The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-18


9th Congress in relation to "Fiscal Agent" for
what it is WORTH not wishing, however, to be under
stood as endorsing its practicability or soundness
MIR. EWING AND HIS DEFENDERS.
The National Intelligencer of yesterday copies
the following remarks of the New York Com
mercial Advertiser Hbecause they are in gen.
eral accordance with our own views of the sub.
ject to which they refer"
"But, taking it for granted that Mr. EWING has
been careful in the array of his facts and that they
cannot be controverted, he was compelled to resign
his Office dst appreciation of selfrespect left him
no other course; while proper regard to the public
feeling required disclosure of the facts and crcum
stances demanding that resignation. He has stated
them plainly and fully and to the propriety of the
course he has taken there be but voice in the
nation"
1t is not little singular that Mr.. EWING was
several days in arriving at this "just apprecia-
ton of self-respect." And what was the pro-
cess? Why, the President 'never consulted
me (Mr. EwINa) on the subject of the Veto
Message" That was the personal indignity"
Mr.. E. complains of as demanding that resig-
nation" Mr.. Ewrro 81 satherad, it ia true" he
saws, from the Presidents conversation, that "he
had strong purpose to reject" the bill; ''BUT,"
and here is the rub, "mothing aoas said
like softenimg or apology to me-" Mr.. Ew-
INGs wounded honor, it seems, would have been
satisfied, and he (as is justly inferable) would
have remained in the Cabinet, if something
7" softeningp had been "said" to him. Mr.. TY-
LER, however. did not deal in " soft corn" or
soft soap, but examined the bill in his own clo-
set, and determined upon his action without
deeming it necessary or important to consult the
Head of the Treasury Department.
But the article quoted by the Intellgencer
takes it for granted that Mr.. Ewing's facts can
not be controverted," and this is stated in other
papers. We my give, in answer to this, the
language of the National Intelllgencer of 1911,
and say that theletter is fan underhand insidi-
GUS recurrence circumstances in which he
cannot be chasised by contradiction, THE
FACTS being. kmoom only to the party attacked,
WHOSE OFFICIAL srATIoN FoRBIDs REPLY even
for the refutation If calumny."
GAS to the prpriety of the course he Mr..
Ewing] has takel there can be but one poice
in the nation" With the exception of the In
telligencer, we have heard but Zone voice" here,
and that has been lnmingled reprobation. We
are much mistaken if the voice of the nation
will not pronouncea similar judgment upon it.
We should judge, however, by the columns
of the Philadelphis National Gazette, that the
ex-Secretary had fed to the city of the Bank,
and taken his position under the shadow of its
wings to shelter himself from the pursuit of his
indignant judges. From the first reply of the
Gazette to our review of his disclosure of cabi-
net secrets, we are constrained to expect but
poor and Intellectual defence. He challenges
contradiction! VIII, the very act itself throws
discredit upon the ertre statement. He placed
himself beyond the pale of controversy with the
party attacked. The supposition, however, is,
that the truth reposss with those who protect
their honor from SUSPICION, by keeping faith and
maintaining the rules of gentemanly behavior.
But, the defence intimates that the President
himself divulged the confidential counsels OF the
Cabinet through " filthy vessel" in a "neigh-
boring CITY," We deny this fatty. But admit
ting it to be true, the ex.Secretary then plants
himself on the level with the Herald" and
quotes the example Of that paper, which he pro-
nounced s:infamous," as a justification Of his
own conduct! II the ex-Secretary would re-
pose on that horn Of his dilemma, we will not
disturb him.
But as to the accuracy of Mr.. Ewing's
" facts" which we are so triumphantly challeng-
ed to controvert--we take it for granted that in
a controversy like this, where both sides cannot
be heard, if one important statement of the as
sailing party can be shown to be untrue, the
general veracity of the whole will suffer some
impeachment. Well, Mr.. Ewing says in his
letter of resignation: "The bill which report
ed TO Congress with your appreciation at the COM
mencement Of the session, had the clause relat-
ing to agencies and the power to deal in ex-
changes as strongly developed as the one you
have now rejected, and equally aoithout the as
sent of the States"
This is downright misstatement as the fact
is exactly the reverse. The 10th fundamental
rule in Mr.. Ewing's bill did contain the princi-
pie of the assent of the States began in the fol
lowing language: That the said corporation
shall establish competent office of discount and
deposit in any State by the assent Of the Legis-
lature of such State, whenever the directors
may think fit so. to do; and when established,
the Office shall not be Withdrawn without the