The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-25
From the National Intelligence

Mcssrs. GALES & SEAToN: deem it proper to Of
fer public explanation of of the which
led to my resignation the 18th instant of the Of.
fee of Secretary of the Navy and for that purpose,
ask small space in the National Inteligcncer.
At the Cabinet meeting held the 18th of Au-
gust last (the Attorney General and the Postmaster
General being absent0 the subject of an Exchange
Bank, orinslitution, brought forward by the Pre-
sident himself and was fully considered. Into the
particulars Of what passed do not propose now to
ter 1t will be sufficient that it was then distinctly
stated and understood that such an institution met
the appreciation of the President and was deemed by
him free of consttu ional objections that he desired
f Congress should deem il necessary act upon the
subject during the SESSION. that such ain institution
should be adopted by that body, and the members of
his Cabinet should aid in bringing about that result
and Messrs. WEBSTER and EWING were specially re-
quested by the President to have communication
upon the subject with certain members of Congress
The institution then spoken of was TO be located in
the District Of Columbia to be authorized to estab
lsh agencies in the States and Territories with power
to deal in bills of exchange between the United
States and foreign countries and in bills Of exchang e
drawn in State or Territory and payable in an
other State Territory; and the exercise of this
power was not to depend on any assent, expressed
implied, Of the States within winch such agencies
| might be established E'~, q" r3@ O'3*
| In consequence of what passed at this meeting |
such friends in Congress as deemed it proper to
approach and urged upon them the passage of bill
to establish such an institution, assuring them that
did doubt il would receive the appreciation of the
President.
The billiwas passed, as the Public know and was
met by the Veto. Now, if the President after the
meeting of the 18th of August had changed his mind
as to the constitutional power Of Congress- and had
come to doubt or deny what he had admitted in that
meeting (Which is the most favorable Interpretation
that can be put upon his conducD it was in my OPT
non plain duty his part to have made known to
the gentlemen concerned this change of sentiment
to have offered them an apology for the unpleasant
situation in which they were placed by his agency
or at least to have softened by full explanation of
his motives, his intended Veto of measure in pre-
noting the success of which they at his request had
rendered their assistance But this the President did
not do. Never, from the moment of my leaving his
house on the lSth did he open his lips to me the
subject 1t was only from the newspapers, from
NOR, from hearsay, learned that he had denied the
constitutionalty of the proposed institution and had
made the most solemn reservations that he would
never approve measure which knew was suggested
by himself and which had been, at his instance
introduced into Congress; 1t was still in the Pres-
dents power, by proper statement in the message
containing his objections to the bill, to have supplied
these sons and in some degree at least TO have
repaired his former neglect but when that paper came
to be read it was found that far from saying frank
" that he once favored and had been willing to sane
ton the BILL but had been led (f such was the iact
by subsequent reflection 10 adopt different views upon
the subject, he treated the measure evidently
inconsistent with his previously expressed opinions
and which il ought not to have been supposed for mo-
ment he could approve.
Whether this conduct of the President IL suscert-
BILE of just defence reasonable excuse it is not
cessary now TO inquire ! have not heard nor can I
imagine any ground for either Whether an cxpla-
nation of it has been offered to any of the gentle
men concerned | know not, but none was at any time
offered to me: and while l forbear to make The re-
marks obvious and painful they aIe, which the
transaction suggests declare the conviction that this
conduct of the President, standing without known
defence, excuse or explanation, constituted (if no
other reasons had existed) ample ground for with
drawa from his Cabinet without delay. ...s.
1t is scarcely necessary to say that have not sup
posed and do not now suppose that difference mere
y between the President and his Cabinet either as to
the constlutonaliy or the expediency of bank me-
cessarily interposes any obs aces full and cordial
corporation between then the genel al conduct OF
his Administration; and theref deeply regret
ted the veto of the first bill did not feel myself al
liberty to retire on that account from my situation
but the facts attending the initiation and disapprovaI
OF the last bill made totally different from that
one is believe ed without pal alIe in the history of
our Cabinets; presenting TO say nothing more mea-
sure embraced and then repudiated-effors prompted
and then dsowned--serviccs rendered and then reat-
ed with scorn neglect Such a case required in
my judgment, upon considerations, private and pub
ic that the official relations subsisting between the
President and myself should be Immediately dissolved.
III .ae.I' p. y '" GEO. E. BADGER.
WAsmNeToN, Sept. Is, 1910.
The veto isl certainly written in friendly spirit.
The appeal makes to the Wings for Cancellation and
hherality will have great effect. The President Is
evidently most anxious preserve harmony between
himself and those who elected him. Surely this will
be recprocated. He agrees with the Wings upon
every other measure than this He is anxious the
Wing Cabinet should remain. Let us then be uni
ted and let the Wings continue harmonious, power
full, and successful. He who couDsels otherwise
who assails the President peridious or insincere,
is himself unfathfu to the Wing cause. Ne~ Jersey
State Gazette.
The number of volunteers in Pennsy lvaniO, now in
uniform, is said to be 81, 79l.