Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-09-22
The President.

The President
Treasury DEPARTMENT, Sept. IL, l84I.
Sir After the most calm and careful consid-
Grafton, and viewing the subject in all the as
poets in which it presents itself to my mind,
have come to the conclusion that | ought no
longer 10 remain 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 de-
clare that do not consider difference Of opin-
ion as to the charter of National Bank suf-
ficient reason for dlssolving the ties which have
existed between us. Though look upon that
measure as one OF vast importance 20 the pros
perity of the country, and though | should have
deeply deplored your inability or unwiilingness
to accord it to the wishes of the People and the
States, so unequivocally expressed through their
Representatives, still, upon this and this alone,
unconnected with other controlling circumstan-
ces, | should not have 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 con-
nexion 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
10Th of August, did never, in its progress, as
far as know or believe, receive at any time
either your express or implied assent. So far
as that bill was known TO me, or as | was con-
suited upon It, endeavored to bring It's provi-
sions, as nearly as possible, in accordance with
what | understood 10 be your views, and rather
hoped than erpected your approval l knew the
extent TO which you were committed on the
question. knew the pertinacity with which
you adhered to your expressed opinion, and |
dreaded from the first the most disastrous con-
sequences, when the project Of compromise
which presented at an early day was rejected.
II 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 COM
mencement of the session, in obedience TO their
call, was modified SO as to meet your approba-
ton. You may not, it is true, have read the
bill throughout, and examined every part of it;
but the 10th fundamental article, which became
the contested question of principle, was freely
discussed between u.s. and 1t was understood
and unequivocally sanctioned by yourself. The
last clause in the bill, also, which contained
reservation of power in Congress, 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 explanation OF your
understanding of that first clause.
In this condition of things, though | greatly
regretted your veto on the bill as it passed the
two Houses of Congress, and though loresaw
the excitement and agitation which it would
produce among the people; yet, considering the
changes which the bill has undergone in its
passage, and its variance 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 It's provisions, conhicted with
the constitution. But thatopinion ofy your course
on the bill which has just been returned TO Con-
gress with your second veto, do not and can
not entertain Recur TO what has passed be-
tween lis with respect 10 it, and you will per-
ceve that such opinion is impossible.
On the morning of the 10th of August, call
ed at your chamber, and found you preparing
the first veto message, 10 be despatched 10 the
Senate The Secretary of War came in also
and you read portion of the message to US.