known 10 me, or as | was consulted upon
it, endedvored 10 bring its provisions as nearly as
possible in accordance with what understood IN
be your views. and rather hoped Than expected
your approval. knew the extent TO which you
were committed on the question. knew the
perlinacty with which you adhered to your ex.
pressed opinions, and dreaded from the first The
most disastrous consequences, when The project
OF compromise which ! presented at an early day
was rejected.
1t is equally matter Of justice to you and to
myself to say that the bill which reported TO the
two Houses OF Congress at the commencement OF
the session, in obedience 10 their call, was modi
fed so as TO meet your Appreciation You may
not, it is true, have read the bill throughout, and
examined every part of it; but the 10Th fnndamen.
tal article, which became The contested question OF
principle, was freely discussed betw cen U.S. and
it was understood and unequivocaly sanctioned
by yourself. The last clause in the bill, also,
which contained reservation Of power in Con
gress, was inserted on the 9th OF June, in your
presence, and with your appreciation; though you
at one time told me that, in giving your sanction
TO the bill, you would accompany it with an ex.
PLANTATION Of your understanding OF that first
clause.
In this condition Of things, though greatly re.
GREETED your Veto Of the bill as it passed the two
Houses Of Congress, and though foresaw the ex.
element and agitation it would produce among
the People, yet, considering the changes which
the bill had undergone in its passage, and its va.
rance from The one you had agreed to sanction, |
could not find in that act enough TO disturb the
confidential relations which existed between US.
| was disposed TO attribute this act fraught with
mischief as it was, to pure and honorable motives,
and TO conscientious conviction on your part that
the BILL in some Of its provisions, conficted with
the Constitution But that opinion Of your course
on the bill which has Just been returned to Con.
gress with your second Veto, do not and cannoi
entertain. Recur 10 what has passed between US
with respect to it, and you will at once perceive
that such opinion is impossible.
On the morning OF the 10Th OF August, ca led
at your chamber, and found you preparing the
first Veto message to be despatched to the Sen
ate, The Secretary OF War came in also, and
you read portion Of the message to US. EIe OBJ
served that, though the Veto would create great
sensation in Congress, yet he thought the minds
OF our friends better prepared for it than they
were some days ago, and he hoped it would be
calmly received, especially as it did not shut oui
all hope Of bank. To this you replied. thai
you really thought there ought TO be no difficulty
about it; that you had sufficiently indicated il
your Veto message what kind OF bank you
would approve, and that Congress might, If they
saw fit, pass such one in three days.
The 18th being the day for our regular Cabine
meeting, We assembled, all except Messrs. Crit
tenden and Granger, and you told US that you hac
had a long conversation with Messrs. Berrier
and Sergeant, who professed To come in behaI
Of the Wings Of the Two Houses to endaevor Il
strike out some measures which would be general
ly acceptable. That you had your doubts about
the propriery Of conversing with them yourself
and thoughtit more proper that you should com
mune with them through your constitutional adj
visers. Yon expressed wish that The who'll
subject should he postponed ill the next session
Of Congress. You spoke Of the delay in the Sen
ate OF the consideration Of your Veto Message
and expressed anxiety as ts the tone and tempe
which the debate would assume.
Mr., Badger said that on inquiry he was happy
tn find that The best temper prevailed in The two