Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-09-17
W.salsnrns Ca, - -

Nssiisaros Sept. ii ia,
| SIR: Circumstances have occurred in the eonr .
your Administration and chiefly in the exercise hr ~,
Of the veto power, which consran me 10 believe ~
ny longer continuance III Office as a member ne 49,,
Cabinet will be neither agreeable TO you useful 10 M
country, nor honorable to myself
Do me the justice, Mr. President, to believe tha, ~.
conclusion has been adopted neither capricons,c ~
in any spirit Of party feeling or personal hos,I,iy 49,
| from a stnsc ofduty, which mistaken though i 49,,
is 80, so sincerely entertained, that cheerfulIy
flee to it the advantages and distinctions Of osics
| he pleased, therefore, 10 accept Tins nv re.c,
lion Of the Office Of Attorney General Of tie -,
States
Very respectfully, yours, &c
| The PRESIDENT.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Sept. II, ISL
Sir After the most calm and careful consldets,,o,
and viewing the subject in all the aspects in which
presents itself 10 my mind, have Tie concln
sion that ought no longer 10 remain member ii Won,
Cabinet. therefore resign the Office If Secretary al
the Treasury, and beg you TO accept this my resy
nation
To avoid misunderstanding, distinctly declare ,bs
do not consider difference Of opinion 10 the char
ter of National Bank sufficient reason for d,soly
mo the ties which have existed between Us. Thoucl
look upon that measure OF vast Importance "a
the prosperity of the country, and though should have
deeply d, plore your inability unwIlngness Ia A.
cord II 10 the wishes Of the People and the States a
unequivocaly expressed through their representative.
still uron this and this alone, unconnecied with oEer
controlling circumstances should have tel, boz
10 resign The place which hold IN your Adminstra,ou
Rut those controlling circumstances do exist and an
IN my own justification, place them III conneaon before
ynn
II is hut lust to you to saw that the bill which first
assed the two Houses Of Congress, and which was ~
turned with objections on Tie 10Th Of August Cd
e.. | Lpp NIL
ceye al any time either your express or implied assent
So far as that bill was known 10 me-, or as vas con.
suited upon IT, eudea vored 10 bring its provisions i.
ne ary as possible in accordance with what ! under.
stood to be your views, and rather h0p6d than Cytcd
your approval knew the extent 10 which you were
committed tie question. ! knew the prftHaciy
with hieh you adhered your expressed opinions and
dreaded from the first the most disastrous consr.
cuences when the project of compromise which PIE.
sen,cd at an early day was rejected.
II is equally mater Of justice TO you and 70 ny.
self 10 saw that the bill that reported 10 the ,so
Houses of Congress al the commencement Of tie
sion. in obedience 10 their CALL modified IS Is
meet your appreciation. You NAV not, il IS true, hsrr
read the bill throughout. and examined every Parl, w.:
The 10th fundamental article, which became The
tested question Of principle, freely discussed he
tween us and il was understood and unvquvccall,
sanctioned BY yonrself The last clause N the b,,
also which contained a reservation OF power N Con.
cress was inserted The 9TH of Jane, IN your pfc.
sence, and with your appreciation; though sou At one
time told me that IN giving your sanction 70 u" bill
you would accompany II with an txf!tnateh 81 YET;
understanding # that first clause
In this condition of things, though greatly regret
ted your veto the bill passed the two iou,es =
Congress- and though f,resaw the excitement arG
agitation which Il would produce amorg the People
vet considering the changes which the bill Lad unce'
zone in It's rasspne and lis variance from Tie ycg
had agreed to sanction, ] could not find IN that &C.
enonuh 10 disturb The confidential relations Which
isted between was disposed to attribute tbs ec'
rraugl with mischief il was 10 pure and Honorable
motives and to a conscientious conviction on your par
that the BILL in some Of lis provisions, conctd Wa
the Constitution But that opinion Of ycur eoG;se
the bill which has lust been returned 10 Congress Va
ycur second yeto do not and cannot entertain. II.
cur 10 what has raised between with respect 10 Il
and you will at once perceive that such opinion y q.
possible.
On the morning Of The 10Th Of August, called Z:
your chamter, ard found you preparing the first sel
message. to be despatched 10 the Senate The Sect
tary Of War came in ALSO and yon read portion q; "
message 10 Us. lie observed that, though the ye'o
would create a great sensation in Congress, yct b
thought the minds Of our friends better prepared .or
than they were some days ago, and he hoped 4 wcu-
he calmly received, especially as II did not shut ~;
all hope Of Bank. To this you replied that lcu -
ally thought there ought 10 be no difficulty about
that yon had sufficiently indicated in your veto message
what kind If bank you would approve, anc ,iat -,
days
The 18th being the day for our regular Cabinet me.'
ing, we assembled NIL except hcssrs Criitncsn ~
Grnnn.r and ycu told that YOU had had lons
versatlon with Messrs Berrcn and Sergeant. Mo r.
fessed to come IN LeLal! # The Wings u ;ac y.
Houses to cndeavor 10 strike cu some easG;c ~ita
would be generally acceptable. That you aat Z
doubts about the pFnprleiy Of conveFstng ~' i'-n
yourself, and thought Il more proper that ifu h'
commune w,,h them through your constitutional 3D.
Won n
should be postponed I'LL the next session .; tongr
spoke of The delay in the Senate nj the ccnse,:-
ton Of your veto message and expressed anxiety 9
the tone and temper which the debate would as-c"e
Mr.. Badger sad hat inquiry he was harry
find that the best temper prevailed in the Two ll'u'
lie believed they were perfectly ready !" 'ase ~
bill reported BY the Secretary Of the Treasury, r
pass il at {on replied "Tak moi 10 ne q "
Ewngs bill; il contains that odous feature q local
counts which have repudiatcd ~ my message
then said to yor 9" have doubt, SIR, That Tie tioh'
having nsccrtaned yonr views will pass bii! ~ 81
ormiiy to them, provided they be sa;lsiitG il'
would answer III" purposes Of the Treasury, af1
lieve the country" You then said, "Canno, ny =
net see that this is brought about You must =,
by me in this emergency. Cannot you zee thai : i
passes Congress, sreh as ! can approve, "iihoui
ca assists ncy:' declared again ny lel,i that ~
bill might be passed. And you then SAID TO me, ~
do yon understand 10 be my opinions State then
that may zee that there is no msaPPrehenson tt-
them"
! then said that ] understood yon 10 be d oPr
that Congress nigh, charter Bank in the Ds'fd
Columbia, giving liz location here. To tins !oa l
sented that they might authorize such bank y : 4
bllsh Offices of discount and deposi,e in iIir c'''
States, with the assent Of the States. To this your
Piled, "Don't name discounts: they have been
source Of the most abominable corruptions and
wholly unnecessary TO enable the Bank 10 dlschar:'
duties 10 the country and the Government.
! observed in reply that | was proposing noting
SIMPLY ende avoring To state what had undtfs'o.
be your opinion az 10 the powers which CongrcssM B
constltu'i"nally confer on Bank; thu, that po1
stood corrected. then proceeded 10 cay, that ~
stood you 10 be of opinion tia, Congress might ala
lie such bank to establish agencies in the several
with power to deal in bills Of exchange wIHo"
assent of the States, 10 which you replied -
they be foreign bills or bills drawn in Stat
payable in another. That is all the power nrc's liz
Tor transmitting the public funca and regulating
changes and the currency"
MIR. Webster then expressed in strong terms rs
mon that snch charter would all Just PuTi
If tfovfrnment and he satisfactory IN the Pe0pft II