The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-18
MR.. WEBsTER's LETTERS.

WASHINGTON, Sept. IL, 1s41
MYDEAR SR | thank you for your kind and
friendly letter.
You will have learned that Messrs Ewing,
Bell, Badger, and Crittenden, have resigned
their respective Offices. Probably Mr. Granger
may feel bound to follow the example. This
occurrence can hardly cause you the same de-
gree Of regret which il has occasioned me; as
they are not only friends, but persons with whom
have had, for some time, daily official inter-
course. | could not partake in this movement.
1t is supposed to be justified, presume, by
the differences which have arisen between the
President and Congress, upon the means of es-
tablishing proper fiscal agency, and restoring
sound state OF the currency, and collateral
matters, growing out of these differences. l
regret these differences as deeply as any man
but have not been able to see in what manner
the resignation OF the Cabinet was likely either
to remove or mitigate the evils produced by
them. On the contrary, my only reliance for a
remedy for those evils has been, and is, on the
union, Cancellation and perseverance of the
whole Wing party, and by no means despair
that we desire. 1t may render US more patient,
under disappointment, in regard to one mea-
sure, to recollect, is justly stated by the Pre-
sident in his last message, how great number
of important measures have been already sue
cessfully carried through. hardly know when
| such mass of business has been despatched in
a single session Of Congress-
The annual winter session is now near at
hand the same Congress is again soon to as
semble, and feeling as deeply as ever did, the
indispensable necessity of some suitable provi-
sion for the keeping of the public money for aid
to the operation of the Treasury, and to the
high public interests of currency and exchange.
am not in haste to believe that the party,
which has now the performance, will not in
all these respects, yet fulfil the expectations Of
the country. If it shall not, then our condition
is forlorn indeed. But for one, | will not give
up the hope.
NV particular connection with the Admins
tration, however, is with another Department.
think very humbly-none can think more hum
bly-of the value of the services which ] am
able to render to the public, in that post. But
as there is, SO far as know, on all subjects af-
fecting our foreign relations, a concurrence in
opinion between the President and myself; and
as there is nothing to disturb the harmony of
our intercourse, have not felt it consistent with
the duty which owe to the country, to run the
risk, by any sudden or abrupt proceeding, Of en-
barrassing the Executive, in regard to subjects
and questions now Immediately pending, and
which intimately affect the preservation of the
peace of the country.
am, dear sir, with constant regard
Yours, &C., &c.
| H. KETcHUM, Esq, New York.
WASHINGTON, September 49, 1s4l.
To Messrs. Gales 4 Sedt0n:
GENTLEMEN: Lest any Misrepresentation
should exist, as to the reasons which have led
me to differ from the course pursued by my late
colleagues, wish to say that remain in my
place, first because l have seen no sufficient
reasons for the dissolution of the late Cabinet,
by the voluntary act of its own members.
am perfectly persuaded of the absolute ne
cessty of an institution, under the authority of
Congress, to aid revenue and financial opera
tons, and to give the country the blessings of a
good currency and cheap exchanges.
Notwithstanding what has passed, l have
confidence that the President will cooperate
with the Legislature in overcoming all difficult
ties in the attainment Of these objects and it
is to the union of the Wing party-by which
mean the whole party, the Wing President, the
Wing Congress, and the Wing People-that l
look for realization of our wishes. can look
no where else.
In the second place, if l had seen reasons to
resign my Office, should not have done so with
out giving the President reasonable notice, and
affording him time to select the hands to which
he should con6de the delicate and important af-
fairs now pending In this Department.
l am, gentlemen, respectfully, your obedient
servant,
DANIEL WEBSTER