The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1841-09-25
10 the Editor Of The ,NationaI MieVigencer

| = Wv y VII IN DUN.
To the Editor Of lie Naiionl InieVjrencer
Messrs. GALES s. SEAroN: deem in
proper to offer public explanation of
sumo OF The Lessons which led to NV re-
!signatIon, on the 11th instant, of the Of
nee oil Secretary of the Navy, and, for that
purpose, ask small space in the Nation
al lntelligencer.
Az 'le Cabinet meeting held on the 18th
OF August last, (the Attorney General and
'he postmaster General being abscnt.) the
SUBJECT OF an Exchange Bank, or inslitu-
lioh' was brought forward by the Presi-
deht himself, and was fully considered.
ih'o 'le particulars of what passed | do
not propose now to enter. 1t will be suE
lclent TO say that it was then distinctly
stated and understood that such an insti-
'ulloh met the appreciation of the Presi-
dent, aud was deemed by him free of con-
s1l'utlonal objections; that he desired (if
congress should deem in necessary to act
upon the subject during the session. that
such an institution should be adopted by
that body, and that the members of his
Cabinet should aid in bringing about the
results; and Messrs. Webster and Ewing
were specially requested by the President
70 nave communication upon the sub
JGc' WIN certain members of Congress.
he institution then spoken of was to be
located IN the District of Columbia; to be
authorized to establish agencies in the
states and Territories with power to deal
IN bills of exchange between the United
ola1es and foreign countries, and in bills
OF exchange drawn in one State or Terri
Tory and payable to another State or Ter
rllory' and the exercise of this power was
not to demand on any assent, expressed
or implied, of the States within which such
gencies might be established.
In consequence of what passed At this
meeting saw such friends in Congress as
deemed ltproper to approach, aud urged
upon them the passage of bill to establish
such an institution, assuring them that
dld not donbt it would receive the anp,o-
baton of the President.
lhe bill was passed, as the Public know
and was met by the Veto. Now. if the
President, after the meeting of the lStu
August, had changed his mind as to the
constitutional power of Congress. and
had come to doubt or deny whath mad
admitted in that meeting, (Which IS the
most favorable Interpretation that can he
put upon his conduct it vas, in NV onin-
ION, plain duty Oh his part to have made
known to the gentlemen concerned this
change OF sentment-to have offered them
an apology for the unpleasant situation in
which they were placed by this agency
or, at least, to have softened, by full ex-
PLANTATION of his motives, his intended
Veto OF measure in promoting the sue
cess oil which they, at his request, bad
rendered their assistance. But this the
President did not do Never, from the
moment of my leaving the house ON the
18th, did he open his lips to me on The
subject. 1t was only from the ncwsna-
pers, from rumor, hearsay, learned that
he had denied the constitutionality of the
proposed institution, andhad made the
most solemn observations that he would
never approve measure which knew
was suggested by HIMSELF and which had
been, at his own instance, introduced into
Congress. 1t was still in the Presidents
power, by proper statement in the mes
sage containing his objections to the bill,
to have supplied these commissions; and
in some degree at least to have rennired
his former neglect; but when it come to be
read, 1t was found that SO far from saving
frankly that he once favored and had been
wiling to sanction the bill, but had been
lea Ut such was the fact by subsequent
reflection to adopt different views upon
the SUBJECT, he treated the measure as one
evidently inconsistent with his previously
expressed opinions, and which it ought
not to have been supposed for a moment
he could approve.
Whether this conduct of the President
is susceptible ofjust defence or reasonable
excuse 1t is not necessary now to INQUIRE.
have not heard, nor can | imagine any
ground for either Whenever an eypyan-
alton OF lt,,has been offered to any one of
the gentlemen concerned know not, but
none was at any time offered to me; and
while torbear to make the remarks, OBJ
vlous and painful as they are, which the
transaction suggests, | declare the convic-
ton that this conduc of the President,
standing without known defence, excuse,
or explanation, constituted (if no other
reason had existed) ample ground for a
withdrawal from his Cabinet without de-
lay.
1t is scarcely necessary to say hat
have not supposed, and do not now sup
pose. that n difference merely between the