Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-06-24

proved bv the President. Thai it was
50 kdd not and haze not a shadow Of
donh' but. as itdld not take place in nv
presence, ! could not positively aver il.
Mr.. Bell states hat in our conference
on the 18Th The President expressed A
wish 10 see aDd examine lhe bill after il
should be prepared and before it should
no reported. The statements of Mpssrs.
Berrlen and Sergeant show that copy
OF the bill was accordingly sent by Mr..
Sergeant TO Mr.. Webster, TO be by him
submitted to the President On the
morning Of the 5Db Of September, Mr..
Webster informed me that he did take a
copy ol the bill to the President, who
examined it, and, after an amendment
OF the title approved il; and UNDERSTAND
that he stated the same thing about the
same time to three other gentlemen.
members Of the Senate. This is the
evidence on which rest my belief oi
that fact.
Independently Of all intrinsic evil
deDce, it would require some creduliry
TO believe that FIVE Of the six membe rs
Of the Cabinet should at once have re-
signed their stations, elevated and desi
rable as they were, wilhom anu suG.
CieRt CaHSe. II is much more ressnna,
Bile TO suppose that they would endure
too much than 100 liIle, and feign an
apology for retaining rather than re-.
signing Office. And whose seeks for
any other motive for our resignation
than that given BY ourselves must seek
in vain. 1t cannot be supposed that Ell,
lher OF US was IN pursuit Of higher dig
mites. or that we were willing to rein-
qulsh our own certain present for our
own or any mans contingent future -
Our course was consistent and our rea
sons plain. We valued our stations be-.
cause they wete honorable; we resigned
when we could no longer retain them
without d,shonor.
And alone Of the retiring member rs
Of the Cabinet was constrained IN some
form to make public The transaction.
conveyed the assurances Of the Presi-
dent 10 Messrs, Berrren and Sergeant
who spoke and acted upon tine faith oI
hose assurances, which we're broke en
almost as soon as made. Had resign
ed silently, l. or those gentlemen who
conided in my presentations, mus
have been implicated in a falsehood; fol
the President, in his veto message, in
directly denies The authority under
which acted. And now his adhprenl:
have the front TO say that | betray hi,
confidence, when | realfirm that autho
ritV, and state the circumstances and lht
language IN which it was gwen.
I dPny that Cabinet consultations are
entitled to the clam Of absolute secrecy
for which the President and his adhe-
ienls contend. Matters which occur
there ought not to be lightly or wOn,on
| ly exposed; hut on sufficient occasion
they are the fl subject of disclosure ant
comment. 1t has been the constan
practice, for the last 800 wears
so 10 deal with them in the EnglsF
House Of Commons. and that, accordin!
To circumstances, with or without lh
assent OF the King; and it is more pspe.
calIy the case IN the United States
where the President is not the sovereign
or entitled to allegiance, II | need re
fer 10 authority, | will name the ANA
OF Mr., Jefferson, where he treats wha
occurred in Cabinet council with III
same freedom with which a member q
Congress treats The debates IN tn
House; and this, too, when neither tn
public welfare nor personal justice de
mands their disclosure.
T. EWING.