New-York daily tribune., 1842-12-28
THE TRIBUNE.
From the National intelligencer.
Wr. Critrcnden's letter.

Rar. Grltrenden's Eefter.
WASHINGTON CITY, December ls, 1912
Ideaire, through the medium Of your paper, to
take brief notice Of a published letter of the
Hon. JOHN C.. SpgscsR, Secretary of War, dated
the 18TH of October last, and addressed 10 Mr..
LEWIS K. FAULKNER and others, in which are
contained charges and imputatiens upon The late
Cabinet of Mir. Tyler, Of which was member.
regret the necessity which o5liges me to this
course, aud engage in it in spirit of coatrover-
sy, but from a sense of what is due to my own
character and to the true history of the transac-
tions referred to in that letter. 1t contains the
following passages:
proof OF the absence Of all selfish interested or
which his convictions of duty prompted may advert
The newspapers of the day by at least
Wing Editor, stated by Representative in Congress from
spon authority ana hitherto not denied That fact is, lhai
previous 10 returning The second bank bill Congress with
MS objections IN full view OF the assaults be made upon
him. and with the purpose Of removing ali of agita
lion well as TO himself against unjust impuations
the President submitted 10 his ten Cabinet whether he
should in the then abou, be transmitted Con-
gress announce resolution to retire from public life al the
so ali the members OF the cabne then present
the ground that such annuncidtion would have
the eect 70 podnce peace or quiet but would only change
the Of faction that 10 one had right 10 expect
such step from him, be had been elected President
and no obligation existed that should inerpose any barrier
between hm and direct of the People.
In connections, and yet in with The preceding,
known by many has lately distinctly promulgated
shado"ed in letter of Mr. Ewias's in The statement by
bin e proposition having been made the President
that the majority who had passed the bank bill
consent 10 postpone the second 10 the session of Con-
hostile movement woud be part the Pre-
sdent The fall meauipg of this has been
mesge was carried from the whig aders in Congress
President the effect that if he would engage not
disturb any members OF his then Cabinet in the enjoy
OF their Offices the second bank bill should be post
poned. The answer TO snch proposition may be easily
Identity Of the members Of the CABINET whose places were
deemed in jeopardy with the hostile members O. Congress-
and The design was TO pecptate matters, il was mos. Ell
"You will require aid determine which of,he
nthese exhibited lofty dlsinercsed patriotism and
which evnced any tenacy for place desire for power
These facts full of instruction. and furnish key
ny mysterious transactions"
To the statements and mputations made in the
above passages tits my intention to reply plain
ly and as briefly as | can.
[ shat! eadeavor 10 abstain from all personal or
Incorporate remarks. It is not my object to as
sail others, but to vindicate my own conduct, and
TO do that by calm statement of facts.
The first of the foregoing paragraphs of MIR.
Spencers letter relates to the advice stated to have
been given by all the members Of the Cabinet
then present" at certain meeting to which the
President is said to have submitted the question
whether he should in the message (the Veto to
the second bank billy then about TO be transmitted
public life at the expiration of the existing term.
So far as that paragraph might be considered as
duplicating me- it is unnecessary should say
more than thar WINS not present at the Cabinet
meeting referred to, and have no personal know
ledge Of opinions which may have been expressed,
or advice given, by members of the Cabinet who
may have been present The fact of my absence
and that of Mr. Badger will appear from a letter
which I send you for publication with this, re-
ceived from my friend tho Hon. 7. Ewing, dated
the 9th instant, and written in reply to bret note
of mine calling his attentoR to the letter OF Mr..
Spencer, which | had seen in the newspapers. Mr..
Ewing, it will be remembered, was Secretary OF
the Treasury, member of the Cabinet, and, as he
states, present at the meeting referred to.
From his statement it further appears that the
advice then asked and given was confined to the
question of inserting in tho Veto Message then
contemplated by the President declaration of his
intention not TO be candidate for re election to
the Presidency; question on which, presume,
very few would, on reflection differ from the adj
vice stated by Mr.. Ewing TO have been given to
the President, however strongly they might have
entertained the opinion that Mr.. Tyler ought not
to be a candidate f,r reelection, and however
prompt that may have thought he ought to be IN
publicly announsing such resolution.
They might, consistently enough with these oPln-
declaration by the President would have appeared
incongruous and out place in Veto Message on
bank bill, especially after the omission of 1t on
other occasions to which it seemed more appro-
pirate and that it would look in this instance, like
an unworthy and tremulous attempt at pnllation
and deprecation Of aensure.
The most careless reader will not fail to observe the
wide difference there ia between the statement OF Mr
Ewing and that of Mr.. Spencer TO the extent OF
the advice given by the Cabinet; the formeroonhnng
it, SO far at least as he expressed any opinion, to
the isolated point Of the insertion of the suggested
declaration Ia the Veto Message, while the latter
an.phes 1T into decision against the President
making such a declaration at any time or IN any
nanner-into decision % thar no one had right
TO expect such step from him. and that there
was no barrier between him and direct vote of
the People
NV general acquaintance and association with
nv colleagues of that Cabinet would not have IT,
clined me TO believe that they entertained the
opinions thus ascribed to them by Mr.. Spencer
But, whatever the advice given or opinions ex-
pressed MT the Cabinet meeting IN question, the
fact now disclosed of my absence eSemPts me from
all concern in respect to it, and dsPenses win she
necessity of any further personal explanations on
my part. And here, as to this matter, might con.
clude. But | am unwilling TO leave TINS part OF
the subject without reference 70 conversation l
once held with the President, in which the same
question or matter that it now appears was sub
miued to lis Cabinet in my absence became the
SUBJECT of alsusion. do not remember cxactlyits
date, but it was only few days before my resig-
nation II was very brief. regarded it as cas-
ual private conversations and therefore forbecr
TO repeat it, but an, entirely willing to do so upon
eny prnner annlicotion In NV ind ~euen, !, s pnt