Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-10-09
letter from John Bell.
To the Editors Of the National Lntellgencer
WASHINGTON, Sept. 90. 1871.

GENTLEMEN: Doubts have been attempt
ed to be cast upon the corret tness Of
Mr.. EwING's statement in relation to the
part taken by the President in getting up
the Fiscal Corporation Bill, by arguing
that there was an Improperly in making
it which ought to deprive it of credit.
There are circumstances in this case distin-
gushing it from all others that recollect
of the kind. 1t grows out Of matter of
official business, transacted between high
public functionaries, and is of public and
general concern. The public and open
conduct of one of these high functional
ries is in direct opposition to what the
other had, by his express direction and au-
thurity, affirmed as to its intentions and
purposes. There can, | humbIy submit,
be no serious question in such case upon
the point of personal propriety, when the
injured party seeks to vindicate his honor
by disclosing the truth. The obligations
arising ont Of confidential relations. in pri-
vate or public affairs, are founded in mu-
tual trust. He that diregards his own con-
flental pledges and engagements cannot
aedge the obligation Of conf lcnce, in the
same transaction, against the natural right
Of self-defence belonging to the injured
party. For any thing that can ever be
known to the contrary, it may have been
the object of the original pledge or engage
ment to sacrifice those who trusted and
were msled by it. For these reasons, /
do not hesitate to furnish, for publication,
the accompanying statement, which con-
tains all the facts and circumstances within
my knowledge, that occur to me as being
material, connected with the subjcc of
difference. do this as an act of Justice
not only to Mr. Ewing, who requested it,
but to myself and the Public.
ava, myself of this occasion to say
that | have, at no time, regarded a differ
ence of opinion between the President and
myself in relation TO Bank. however i'm
portant the subject, as sufficient of itself
to Justify esignation of the office which
| lately held in the Executive Admnistra-
ton of the Government. Nor was it be-
cause the President thought proper TO triha
with or mislead his Cabinet, as there is
but too much reason to believe he intended
to do. in the affair of the last Fiscal Bank
Bill, that | resigned my place. There
were other, and some of them pre-existing
causes, for such course, which many will
regard as sufficient of themselves. and
which could not have been overlooked
But it was possible to explain or remove
them, and therefore they were not promptly
acted upon. The last act of the President,
however. was conclusive of the true char
acter of all the other occurrences or cir
cuoctancar which had nreyiously avalon
ed curiosity or excited distrust.
I shall. at my leisure, state the reasons
more at large which impelled me to the
course | have tn ought proper to adopt,
and at the same time to furnish narrative
Of all the causes. ST. far as they fell under
my observation, which have resulted in the
separation Of Mr.. TYLER from the party
which brought him into power, and the
breaking up of the Wing Administration.
l am, respectfully, your obedient servant
JOHN BELL.
Messrs. GALES g. SEAToN.